August 9, 2025 • 23 mins
Focusing on Abraham Lincoln's defense of Peachy Quinn Harrison in an 1859 murder trial. The text introduces Robert Roberts Hitt, a stenographer, whose meticulous recordings serve as the primary source for recounting the courtroom drama. It details aspects of the trial, including jury selection, witness testimonies, and legal arguments concerning self-defense and dying declarations. The narrative also offers insights into Lincoln's legal strategies, his character, and the broader political and social climate of the time, while also touching on the lives and careers of key figures like Reverend Peter Cartwright and prosecutor John M. Palmer.
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You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
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Get the Book now from Amazon:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the deep dive. We dig into fascinating sources
to pull out the key insights and we'll figure out
why they matter to you exactly. Today, we're diving into
a story that honestly feels like it could be rips
from a modern true crime show, but it happened over
one hundred and sixty years ago.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It really does.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
We're talking about this really high stakes murder trial and
it became, maybe unexpectedly, a huge moment for a national
figure right on the edge of well destiny.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
That's right. Our main source here is Dan Abrams's book
Lincoln's Last Trial. It's a fantastic recounting of Abraham Lincoln's
final murder case as a lawyer. And our mission, our
mission is really to unpack this whole, intricate story. We
have these incredible handwritten notes from the court scribe Robert's
hit a Hit, Yes, and through those notes we want
to see why this specific trial was just so pivotal
(00:49):
for Lincoln personally, politically, you know, the whole deal.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Okay, So let's set the scene. We're talking summer eighteen
fifty nine, Springfield, Illinois.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Probably hot, sweltering the books.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Imagine this young man peachee Quinn Harrison. He's twenty two
and he's accused of murder and his defense attorney none
other than Abraham Lincoln.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
And you have to remember Lincoln at this point, he's
already a national figure.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
This is after the big debates with Stephen.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Douglas, exactly fresh off those debates and whispers about him
for president in eighteen sixty, they're already starting, they're getting louder.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So taking this case it wasn't just like another day
at the office.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
For him, Oh absolutely not. This carried immense political risk.
His reputation was pretty spotless relatively speaking. A loss here,
especially getting his client convicted of murder that could have
seriously dimmed his chances, maybe ended them.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And he had a lot of experience with murder trials,
didn't he.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
He did a vast career, over three thousand cases total apparently,
and more than twenty five murder trials. He'd seen it all,
big wins like that legendary one using an almanac.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Right, the duff Armstrong case, that's.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
The one, So you know, devastating losses. He had a
client hanged once years before that's stuck with him, so the.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Stakes felt really high. For this one personally.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Politically immense, and the case itself. You said it, it
feels modern totally.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
It had everything right.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
It really did well. Like victim greek Crafton, Yeah, stabbed
by his neighbor Peachey Harrison, someone he grew.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Up with neighbors.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Then there's a struggle, a claim of self defense, eyewitnesses.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Including the victim's brother, including.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
The victim's own brother. Yeah, plus this really controversial alleged
death beded mission.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Okay, well, definitely need to get into that.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Oh yeah, and a critical celebrity witness, as the book
calls him, and the whole town fiercely divided. It was
just a social and legal powder.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Keg Enter Roberts hit.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Exactly our sort of unsung hero here. He shows up
in Springfield August eighteen fifty nine.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
And he's not just any court reporter.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Oh, he's a master of phonography. That's a very precise
kind of shorthand.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
And he'd already worked with Lincoln.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
He had his accurate transcriptions of those Lincoln Douglas debates,
where a huge reason Lincoln got national attention. It actually
led to a friendship between them.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So these transcriptions of the trial, their.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Gold absolutely invaluable. Think about it, no recording devices back then.
Every single word spoken in that courtroom captured by hand hit,
steel tipped pen. It's like a time machine.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
But also risky for.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Lincoln, very risky. Every word, every hesitation, every potential slip up,
it's all down on paper, could end up in newspapers everywhere,
precisely an unprecedented level of scrutiny for a trial lawyer
at the time.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So Springfield in the eighteen fifties, what was it like
Not some sleeky town.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
No, not at all. Surprisingly bustling, connected by telegraph, railroad,
and just crawling with lawyers. Okay, Lincoln really built his
career writing the Eighth Judicial Circuit. You know, that traveling
group of judges and lawyers going county to county.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Right, that circuit riding must have been quite the education.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
In law and I imagine in people, human nature.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
And Lincoln's world. His office famously.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Messy, oh legendarily so. One student supposedly found bean sprouts
growing in a dirt pile in the corner.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Bean sprouts.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Seriously, that's the story. But for Lincoln it was a refuge,
a quiet place away from what people described as a
kind of difficult home life with his wife Mary.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
He just stretch out and read his notes.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, stretch out on chairs, read aloud, preps his cases,
find some peace there.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
He also apparently told a funny story there about a
different case than Melissa Goings.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
One Ah, Yes, the elderly widow who dispatched her abusive
husband with stovewood.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Right, and Lincoln defended her well, he.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Was hired to. But on the morning of the trial,
after Lincoln had a little chat with her, she just vanished,
vanished poof Lincoln apparently told the judge very dryly, I
left her on the lower floor. She should be in
the care of the sheriff. Case closed.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Essentially a bit unconventional, mate.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Resourceful, let's say. But the Harrison case, this trial was
anything but humorous.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
No so the core incident July sixteenth, a drug store
in Pleasant Plaints.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Shortened Heart drug store. Yeah. Greek Crafton, who was apparently
much bigger than Peachey Harrison. He and his brother John
basically started it, confronted Harrison. You think got violent extremely
Greek Crafton was grievously injured a terrible knife wound lower
rib down to the groin. He didn't die immediately, No,
he lingered for days, three agonizing days before he finally
(05:38):
passed away.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
And this alleged deathbedd ad mission. This is where it gets.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Complicated, deeply complicated. Peache's grandfather, the Reverend Peter Cartwright.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Okay, he's the celebrity witness, a famous Methodist.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Preacher exactly, very well known, powerful speaker. He visits Greek
on his deathbed and supposedly Greek tells him quote, I
brought it upon my and I forgive Quinn.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Wow. If true, that's huge for the defense.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
A potential bombshell. But whether it would even be allowed
as evidence, that was a big question mark.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
And this case gets even more tangled for Lincoln personally,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Oh? Incredibly so. Both families, the Harrisons and the Craftons,
were prominent. Lincoln knew them both.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
He was friends with Peachee's father, Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
A friend and supporter of Peyton Harrison. But here's the kicker.
What Greek crafton the victim? He had actually trained for
the law in Lincoln's own office.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
No way, his former student.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
His former student. Imagine the emotional weight defending the man
accused of killing someone you.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Mentored that's intense. And then there's the grandfather, Reverend.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Cartwright, right, adding another layer. Lincoln and Cartwright had history,
long contentious history here political rivals, big time Cartwright had
beaten Lincoln in elections twice, and he publicly called Lincoln
an infidel. Not exactly buddies.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
So now Lincoln needs his old adversary's testimony to save
his client exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
It's this extraordinary, almost unbelievable alliance born purely out of necessity.
Speaks volumes about Lincoln's pragmatism.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
I think where did all this bad blood even start?
The feud?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
It seems to have ignited about two weeks before the
stabbing at a Fourth of July picnic picnic. Yeah, the
details are murky. Maybe some rumors about domestic issues involving
Peache's sister and Greek's brother. Insults flew, Threats.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Were made, like what kind of threats.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Greek was reportedly heard saying he was gonna whip Harrison.
Peachey apparently responded he had defend himself with a gun.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Just escalating terribly.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Lincoln himself apparently reflected later on the folly of it all,
Such wasted lives from these kinds of feuds.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
It makes you think about Lincoln's own near duel.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Right with James Shields in eighteen forty two, over those
anonymous satirical letters, he and Mary Todd.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Wrote that whole Broadswords thing exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
It was almost farcical, but thankfully it got resolved without
anyone getting hurt. Maybe Lincoln's sheer size help or friends intervened.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
But for Harrison and Crafton, no resolution. Just tragedy, just tragedy.
So the defense team Lincoln, his partner Billy Herndon.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
And Shelby Moore Cullum, who mostly helped with research, gathering testimony.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
In the first legal steps the coroner's inquest.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Right that was early August, and right away the central
conflict was clear. Reverend Cartwright testifying about Greek's dying words,
saying I brought it on myself.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
But doctor Million, the attending physician, directly contradicted him, said
Greek blamed Harrison.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
So a direct clash and testimony from.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
The start absolutely Lincoln and his co counsel at the
time Logan, they knew this. Their strategy was set early
self defense. Peache was attacked, had to fight back, and
the prosecution. They argued the opposite, Harrison armed himself beforehand,
he intended to kill, murder.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
And the Grandeury sided with the prosecution.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
He did. They formally indicted Harrison, which meant, you know,
full steam ahead for a trial. The whole community was watching.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Lincoln's reputation, honest, Abe, that must have played.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
A role, huge role. He was known for his integrity.
Famously said he wouldn't take cases he didn't believe in.
Quote no client ever had money enough to bribe my conscience.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
That carries weight in a court room.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Immense weight with judges juries. His word meant something.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
And his legal skill beyond just honesty.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Oh, he was a master, largely self taught, just devoured
the big legal texts. Lackstone, Hitty green Leaf story.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
You mentioned thousands of cases, Supreme court appearances.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Yeah, thousands of civil and criminal cases, argued before the
Illinois Supreme Court over three hundred times, even argued before
the US Supreme.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Court once he had seen it all. The strange cases too,
like proving a supposedly dead man was a lie.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The Archibald Fisher case. Yeah, and that duff Armstrong case
with the almanac. Brilliant court re maneuvering, but he also
carried the losses, like that frame case where his client hanged.
He never forgot that.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
So the trial opens. What's the atmosphere?
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Tense? Judge Rice ran a very orderly, no nonsense court
and hit the reporter. He made this interesting observation about Lincoln.
What was that his appearance? His sort of working man's look,
unkempt hair, pants, maybe a bit short, sleeves rolled up.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
You think that was deliberate?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Hit thought? So, a carefully crafted image made him seem approachable,
relatable to the jury, a subtle but powerful psychological edge.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Interesting. And the prosecution, who was leading that charge.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
A formidable team led by John Palmer, also a very
respected lawyer, and tragically he knew the pain of losing
a client to the gallows himself.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
He was joined by Jim White, John mcclernan, and Norman Broadwell.
A strong lineup.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Jury selection always sounds tedious.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
It was, but Lincoln paid incredibly close attention. They worked
hard to make Harrison seem frail, vulnerable, you know, sympathetic.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Did they get anyone favorable on the jury, Well.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
They managed to seat Moses Pilcher, who was a political
ally of Lincoln's and Norman Broadwell, who had actually studied
law on Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Wait, Broadwell was on the prosecution team and a former student.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Oh wait, let me check that. Ah, sorry, my mistake there.
Broadwell was on the prosecution team, yes, and a former student.
But Pilcher was the ally on the jury. Still having
a former student on the opposing council interesting dynamic, definitely.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
And Lincoln's prep how did he get ready?
Speaker 2 (11:21):
His usual way exhaustive study, especially of the other side's case.
He believed in knowing their arguments better than they did
prevent surprizes. Smart and after that first day hit our
reporter he wrote out just how intense it was. He
felt totally immersed. But he also ran into people in
town who were convinced Harrison was guilty. Showed how divided
things were.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Okay, so testimony begins.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Crafton brothers right, John crafton, the victim's brother, testifies first
long detailed account. He admits he and Greek intended to
quote whip Harrison. He bets that he does, but crucially
for the defense, he also admits he did not see
the cutting.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Ah, Lincoln must have jumped on that.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Oh yeah, skillful cross examination really emphasizing Harrison seemed reluctant
to fight, that he was pulled into it. And then
the reenactment, Yeah, pretty dramatic stuff. Lincoln himself plays Peachy Harrison,
John crafton plays his own brother Greek. They physically act
out the struggle.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Trying to show Greek was the aggressor.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Exactly show his intent, and another witness, Daniel Harnett, backed
up Harrison's desperate cry, My God, have I no friends here?
Speaker 1 (12:27):
But the prosecution had witnesses about Harrison's threats too, right.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
They did testimony about Harrison calling crafton a son of
a bh. Another witness heard Harrison threaten to cut his
guts out if Greek jumped on him, damaging stuff for the.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Defense, the threats flying both ways. This is where Lincoln
really had to dig into the law.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Absolutely, this is fascinating. He apparently went back to his
messy office alone and just dove deep, not just into
case law, but into the philosophy of self defense philosophy
like Plato, Plato, Lock Hobbs. He was looking at the
historical roots, how the definition had evolved. He contrasted the
(13:06):
old English rule, you know, retreat to the wall right
with the maybe more lenient American frontier view. He pulled
up specific cases precedents arguing for a broader interpretation of
self defense For Harrison.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
It wasn't just academic for him, though, was it? You
mentioned Greek Crafton was his former student exactly?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
The book suggests Lincoln really wrestled with this. He remembered
Greek's booming laughter from his time in the office. He
even questioned himself wondered if he was properly mourning the
young man's death while trying to save his accused killer.
Shows his depth, his humanity.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Even while the prosecution is building their.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Case right, Palmer and his team are focused their argument
Harrison killed an unarmed man. There was no immediate, unavoidable danger.
That's murder or at least manslaughter.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Did they use precedents too?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
They did. Brodwell brought up the Boston massacre trial from
seventeen seventy John Adams defend the British soldiers arguing self defense. Okay,
but one soldier, Private Kilroy, was convicted of manslaughter because
he'd made prior threats. Palmer saw the parallel Harrison's own words.
His threats could sink him even if it wasn't premeditated murder.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
And Palmer had that personal connection, the loss of his
own son, Yes.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
His son Benjamin would have been about Greek's age. That grief,
that pain undoubtedly fueled his drive for conviction, justice for
Greek and.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
The dying declaration. What was their strategy there?
Speaker 2 (14:30):
It was tricky. They knew the power of Cartwright's testimony
a man won't meet his maker with a lie, but
they also had doctor Million's conflicting account. Ultimately, they knew
it was up to Judge Rice whether to even admit
Cartwright's version of the dying words. It was a huge gamble,
make or break.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So day two more witnesses Yes.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Doctor John Allen, a friend of Lincoln's, testifies. He says
he heard John Crafton yelling at Greek during the fight.
Let him have it, give it to him, more evidence
of Greek's aggression.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
But Palmer objected immediately.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Sharp object argued these threats were irrelevant unless the defense
could prove Harrison actually heard them or knew about them directly,
a key legal point.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
How did Lincoln respond passionately?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
The jury was sent out, and Lincoln apparently gave Judge
Rice this forceful almost angry argument, really angry, that's how
it's described. He argued. It wasn't just about what Harrison knew,
it was about Greek's intent. If Greek intended serious harm,
that makes Harrison's resistance his self defense more believable, more necessary.
(15:33):
He used an analogy, a vivid one about boar hunting.
Sometimes you get tangled with something dangerous and you just
need help letting go to survive. It was about Greek's
state of mind too.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Did it work? Did the judge allow the threats?
Speaker 2 (15:45):
He did? Judge Rice allowed the testimony about the threats,
a major victory for Lincoln and the defense.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Then they brought in medical.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Testimony, Yeah, trying to reinforce the idea of Harrison being weaker,
more vulnerable. A witness called Skinny Tom testified Greek was
way bigger, maybe twenty pounds heavier, and Harrison.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Was sickly, and Harrison's doctor, doctor.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Atherton, confirmed Harrison had been in feeble health for years.
Palmer tried to poke holes in that, suggesting it was
just based on appearance, but it added to the picture.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
The defense was painting, and then the big one, Reverend Cartwright.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
The moment everyone was waiting for You could feel the tension.
Apparently Lincoln's old rival takes the stand.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Does Lincoln question him?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
No, Logan, his co counsel, handled the questioning. Lincoln just
sat there silent watching.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
What did Cartwright say?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
He delivered powerfully retold Greek Crafton's dying words. I brought
it upon myself. I forgive Quinn. Just devastating testimony for
the prosecution.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Did they try to back that up?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yes, Several other defense witnesses came on family members, another reverend,
doctor Allen. Again, they corroborated Greek making threats beforehand, and
they supported Cartwright's account of the dying declaration, though proving
Harrison knew about the specific threats remained that tricky legal point.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
So oh, all the evidence is in time for closing.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Arguments, right, and closing arguments. Summations were becoming a really
big deal in trials back then. A chance for lawyers
to mix law, facts, emotion, character really sway the jury.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Prosecution goes first.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Broadwell starts for the prosecution, very methodical, laid out the facts.
Harrison stabbed Greek, Greek was unarmed. No proof Harrison knew
about the threats. ClearCase he argued, and the defense Shelby
Cullum argued for the defense, first focused on the bad
blood Greek's clear intent to stamp and maul Harrison. He
dramatically revisited Cartwright's testimony about the dying Words, setting the stage.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
For Lincoln and Lincoln's summation. This is a legendary, right,
it really is.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
He starts off in his usual style, conversational, earnest, natural,
dropping the g's offwards, sometimes very relatable.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
He told a story.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, started with a funny, self deprecating story, but an
absent minded Englishman disarmed the jury immediately got them leaning
in clas sick Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
But then he gets serious, very serious.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Reminded the jury of their awesome obligation, hammered home that
murder requires intent. Malice argued. The prosecution has just hadn't
proven that beyond doubt.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Did he attack the witnesses, not.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Directly, That wasn't his style. He meticulously pointed out inconsistencies
and testimony, but framed it gently, suggesting honest people can
simply misremember things in chaotic moments. Very clever.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
And then the famous part, the transformation.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Yes, this is where it becomes pure theater. Almost he
takes off his coat, his stock, that formal neckwear, hooks,
his thumbs, and his suspenders when supposedly slipped off his
shoulder and just unleashes.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
What was he like?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
His friend Joshua Speed said, his face became radiant and
glowing full oratorical power. He used analogies like splitting rails.
Once a rail was split, there's no putting it back together,
meaning you can't undo a wrongful conviction.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Did he use literature Shakespeare He was.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Known to, though the book mentions him using othello in
a different about a good name being the jewel of
their souls. He knew how to stir emotion, connect on
a deep level. It was less about just the law,
more about justice, reputation, the weed of their decision.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Wow, how do you follow that? What did Palmer do?
Speaker 2 (19:14):
In rebuttal Palmer was good. He had to acknowledge Lincoln's power.
He apparently started by saying something like, and I suppose
you think you have heard the honest truth, directly challenging
the emotional appeal, went back to the facts exactly, methodically
went through his points again, insisted the laws on self
defense had to be religiously observed this wasn't self defense
(19:38):
according to the law. He argued, tried to bring it
back from emotion to strict legal interpretation, and the jury
they went out and came back incredibly fast, just one
hour and nine minutes and the verdict acquitted peachee Quin
Harrison was found not guilty.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
And that quote from the boy Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
A young local boy named William B. Thompson was quoted
saying Lincoln's speech and earth ferness manner did it rather
than the evidence tells you something about Lincoln's persuasive power.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
What happened after the trial, Well.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Pleasant Plains, the town where it happened, was apparently ripped apart,
very divisive verdict. The store owner where the fight started
was even arrested briefly as an accessory on Lincoln. Lincoln
was now, as he put it, freed from the press
of business in the courts. He immediately hit the road,
campaigning across the Midwest, still denying he wanted the presidency,
but definitely testing the waters. This trial boosted his profile
(20:30):
even more, and Norman Broadwell, the prosecutor fascinating footnote. Broadwell,
who argued against Lincoln, ended up playing a key role
at the eighteen sixty Republican Convention in Chicago. He apparently
did some clever maneuvering with seating delegations that really helped
Lincoln secure the nomination. Politics make strange bedfellows amazing.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
What about the others involved?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Their legacies quite remarkable, many of them. John Palmer, the
lead prosecutor, became a Civil War general, governor of Illinois,
US senator even for President Wow. Judge Rice had a
long distinguished career on the bench and in Congress.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
And Reverend Cartwright, Lincoln's old rival.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
This is incredible. Years later, during the Civil War, Cartwright
completely reassessed Lincoln, called him a gentleman and a patriot
with Christian character, sterling integrity, and far seeing sagacity.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
A total turnaround shows the impact Lincoln had even on adversaries.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
It really does. Doctor Million, the physician with the conflicting testimony,
became a leading citizen and actually married Greek Crafton's sister, Mary.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Impeach Harrison, the man Lincoln saved.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Sadly, his life seemed troubled afterwards, described as having a
volatile personality, became estranged from family, known for telling maybe
exaggerated stories about Lincoln, saving him, and oddly enough, his
younger brother Peter was also acquitted in a murder trial later.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
On strange family history there a bit. Yeah, and his
transcript the reason we know all.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
This found in a shoebox in a garage in nineteen
eighty nine belonging to Quinn Harrisy's great grandson. An unbelievable discovery.
That transcript is the final direct link, the reason Abrams
could write this book in such detail.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
It really brings it all back, it does.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
This deep dive into Lincoln's last trial really shows how
one case, seemingly just a local murder trial became this
crucible for Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Testing his character, his skill, his political future exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
It solidified his reputation as this incredible orator, but also
as someone deeply thoughtful about justice.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
So, as we wrap up, maybe something for you the
listener to think about. Consider how all these complex threads
human nature, personal histories, grudges, legal arguments, the evolving idea
of self defense all played out in this one courtroom.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Yeah, and think about that balance, the truth as witnesses
see it, the truth defined by law, and maybe the
truth that gets shaped by emotion, by persuasion, by a
masterful storyteller like Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
How did those dynamics still shape justice in public perception today?
And how can these seemingly small local moments become these
huge turning points, not just for people like Lincoln, but
maybe even for the direction of a nation. Makes you
think
Welcome to the deep dive. We dig into fascinating sources
to pull out the key insights and we'll figure out
why they matter to you exactly. Today, we're diving into
a story that honestly feels like it could be rips
from a modern true crime show, but it happened over
one hundred and sixty years ago.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
It really does.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
We're talking about this really high stakes murder trial and
it became, maybe unexpectedly, a huge moment for a national
figure right on the edge of well destiny.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
That's right. Our main source here is Dan Abrams's book
Lincoln's Last Trial. It's a fantastic recounting of Abraham Lincoln's
final murder case as a lawyer. And our mission, our
mission is really to unpack this whole, intricate story. We
have these incredible handwritten notes from the court scribe Robert's
hit a Hit, Yes, and through those notes we want
to see why this specific trial was just so pivotal
(00:49):
for Lincoln personally, politically, you know, the whole deal.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Okay, So let's set the scene. We're talking summer eighteen
fifty nine, Springfield, Illinois.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Probably hot, sweltering the books.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Imagine this young man peachee Quinn Harrison. He's twenty two
and he's accused of murder and his defense attorney none
other than Abraham Lincoln.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
And you have to remember Lincoln at this point, he's
already a national figure.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
This is after the big debates with Stephen.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Douglas, exactly fresh off those debates and whispers about him
for president in eighteen sixty, they're already starting, they're getting louder.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
So taking this case it wasn't just like another day
at the office.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
For him, Oh absolutely not. This carried immense political risk.
His reputation was pretty spotless relatively speaking. A loss here,
especially getting his client convicted of murder that could have
seriously dimmed his chances, maybe ended them.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And he had a lot of experience with murder trials,
didn't he.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
He did a vast career, over three thousand cases total apparently,
and more than twenty five murder trials. He'd seen it all,
big wins like that legendary one using an almanac.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Right, the duff Armstrong case, that's.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
The one, So you know, devastating losses. He had a
client hanged once years before that's stuck with him, so the.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Stakes felt really high. For this one personally.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Politically immense, and the case itself. You said it, it
feels modern totally.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
It had everything right.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
It really did well. Like victim greek Crafton, Yeah, stabbed
by his neighbor Peachey Harrison, someone he grew.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Up with neighbors.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Then there's a struggle, a claim of self defense, eyewitnesses.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Including the victim's brother, including.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
The victim's own brother. Yeah, plus this really controversial alleged
death beded mission.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Okay, well, definitely need to get into that.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Oh yeah, and a critical celebrity witness, as the book
calls him, and the whole town fiercely divided. It was
just a social and legal powder.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Keg Enter Roberts hit.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Exactly our sort of unsung hero here. He shows up
in Springfield August eighteen fifty nine.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
And he's not just any court reporter.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Oh, he's a master of phonography. That's a very precise
kind of shorthand.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
And he'd already worked with Lincoln.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
He had his accurate transcriptions of those Lincoln Douglas debates,
where a huge reason Lincoln got national attention. It actually
led to a friendship between them.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
So these transcriptions of the trial, their.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Gold absolutely invaluable. Think about it, no recording devices back then.
Every single word spoken in that courtroom captured by hand hit,
steel tipped pen. It's like a time machine.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
But also risky for.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Lincoln, very risky. Every word, every hesitation, every potential slip up,
it's all down on paper, could end up in newspapers everywhere,
precisely an unprecedented level of scrutiny for a trial lawyer
at the time.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
So Springfield in the eighteen fifties, what was it like
Not some sleeky town.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
No, not at all. Surprisingly bustling, connected by telegraph, railroad,
and just crawling with lawyers. Okay, Lincoln really built his
career writing the Eighth Judicial Circuit. You know, that traveling
group of judges and lawyers going county to county.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Right, that circuit riding must have been quite the education.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
In law and I imagine in people, human nature.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
And Lincoln's world. His office famously.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Messy, oh legendarily so. One student supposedly found bean sprouts
growing in a dirt pile in the corner.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Bean sprouts.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Seriously, that's the story. But for Lincoln it was a refuge,
a quiet place away from what people described as a
kind of difficult home life with his wife Mary.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
He just stretch out and read his notes.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, stretch out on chairs, read aloud, preps his cases,
find some peace there.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
He also apparently told a funny story there about a
different case than Melissa Goings.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
One Ah, Yes, the elderly widow who dispatched her abusive
husband with stovewood.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Right, and Lincoln defended her well, he.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Was hired to. But on the morning of the trial,
after Lincoln had a little chat with her, she just vanished,
vanished poof Lincoln apparently told the judge very dryly, I
left her on the lower floor. She should be in
the care of the sheriff. Case closed.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Essentially a bit unconventional, mate.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Resourceful, let's say. But the Harrison case, this trial was
anything but humorous.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
No so the core incident July sixteenth, a drug store
in Pleasant Plaints.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Shortened Heart drug store. Yeah. Greek Crafton, who was apparently
much bigger than Peachey Harrison. He and his brother John
basically started it, confronted Harrison. You think got violent extremely
Greek Crafton was grievously injured a terrible knife wound lower
rib down to the groin. He didn't die immediately, No,
he lingered for days, three agonizing days before he finally
(05:38):
passed away.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
And this alleged deathbedd ad mission. This is where it gets.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Complicated, deeply complicated. Peache's grandfather, the Reverend Peter Cartwright.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Okay, he's the celebrity witness, a famous Methodist.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Preacher exactly, very well known, powerful speaker. He visits Greek
on his deathbed and supposedly Greek tells him quote, I
brought it upon my and I forgive Quinn.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Wow. If true, that's huge for the defense.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
A potential bombshell. But whether it would even be allowed
as evidence, that was a big question mark.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
And this case gets even more tangled for Lincoln personally,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Oh? Incredibly so. Both families, the Harrisons and the Craftons,
were prominent. Lincoln knew them both.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
He was friends with Peachee's father, Yes.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
A friend and supporter of Peyton Harrison. But here's the kicker.
What Greek crafton the victim? He had actually trained for
the law in Lincoln's own office.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
No way, his former student.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
His former student. Imagine the emotional weight defending the man
accused of killing someone you.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Mentored that's intense. And then there's the grandfather, Reverend.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Cartwright, right, adding another layer. Lincoln and Cartwright had history,
long contentious history here political rivals, big time Cartwright had
beaten Lincoln in elections twice, and he publicly called Lincoln
an infidel. Not exactly buddies.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
So now Lincoln needs his old adversary's testimony to save
his client exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
It's this extraordinary, almost unbelievable alliance born purely out of necessity.
Speaks volumes about Lincoln's pragmatism.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
I think where did all this bad blood even start?
The feud?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
It seems to have ignited about two weeks before the
stabbing at a Fourth of July picnic picnic. Yeah, the
details are murky. Maybe some rumors about domestic issues involving
Peache's sister and Greek's brother. Insults flew, Threats.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Were made, like what kind of threats.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Greek was reportedly heard saying he was gonna whip Harrison.
Peachey apparently responded he had defend himself with a gun.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Just escalating terribly.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Lincoln himself apparently reflected later on the folly of it all,
Such wasted lives from these kinds of feuds.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
It makes you think about Lincoln's own near duel.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Right with James Shields in eighteen forty two, over those
anonymous satirical letters, he and Mary Todd.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Wrote that whole Broadswords thing exactly.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
It was almost farcical, but thankfully it got resolved without
anyone getting hurt. Maybe Lincoln's sheer size help or friends intervened.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
But for Harrison and Crafton, no resolution. Just tragedy, just tragedy.
So the defense team Lincoln, his partner Billy Herndon.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
And Shelby Moore Cullum, who mostly helped with research, gathering testimony.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
In the first legal steps the coroner's inquest.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Right that was early August, and right away the central
conflict was clear. Reverend Cartwright testifying about Greek's dying words,
saying I brought it on myself.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Uh huh.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
But doctor Million, the attending physician, directly contradicted him, said
Greek blamed Harrison.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
So a direct clash and testimony from.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
The start absolutely Lincoln and his co counsel at the
time Logan, they knew this. Their strategy was set early
self defense. Peache was attacked, had to fight back, and
the prosecution. They argued the opposite, Harrison armed himself beforehand,
he intended to kill, murder.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
And the Grandeury sided with the prosecution.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
He did. They formally indicted Harrison, which meant, you know,
full steam ahead for a trial. The whole community was watching.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Lincoln's reputation, honest, Abe, that must have played.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
A role, huge role. He was known for his integrity.
Famously said he wouldn't take cases he didn't believe in.
Quote no client ever had money enough to bribe my conscience.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
That carries weight in a court room.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Immense weight with judges juries. His word meant something.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
And his legal skill beyond just honesty.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Oh, he was a master, largely self taught, just devoured
the big legal texts. Lackstone, Hitty green Leaf story.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
You mentioned thousands of cases, Supreme court appearances.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Yeah, thousands of civil and criminal cases, argued before the
Illinois Supreme Court over three hundred times, even argued before
the US Supreme.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Court once he had seen it all. The strange cases too,
like proving a supposedly dead man was a lie.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The Archibald Fisher case. Yeah, and that duff Armstrong case
with the almanac. Brilliant court re maneuvering, but he also
carried the losses, like that frame case where his client hanged.
He never forgot that.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
So the trial opens. What's the atmosphere?
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Tense? Judge Rice ran a very orderly, no nonsense court
and hit the reporter. He made this interesting observation about Lincoln.
What was that his appearance? His sort of working man's look,
unkempt hair, pants, maybe a bit short, sleeves rolled up.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
You think that was deliberate?
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Hit thought? So, a carefully crafted image made him seem approachable,
relatable to the jury, a subtle but powerful psychological edge.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Interesting. And the prosecution, who was leading that charge.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
A formidable team led by John Palmer, also a very
respected lawyer, and tragically he knew the pain of losing
a client to the gallows himself.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
He was joined by Jim White, John mcclernan, and Norman Broadwell.
A strong lineup.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Jury selection always sounds tedious.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
It was, but Lincoln paid incredibly close attention. They worked
hard to make Harrison seem frail, vulnerable, you know, sympathetic.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Did they get anyone favorable on the jury, Well.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
They managed to seat Moses Pilcher, who was a political
ally of Lincoln's and Norman Broadwell, who had actually studied
law on Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Wait, Broadwell was on the prosecution team and a former student.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Oh wait, let me check that. Ah, sorry, my mistake there.
Broadwell was on the prosecution team, yes, and a former student.
But Pilcher was the ally on the jury. Still having
a former student on the opposing council interesting dynamic, definitely.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
And Lincoln's prep how did he get ready?
Speaker 2 (11:21):
His usual way exhaustive study, especially of the other side's case.
He believed in knowing their arguments better than they did
prevent surprizes. Smart and after that first day hit our
reporter he wrote out just how intense it was. He
felt totally immersed. But he also ran into people in
town who were convinced Harrison was guilty. Showed how divided
things were.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Okay, so testimony begins.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Crafton brothers right, John crafton, the victim's brother, testifies first
long detailed account. He admits he and Greek intended to
quote whip Harrison. He bets that he does, but crucially
for the defense, he also admits he did not see
the cutting.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Ah, Lincoln must have jumped on that.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Oh yeah, skillful cross examination really emphasizing Harrison seemed reluctant
to fight, that he was pulled into it. And then
the reenactment, Yeah, pretty dramatic stuff. Lincoln himself plays Peachy Harrison,
John crafton plays his own brother Greek. They physically act
out the struggle.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Trying to show Greek was the aggressor.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Exactly show his intent, and another witness, Daniel Harnett, backed
up Harrison's desperate cry, My God, have I no friends here?
Speaker 1 (12:27):
But the prosecution had witnesses about Harrison's threats too, right.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
They did testimony about Harrison calling crafton a son of
a bh. Another witness heard Harrison threaten to cut his
guts out if Greek jumped on him, damaging stuff for the.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Defense, the threats flying both ways. This is where Lincoln
really had to dig into the law.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Absolutely, this is fascinating. He apparently went back to his
messy office alone and just dove deep, not just into
case law, but into the philosophy of self defense philosophy
like Plato, Plato, Lock Hobbs. He was looking at the
historical roots, how the definition had evolved. He contrasted the
(13:06):
old English rule, you know, retreat to the wall right
with the maybe more lenient American frontier view. He pulled
up specific cases precedents arguing for a broader interpretation of
self defense For Harrison.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
It wasn't just academic for him, though, was it? You
mentioned Greek Crafton was his former student exactly?
Speaker 2 (13:26):
The book suggests Lincoln really wrestled with this. He remembered
Greek's booming laughter from his time in the office. He
even questioned himself wondered if he was properly mourning the
young man's death while trying to save his accused killer.
Shows his depth, his humanity.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Even while the prosecution is building their.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Case right, Palmer and his team are focused their argument
Harrison killed an unarmed man. There was no immediate, unavoidable danger.
That's murder or at least manslaughter.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Did they use precedents too?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
They did. Brodwell brought up the Boston massacre trial from
seventeen seventy John Adams defend the British soldiers arguing self defense. Okay,
but one soldier, Private Kilroy, was convicted of manslaughter because
he'd made prior threats. Palmer saw the parallel Harrison's own words.
His threats could sink him even if it wasn't premeditated murder.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
And Palmer had that personal connection, the loss of his
own son, Yes.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
His son Benjamin would have been about Greek's age. That grief,
that pain undoubtedly fueled his drive for conviction, justice for
Greek and.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
The dying declaration. What was their strategy there?
Speaker 2 (14:30):
It was tricky. They knew the power of Cartwright's testimony
a man won't meet his maker with a lie, but
they also had doctor Million's conflicting account. Ultimately, they knew
it was up to Judge Rice whether to even admit
Cartwright's version of the dying words. It was a huge gamble,
make or break.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So day two more witnesses Yes.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Doctor John Allen, a friend of Lincoln's, testifies. He says
he heard John Crafton yelling at Greek during the fight.
Let him have it, give it to him, more evidence
of Greek's aggression.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
But Palmer objected immediately.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Sharp object argued these threats were irrelevant unless the defense
could prove Harrison actually heard them or knew about them directly,
a key legal point.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
How did Lincoln respond passionately?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
The jury was sent out, and Lincoln apparently gave Judge
Rice this forceful almost angry argument, really angry, that's how
it's described. He argued. It wasn't just about what Harrison knew,
it was about Greek's intent. If Greek intended serious harm,
that makes Harrison's resistance his self defense more believable, more necessary.
(15:33):
He used an analogy, a vivid one about boar hunting.
Sometimes you get tangled with something dangerous and you just
need help letting go to survive. It was about Greek's
state of mind too.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
Did it work? Did the judge allow the threats?
Speaker 2 (15:45):
He did? Judge Rice allowed the testimony about the threats,
a major victory for Lincoln and the defense.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Then they brought in medical.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Testimony, Yeah, trying to reinforce the idea of Harrison being weaker,
more vulnerable. A witness called Skinny Tom testified Greek was
way bigger, maybe twenty pounds heavier, and Harrison.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Was sickly, and Harrison's doctor, doctor.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Atherton, confirmed Harrison had been in feeble health for years.
Palmer tried to poke holes in that, suggesting it was
just based on appearance, but it added to the picture.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
The defense was painting, and then the big one, Reverend Cartwright.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
The moment everyone was waiting for You could feel the tension.
Apparently Lincoln's old rival takes the stand.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Does Lincoln question him?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
No, Logan, his co counsel, handled the questioning. Lincoln just
sat there silent watching.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
What did Cartwright say?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
He delivered powerfully retold Greek Crafton's dying words. I brought
it upon myself. I forgive Quinn. Just devastating testimony for
the prosecution.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Did they try to back that up?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yes, Several other defense witnesses came on family members, another reverend,
doctor Allen. Again, they corroborated Greek making threats beforehand, and
they supported Cartwright's account of the dying declaration, though proving
Harrison knew about the specific threats remained that tricky legal point.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
So oh, all the evidence is in time for closing.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Arguments, right, and closing arguments. Summations were becoming a really
big deal in trials back then. A chance for lawyers
to mix law, facts, emotion, character really sway the jury.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Prosecution goes first.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Broadwell starts for the prosecution, very methodical, laid out the facts.
Harrison stabbed Greek, Greek was unarmed. No proof Harrison knew
about the threats. ClearCase he argued, and the defense Shelby
Cullum argued for the defense, first focused on the bad
blood Greek's clear intent to stamp and maul Harrison. He
dramatically revisited Cartwright's testimony about the dying Words, setting the stage.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
For Lincoln and Lincoln's summation. This is a legendary, right,
it really is.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
He starts off in his usual style, conversational, earnest, natural,
dropping the g's offwards, sometimes very relatable.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
He told a story.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, started with a funny, self deprecating story, but an
absent minded Englishman disarmed the jury immediately got them leaning
in clas sick Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
But then he gets serious, very serious.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Reminded the jury of their awesome obligation, hammered home that
murder requires intent. Malice argued. The prosecution has just hadn't
proven that beyond doubt.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Did he attack the witnesses, not.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Directly, That wasn't his style. He meticulously pointed out inconsistencies
and testimony, but framed it gently, suggesting honest people can
simply misremember things in chaotic moments. Very clever.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
And then the famous part, the transformation.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Yes, this is where it becomes pure theater. Almost he
takes off his coat, his stock, that formal neckwear, hooks,
his thumbs, and his suspenders when supposedly slipped off his
shoulder and just unleashes.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
What was he like?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
His friend Joshua Speed said, his face became radiant and
glowing full oratorical power. He used analogies like splitting rails.
Once a rail was split, there's no putting it back together,
meaning you can't undo a wrongful conviction.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Did he use literature Shakespeare He was.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Known to, though the book mentions him using othello in
a different about a good name being the jewel of
their souls. He knew how to stir emotion, connect on
a deep level. It was less about just the law,
more about justice, reputation, the weed of their decision.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Wow, how do you follow that? What did Palmer do?
Speaker 2 (19:14):
In rebuttal Palmer was good. He had to acknowledge Lincoln's power.
He apparently started by saying something like, and I suppose
you think you have heard the honest truth, directly challenging
the emotional appeal, went back to the facts exactly, methodically
went through his points again, insisted the laws on self
defense had to be religiously observed this wasn't self defense
(19:38):
according to the law. He argued, tried to bring it
back from emotion to strict legal interpretation, and the jury
they went out and came back incredibly fast, just one
hour and nine minutes and the verdict acquitted peachee Quin
Harrison was found not guilty.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
And that quote from the boy Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
A young local boy named William B. Thompson was quoted
saying Lincoln's speech and earth ferness manner did it rather
than the evidence tells you something about Lincoln's persuasive power.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
What happened after the trial, Well.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Pleasant Plains, the town where it happened, was apparently ripped apart,
very divisive verdict. The store owner where the fight started
was even arrested briefly as an accessory on Lincoln. Lincoln
was now, as he put it, freed from the press
of business in the courts. He immediately hit the road,
campaigning across the Midwest, still denying he wanted the presidency,
but definitely testing the waters. This trial boosted his profile
(20:30):
even more, and Norman Broadwell, the prosecutor fascinating footnote. Broadwell,
who argued against Lincoln, ended up playing a key role
at the eighteen sixty Republican Convention in Chicago. He apparently
did some clever maneuvering with seating delegations that really helped
Lincoln secure the nomination. Politics make strange bedfellows amazing.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
What about the others involved?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Their legacies quite remarkable, many of them. John Palmer, the
lead prosecutor, became a Civil War general, governor of Illinois,
US senator even for President Wow. Judge Rice had a
long distinguished career on the bench and in Congress.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
And Reverend Cartwright, Lincoln's old rival.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
This is incredible. Years later, during the Civil War, Cartwright
completely reassessed Lincoln, called him a gentleman and a patriot
with Christian character, sterling integrity, and far seeing sagacity.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
A total turnaround shows the impact Lincoln had even on adversaries.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
It really does. Doctor Million, the physician with the conflicting testimony,
became a leading citizen and actually married Greek Crafton's sister, Mary.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Impeach Harrison, the man Lincoln saved.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Sadly, his life seemed troubled afterwards, described as having a
volatile personality, became estranged from family, known for telling maybe
exaggerated stories about Lincoln, saving him, and oddly enough, his
younger brother Peter was also acquitted in a murder trial later.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
On strange family history there a bit. Yeah, and his
transcript the reason we know all.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
This found in a shoebox in a garage in nineteen
eighty nine belonging to Quinn Harrisy's great grandson. An unbelievable discovery.
That transcript is the final direct link, the reason Abrams
could write this book in such detail.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
It really brings it all back, it does.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
This deep dive into Lincoln's last trial really shows how
one case, seemingly just a local murder trial became this
crucible for Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Testing his character, his skill, his political future exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
It solidified his reputation as this incredible orator, but also
as someone deeply thoughtful about justice.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
So, as we wrap up, maybe something for you the
listener to think about. Consider how all these complex threads
human nature, personal histories, grudges, legal arguments, the evolving idea
of self defense all played out in this one courtroom.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Yeah, and think about that balance, the truth as witnesses
see it, the truth defined by law, and maybe the
truth that gets shaped by emotion, by persuasion, by a
masterful storyteller like Lincoln.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
How did those dynamics still shape justice in public perception today?
And how can these seemingly small local moments become these
huge turning points, not just for people like Lincoln, but
maybe even for the direction of a nation. Makes you
think
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