LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Autograph document, n.p. [Vermilion County Circuit Court], n.d. [14 May 1852].

Three pages of text penned on two sheets, the first sheet being 200 x 315mm, the second being 200 x 276mm (silked, sizeable filled-in chips at the margins with some loss of text on the first page, some repaired tears on the second leaf slightly impacting text.).

Lincoln's handwritten notes as judge of the Peabody v. Roney case, documenting numerous witness testimonies and cross-examinations. Elias Peabody and Benjamin Roney were partners in publishing the Illinois Herald newspaper. Peabody sued to stop Roney from collecting money for subscriptions, claiming that it was a breach of their contract. Through his notes as presiding judge here, Lincoln details the testimonies of numerous witnesses, notably describing from one such witness how Roney's name came to be dropped from the Illinois Herald: "Roney said he was out of the d----nd scope - had sold out to Peabody & he was to consult[?] the paper to the end of the volume - About that time Roney's name went out of the paper". After nearly a year since proceedings began, Lincoln would rule in favor of the defendant Roney, dissolving the injunction and dismissing the case. See Benner, Martha L., and Cullom Davis et al., eds. The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d ed. Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009, http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org.