Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Harriott, James. 'James Harriott (William H. Herndon Interview)' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: interview]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon703.html

[undated]

Judge Harriott

Says that Mr Lincoln told him that Mrs Armstrong ^[1] first Saw and spoke to Mr Lincoln: he Said that L told him that when he L Came to Salem that the Clary boys intended to whip L & run him off — [can him?] &c — he threw Jack Armstrong — : L came to Beardstown and defended the Prisoner chgd nothing — had an old almanac — L did not Know it — no one noticed it — L. believed that the principle witness was true — moon theory ^[2] Saved the boy — There was no Excitement — no furror — no Enthusiasm: it was a Common trial — Generally the article ^[3] from beginning to End is a humbug —

Metzker ^[4] was the killed. One man ^[5] was Sent to the Penitentiary for the Same

offense 5 ys — : This man Struck Metzker with what was Called a neck yoke — Year 1858 — Armstrong tried — Armstrong got a Change of venue — Lincolns Theory was that the neck yoke killed Metz and that it cracked the Skull in front — where Armstrong is supposed to have struck — The Almanac may have cut a figure — but it was Doct Parkers ^[6] testimony Confirming Lincolns theory — the Court Saw this —

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 3915

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