Description
A two-page handwritten letter from Abraham Lincoln to fellow attorney, Thomas J. Turner, of Freeport, Illinois, addressing their future legal strategy since “…the Judge has already decided.” The letter is dated June 27, 1853, and is self-addressed in Lincoln’s hand on the integral leaf. Lincoln served with Turner in the United States House of Representatives from 1847-1849.
Octavo, [4pp]. Previously folded, glue remnant along top edge. Several folds of the letter are weakened, some partially separated. Small paper loss at intersecting fold, with archival tissue repair. The letter is addressed in Lincoln’s hand, with “Springfield” and “Paid 3” stamped on cover. Housed in custom folding folio, quarter blue morocco, blue cloth, title in gilt on the spine, illustration of Lincoln on the front pastedown.
This letter concerns the case of Kemper v. Adams & Bovey, a land dispute in Freeport, Illinois. Lincoln was retained by Adams and Bovey, who after a series of losses and appeals, prevailed in March 1858, by appealing to U.S. Circuit Court of Northern Illinois.
Full letter reads: “Springfield, June 27. 1853. / Hon. T. J. Turner: / Dear Sir: Your letter of the 20th. reached me, day-before yesterday. I had, the day before, written to Adams to be on hand with his witnesses- but, at the request of Judge Logan, who is Kemper’s attorney, I put in a Post-script, saying to Adams, if he was agreed, the cause should be continued over the summer term. On subsequent reflection, I rather wish Adams may not agree. I have the case fresh in my mind, and therefore wish to keep it going till it is finished. I have already drafted a Bill of Exceptions, and my plan is to put the common lawsuit through the forms of a second trial, up to a verdict (which must be against us, under Judge D’s view of the law) except, & save all the points, and then, before judgment, file our Bill and get an injunction. I shall begin preparing a Bill this afternoon, which I which I wish to file during the evening term; and I believe I will do this, Mr Adams must come down to swear to the Bill. In no event can we be ready for proof in the chancery suit at this time, so that we will need no other witness than the one that was here last summer. I wrote Mr Adams about a Register’s certificate & if he can find one or two missing tax receipts, let him bring them. I should be glad to see you & shake you by the hand; but as there is no contested jury question, I scarcely think you need be at the trouble & expense of coming. All the law questions which can arise at this term, the Judge has already decided. Very truly yours A. Lincoln.”
Provenance: Originally the property of Claribel Mitchell of Freeport, Illinois, a principal at the Lincoln School until 1916. The letter was sold at auction by the American Art Association on January 30, 1923, to Mr. George A. Ball of Muncie, Indiana, the namesake of the Ball Mason Jar Company. This letter was published in The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln by Roy Basler, (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), 2:199-200.
