ABRAHAM LINCOLN -- CHAPTER 12

LINCON SAVES ARMSTRONG'S SON      Lincoln studied hard to keep pace with the development of the country, till he became     one of the states outstanding lawyers. One day he received a letter from Mrs. Jack Armstrong, the wife of his old friend of New Salem. She wrote to him, asking him to save his son, who had been arrested for murder.      The circumstances were as follows: At a camp meeting in Mason County several young men became drunk and quarreled. One of them , named Metzgar, was killed, and Armstrong was charged with the murder. Lincoln promised his services willingly.      The time for the trial arrived. There was a witness to testify against the young man. " Are you sure that the accused struck the blow?" Lincoln asked. " Yes, I am sure that the accused struck the blow." the witnwss replied. " What time in the evening was it?" " Between ten and eleven." " Be more exact. Was it a quarter past ten or half past ten, or still later?" " I think it was about half past ten o'clock." "And are you sure that you saw the prisoner strike the blow?" " Yes, I am sure of it."  " Then it was not very dark ?" " No. The moon was   shining bright."      " You say that it was not very dark as the moon was shining bright?" " Yes it was not very dark, as the moon was shining bright." " Do I understant you say that the murder was committed about half past ten o'clock, and that the moon was shining bright at that time?" " Yes, that is what I testify." " Very well. That is all." Every one thought that the evidence   against Armstrong proved his guilt.      Lincoln rose again and said: " The witness says that he saw the deed done by the accused between the hours of ten and eleven when the moon was shining bright. I would like to call your attention to the fact that the moon did not appear on that night, as your Honor's almanac will show, untill an hour or more later. The whole story is a pure invention." Thus Lincoln saved the young man from the gallows, and he received nothing for his services.