Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 14.pdf/438

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Communications in regard to the contents of the Magazine should be addressed to the Editor, Thos. Tileston Baldwin, 1038 Exchange Building, Boston, Mass. The Editor will be glad to receive contributions of articles of moderate length upon subjects of in terest to the profession; also anything in the way of legal antiquities or curiosities, facetia, anecdotes, etc. The following hitherto NOTES. unpublished anecdote of President Lincoln illustrates his well-known kindness of heart as well as his peculiar method of dealing with questions that came up for his consideration. The son of an old German mail carrier, on one of the government routes in Pennsylvania, had been arrested for stealing a letter. He had given bail for his appearance at court, but as yet no indictment had been found against him, although there was no doubt of the boy's guilt. His father was a very worthy man and as there were extenuating circumstances, it was decided to make an appeal for executive clemency, and therefore the boy's counsel, accompanied by Judge Hale, member of Congress from the six teenth Pennsylvania district, went to the Presi dent. After listening to the presentation of the case, Lincoln said, " I don't see very well how I can issue a pardon before the boy has been convicted, but" — after a little reflection — "I know what I can do. I can direct the District Attorney to enter a nol, pros., and this I will do, provided the boy enlists in the army and serves for three years." This was agreed to and the order was sub sequently issued. The boy enlisted, served with credit throughout the war, and is now a re spected citizen of the community in which he lives. A man who had brutally assaulted his wife was brought before Justice Cole of New York, and had a good deal to say about " getting jus tice." "Justice! " replied Cole : " you can't get it here : this court has no power to hang you 1"

One day on the street in Fort Dodge, — his home town, — Senator Dolliver, of Iowa, en countered an old Irish friend, who had formerly worked for the Dolliver family and was a privi leged character. The Irishman informed Sena tor Dolliver that after forty years of bachelorhood he was about to be married. "Good, Pat," replied the Senator, shaking the Irishman's hand, " I'm glad to hear it; that's the proper thing : when a man marries, his troubles are at an end." Pat married, Dolliver returned to Washington, and the Irishman's troubles augmented daily. His wife led him a strenuous life, and rollingpins and flat-irons made life far from merry. A few months later Dolliver returned to Fort Dodge and again met ths Irishman, who told him how his wife had led him a merry chase. "You told me, Misther Dolliver," said the Irishman, " that when a man marries his troubles were at an end; but, sure, mine had only begun, for my wife has treated me frightfully." Senator Dolliver's eyes twinkled merrily as he replied : "You're right, Pat, I said when a man marries his troubles are at an end; but I didn 't say which end, did I?" "I understand," remarked the village wag quietly to the Indiana oil-well owner, "in fact, I was so informed this morning, that there is a lien on that well No. 7 of yours." "It's a lie," yelled the oil magnate, getting angry in a minute. " There ain't no man got a cent against that well!" Then he went out-of-doors and found the night wind had careened the well at least six inches. Judge N. M. Hubbard, formerly general counsel for the Chicago and Northwestern Rail way Company, looked after the Northwestern's court business for fully a third of a cen