The Armstrong baby, Willie, grew to be a youth of wrong habits, and was nicknamed "Duff." He was drawn, one afternoon, into a bad quarrel with another rough young man, named Metzker, who was brutally beaten. In the evening a vicious young man, named Morris, joined the row and the lad was struck on the head and died without telling who had dealt the fatal blow. The blame was thrown upon "Duff" Armstrong, who was arrested. Illinois law preventing him from testifying in his own behalf. When Lawyer Lincoln heard of the case, he wrote as follows: "SPRINGFIELD, ILL., September, 1857. "DEAR MRS. ARMSTRONG: "I have just heard of your deep affliction, and the arrest of your son for murder. "I can hardly believe that he can be capable of the crime alleged against him. "It does not seem possible. I am anxious that he should be given a fair trial, at any rate; and gratitude for your long-continued kindness to me in adverse circumstances prompts me to offer my humble services gratuitously in his behalf. "It will afford me an opportunity to requite, in a small degree, the favors I received at your hand, and that of your lamented husband, when your roof afforded me a grateful shelter, without money and without price. "Yours truly, "A. LINCOLN." The feeling in the neighborhood where the crime was committed was so intense that it was decided that it must be taken over to the next county to secure a fair trial. Lawyer Lincoln was on hand to defend the son of his old friend. Besides those who testified to the bad character of the young prisoner, one witness, named Allen, testified that he saw "Duff" Armstrong strike the blow which killed Metzker. "Couldn't you be mistaken about this?" asked Mr. Lincoln. "What time did you see it?" "Between nine and ten o'clock that night." "Are you certain that you saw the prisoner strike the blow?--Be careful--remember--you are under oath!" "I am sure. There is no doubt about it." "But wasn't it dark at that hour?" "No, the moon was shining bright." "Then you say there was a moon and it was not dark." "Yes, it was light enough for me to see him hit Metzker on the head." "Now I want you to be very careful. I understand you to say the murder was committed about half past nine o'clock, and there was a bright moon at the time?" "Yes, sir," said the witness positively. "Very well. That is all." Then Lawyer Lincoln produced an almanac showing that there was no moon that night till the early hours of the morning. "This witness has perjured himself," he said, "and his whole story is a lie." * * * * *