"The mother of the accused, after failing to secure older counsel, finally engaged young Abraham Lincoln, as he was then called, and the trial came on to an early hearing. No objection was made to the jury, and no cross-examination of witnesses, save the last and only important one, who swore that he knew the parties, saw the shot fired by Grayson, saw him run away, and picked up the deceased, who died instantly.
"The evidence of guilt and identity was morally certain. The attendance was large, the interest intense. Grayson's mother began to wonder why 'Abraham remained silent so long and why he didn't do something!' The people finally rested. The tall lawyer (Lincoln) stood up and eyed the strong witness in silence, without books or notes, and slowly began his defence by these questions:
"Lincoln. 'And you were with Lockwood just before and saw the shooting?'
"Witness. 'Yes.'
"Lincoln. 'And you stood very near to them?'
"Witness. 'No, about twenty feet away.'
"Lincoln. 'May it not have been ten feet?'
"Witness. 'No, it was twenty feet or more.'
"Lincoln. 'In the open field?'
"Witness. 'No, in the timber.'