Grandson of Rev. Peter Cartwright
Peachy Quinn Harrison. A young man named Greek Crafton, had threatened him many times of
Physical harm. In 1859, they got into a fight at a drugstore and a four inch, white handled knife was plunged into the aggressor, leaving him mortally wounded. The aggressor was a law clerk and student of law in Abraham Lincoln's law firm. Lincoln offered his services to defend his grandson. The Minister,
Rev. Peter Cartwright, had gone to see the young man on his deathbed and pray for him and was told by the young man, "I brought it upon myself and I forgive him and I want it said to all my friends that I have no enmity in my heart against any man. If I die I want it declared to all that I died in peace with God and all mankind."
The Harrison family hired a shorthand reporter, Robert A. Hitt to write the complete transcript of the trial, in case it was appealed. This became the only complete handwritten transcript known to exist of thousands of civil and criminal court cases he held during twenty four years as a circuit riding lawyer.
This document was discovered in a Fresno, California, box in the 1990s by a descendant. The trial lasted four days. He was found not guilty after eleven men debated one hour and 9 minutes at four o'clock in the afternoon. The not guilty verdict is believed to have happened because Lincoln argued loudly with the judge to allow the Minister to be his star witness. At first the judge said no but later reversed himself when Lincoln fought his ruling so vigorously.
Grandson of Rev. Peter Cartwright
Peachy Quinn Harrison. A young man named Greek Crafton, had threatened him many times of
Physical harm. In 1859, they got into a fight at a drugstore and a four inch, white handled knife was plunged into the aggressor, leaving him mortally wounded. The aggressor was a law clerk and student of law in Abraham Lincoln's law firm. Lincoln offered his services to defend his grandson. The Minister,
Rev. Peter Cartwright, had gone to see the young man on his deathbed and pray for him and was told by the young man, "I brought it upon myself and I forgive him and I want it said to all my friends that I have no enmity in my heart against any man. If I die I want it declared to all that I died in peace with God and all mankind."
The Harrison family hired a shorthand reporter, Robert A. Hitt to write the complete transcript of the trial, in case it was appealed. This became the only complete handwritten transcript known to exist of thousands of civil and criminal court cases he held during twenty four years as a circuit riding lawyer.
This document was discovered in a Fresno, California, box in the 1990s by a descendant. The trial lasted four days. He was found not guilty after eleven men debated one hour and 9 minutes at four o'clock in the afternoon. The not guilty verdict is believed to have happened because Lincoln argued loudly with the judge to allow the Minister to be his star witness. At first the judge said no but later reversed himself when Lincoln fought his ruling so vigorously.
Gravesite Details
There is no marker on Peachy's grave. Blk 13N , grave1208
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