| Notes |
- Roswell Goings was a 77-year-old, well-to-do farmer, heavy drinker and known wife beater who lived in Worth Township in Woodford County. Melissa Goings was his 70-year-old wife who alleged that Roswell attempted to strangle her in their home on April 14, 1857. She later acknowledged that she found it necessary to defend herself by striking Roswell with a piece of firewood, knocking him unconscious.
Legend has it that Roswells friends were able to revive him that evening, and he supposedly said that Melissa attacked and struck him about the head several times, saying something about getting the house and farm. Unfortunately for Roswell, he lapsed back into unconsciousness and died four days later. A coroners inquest was held, and Sheriff Abiah Minor had no choice but to arrest Melissa when she was indicted for first-degree murder. She was allowed her freedom pending trial after bail was posted, and a trial date was set for October 10, 1857.
When Lincoln entered the courtroom of the Woodford County Courthouse in Metamora, he supposedly indicated that he needed more time to prepare his case and get to know his client, but Judge James Harriott would only grant him a recess to prepare a first-degree murder defense. There are two versions of what happened next: 1) that Lincoln and Mrs. Goings walked outside, and 2) that they sat in a downstairs office to talk privately.
Lincoln was in need of more information, but he also needed time to deal with the surprise revocation of Melissas bond, which may have alerted him to the judges possible predisposition to conduct the trial without much concern for the womans defense. In other words, she would be on trial before a possibly unsympathetic judge, and a conviction could result in her being hung. The town felt sorry for Melissa and didnt want to prosecute, let alone hang her, and Lincoln must have been aware of these sentiments. He may also have been of the opinion that the judge didnt much care about the towns sentiments, which may have encouraged Lincoln or others to seek justice for a victim who might pay with her life for having defended it from a brutal attacker.
As her bond had been revoked, Melissa was technically the responsibility of the sheriff. At the end of the recess, the courtroom again began to fill up with officers of the court and the many spectators who enjoyed the entertainment that such a case providedparticularly one involving Lincoln, the skilled trial lawyer, and his well-known country wit.
Everyone returned from the recesseveryone, that is, except Melissa Goings, who was nowhere to be found. One person allegedly saw a foot going through an open window, but no one else could or would provide any additional information. Again, there appear to be different versions of what happened next. One version has Lincoln being accused by a bailiff of running her off, as he was the last one seen with her. The more popular version has Lincoln responding to the judges demand that he approach the bench and explain any part he may have played in his clients disappearance. In the commotion of what must have been a confused courtroom, it is said that Lincoln told the judge, Your honor, I did not chase her off. She simply asked me where she could get a good drink of water, and I said…Tennessee has mighty fine drinkin water. Legend has it that this was received with uproarious laughter from a thoroughly entertained crowd.
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1779 - 1857 (78 years)
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