''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 244established rates. It was the understood rule that a lawyer should accept allthe client could be induced to pay. The tribunal was known as "TheOgmathorial Court."Ward Lamon, his law partner at the time, tells about it:"Lincoln was found guilty and fined for his awful crime against the pocketsof his brethren of the bar. The fine he paid with great good humor, and thenkept the crowd of lawyers in uproarious laughter until after midnight."He persisted in his revolt, however, declaring that with his consent hisfirm should never during its life, or after its dissolution, deserve thereputation enjoyed by those shining lights of the profession, 'Catch 'em andCheat 'em.'"A JURYMAN'S SCORN.Lincoln had assisted in the prosecution of a man who had robbed hisneighbor's hen roosts. Jogging home along the highway with the foreman ofthe jury that had convicted the hen stealer, he was complimented byLincoln on the zeal and ability of the prosecution, and remarked: "Why,when the country was young, and I was stronger than I am now, I didn'tmind packing off a sheep now and again, but stealing hens!" The goodman's scorn could not find words to express his opinion of a man whowould steal hens.HE "BROKE" TO WIN.A lawyer, who was a stranger to Mr. Lincoln, once expressed to GeneralLinder the opinion that Mr. Lincoln's practice of telling stories to the jurywas a waste of time."Don't lay that flattering unction to your soul," Linder answered; "Lincolnis like Tansey's horse, he 'breaks to win.'"WANTED HER CHILDREN BACK.