Lincoln Discussion Symposium
Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - Printable Version

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Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - Mylye2222 - 11-22-2019 06:57 PM

Here's is a heartwarming link.
Don't know if all the stories are truth, but there is certainly roots given AL' s personality.

https://www.kindspring.org/story/view.php?sid=10091


RE: Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - LincolnMan - 01-31-2020 08:02 AM

I have read historians that would dispute the statement that Lincoln was an "unsuccessful lawyer." It is true that he sometimes worked for little or even nothing. But he also collected more substantial fees during his career.


RE: Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - Mylye2222 - 02-03-2020 04:29 PM

(01-31-2020 08:02 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  I have read historians that would dispute the statement that Lincoln was an "unsuccessful lawyer." It is true that he sometimes worked for little or even nothing. But he also collected more substantial fees during his career.

Yes. He collected a lot with railroad companies cases. When you says that, people now react by calling Lincoln" the 1% happy fews man ".
Ridiculous. With money earned in big cases, he had enough for himself, so he could help poor clients. He was a generalist lawyer.


RE: Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - Gene C - 02-04-2020 07:11 AM

If you get a chance, you might try to find a copy of A Lincoln Prairie Lawyer by John Duff.

One of the best books written on this part of Lincoln's life. I've only read parts of it, and it can be a little slow at times, but overall it's pretty good. There are several examples of Lincoln's kindness.


RE: Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - LincolnMan - 02-04-2020 07:14 AM

I guess my point of contention was with the description of him being an "unsuccessful" lawyer. Unsuccessful compared to whom? Unsuccessful according to the standard of lawyers for his day- or compared to lawyers today? He earned a living out of it for sure. Was that not success? One might also argue that his career as a lawyer paved the way for the presidency.


RE: Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - Mylye2222 - 02-04-2020 05:06 PM

(02-04-2020 07:11 AM)Gene C Wrote:  If you get a chance, you might try to find a copy of A Lincoln Prairie Lawyer by John Duff.

One of the best books written on this part of Lincoln's life. I've only read parts of it, and it can be a little slow at times, but overall it's pretty good. There are several examples of Lincoln's kindness.

I read somewhere he sometimes defended humble clients without charge and even paid them lodging of transportation tickets when they were summoned before the court. Do you have any concrete examples?


RE: Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - David Lockmiller - 02-05-2020 12:09 AM

(02-04-2020 05:06 PM)Mylye2222 Wrote:  I read somewhere he sometimes defended humble clients without charge and even paid them lodging of transportation tickets when they were summoned before the court. Do you have any concrete examples?

Emily, when I read your post and your request for "any concrete examples," I was immediately reminded of a somewhat related example of Lincoln's kindness, not to a law client but rather to a young man who thought much as Mr. Lincoln did on the issue of slavery. I knew that the story I was seeking involved finding the example in the infamously discredited Lincoln reference book,Lincoln Talks, A Biography in Anecdote by Emanuel Hertz. I found the story on pages 99-100 with a source reference of Captain Gilbert J. Greene.

Then, I had to find a confirming "historical accuracy" source for the story. I located, with the assistance of Google, two confirming stories with Captain Gilbert Greene as publication source. The first story that I found was published in the December, 1922 issue of McClure's Magazine with Captain Gilbert J. Greene listed as the author. The second story, Lincoln the Comforter (begins at page 25) was published in 1916 with Captain Gilbert J. Greene listed as the author and covers all aspects of the initial story in the Emanuel Hertz book. This second source has important factual information not included in the McClure's Magazine article.

Please read the second referenced story (link provided) and post your thoughts.


RE: Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - Gene C - 02-05-2020 07:39 AM

Emily, I have been so busy the past two months that when I have time to read my eyes are so tired I can only read a few pages at a time.
What you are looking for is also in this book, I just don't remember where, so it will will take me some time to find it.


RE: Acts of Kindness as a Lawyer - Mylye2222 - 02-07-2020 12:23 PM

(02-05-2020 07:39 AM)Gene C Wrote:  Emily, I have been so busy the past two months that when I have time to read my eyes are so tired I can only read a few pages at a time.
What you are looking for is also in this book, I just don't remember where, so it will will take me some time to find it.

Thanks for researching anyway.