Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1910 — “LINCOLN THE MERCIFUL.” [ARTICLE]

“LINCOLN THE MERCIFUL.”

A characteristic story of Lincoln’s kindly interference in of young men who had rendered themselves amenable to the law, but in whose case there was reason to hope for reformation, is told in the Portland Oregonian by Mr. J. B. Montgomery, who was a witness to the circumstances. One Michael Lehman of Williamsport, Pa., had a contract for carrying the mail from the railroad station. He was the personification of integrity, but his son, Michael, Jr., 16 years old, who drove the mail wagon, was induced by evil associates to tike a letter from the mail bag, and was detected in the act of removing a check from it. He was sentenced to imprisonment. Great sympathy was felt with the father, and a delegation of citisens, headed by Judge Hale, a member of Congress, including Mr. Montgomery, and accompanied by the elder Lehman, went to Washington to see the President. Mr. Montgomery tells what followed : "As We entered the executive Chamber, President Lincoln came sauntering in. He had on a faded and much-worn dressing gown. His slippers were run down at the heel. The President, as soon as we were seated, said: , ' » “ ‘Well, gentlemen, what is it you ~ rJudge Hale handed him the petition. He scanned it carefully, names

and all, and possessed himself of all t'W circumstances. He then said to Judge Hale:" ‘“Judge, can I do so and so?* stating a legal proposition as to his power to do a certain thing. Judge Hale, after a moment's reflection, replied: “ ‘Mr. President, I don’t think you can.’ “Lincoln then said, ‘I know I cannot, but I .wanted to if you knew. But,’ he went on, ‘I can do something else.’ “He was sitting by his desk, and every one except this madj who ‘swallowed all formulas,’ would have written on it, but he twisted his two long legs together like a whiplash, placed the petition on his knee and wrote these words, as near as I can recollect: “ ‘To the United States District Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania: You gre'hereby directed to enter a nolle prosequi in the case of the United States vs. Michael Lehman, Jr., in consideration that the said Michael Lehman, Jr., enlist in the army of\ the United States and serve three years, unless sooner honorably discharged. ‘A. LINCOLN.” “-‘What do you think of that?’ he said, handing it to Judge Hale. It was all that was wanted. “Lincoln got up out of his chair, shqpk hands with us all, telling us, ‘A dozen Senators are waiting outside to see-me, but this gives me more pleasure than talking to them about offices.’ Then, holding Lehman by the hand, he said.' “ ‘Ten your son never to be tempted again, to be a good soldier, and how happy it has made me to get him out of his scrape.’ ” The old Dutchman, who was short and fat, made a pathetic figure. He was beyond the ability to express himself, or even to weep. He stood silent, his eyes almost bulging out of his head. His boy was saved.