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"FIND OUT FOR YOURSELVES."
"Several of us lawyers," remarked one of his colleagues, "in the eastern
end of the circuit, annoyed Lincoln once while he was holding court for
Davis by attempting to defend against a note to which there were many
makers. We had no legal, but a good moral defense, but what we wanted
most of all was to stave it off till the next term of court by one
expedient or another.
"We bothered 'the court' about it till late on Saturday, the day of
adjournment. He adjourned for supper with nothing left but this case to
dispose of. After supper he heard our twaddle for nearly an hour, and
then made this odd entry.
"'L. D. Chaddon vs. J. D. Beasley et al. April Term, 1856. Champaign
county Court. Plea in abatement by B. Z. Green, a defendant not served,
filed Saturday at 11 o'clock a. m., April 24, 1856, stricken from the
files by order of court. Demurrer to declaration, if there ever was one,
overruled. Defendants who are served now, at 8 o'clock p. m., of the
last day of the term, ask to plead to the merits, which is denied by the
court on the ground that the offer comes too late, and therefore, as
by nil dicet, judgment is rendered for Pl'ff. Clerk assess damages. A.
Lincoln, Judge pro tem.'
"The lawyer who reads this singular entry will appreciate its oddity
if no one else does. After making it, one of the lawyers, on recovering
from his astonishment, ventured to enquire: 'Well, Lincoln, how can we
get this case up again?'
"Lincoln eyed him quizzically for a moment, and then answered, 'You have
all been so mighty smart about this case, you can find out how to take
it up again yourselves."'
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Stories and Anecdotes About the Life of Abraham Lincoln
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