In Vail et al. v. Pratt, Lincoln & Herndon, for defendant, are allowed appeal to Supreme Court. In Johnson et ux. v. Aldridge et ux., trespass and assault and battery, jury finds for plaintiffs, their clients, and awards them $97.50 damages. On their motion, petition to enforce mechanics lien, Pilcher v. Cole et al., is taken for confessed. Record.

Lincoln & Herndon are attorneys for plaintiff in Williams v. Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Co., assumpsit suit. Jury is unable to agree and is discharged. They win chancery case, Gaines v. Black et al., by default. Motions and pleas are filed in two other cases. Record.

Lincoln writes to James F. Joy, Illinois Central attorney, regarding possible action in law case. "I think I can get the hearing of the case postponed to the beginning of February. Can you not be here by that time? Please write me." Abraham Lincoln to James F. Joy, 2 December 1853, CW, 2:207.

Lincoln & Herndon win two cases by default. The first, Hazlett et ux. v. Drennan et al., is partition suit; second, McDaniel et al. v. McDaniel, involves dower right. Record.

In Cassity v. Chicago & Mississippi RR, appeal, jury finds for plaintiff and awards $12 damages. Lincoln & Herndon are attorneys for railroad. Pleadings are filed in two other cases. Record.

Lincoln & Herndon enter nonsuit in Johnson v. McMullen. In Popper v. Patton et al. they secure change of venue to McLean County. They lose appeal, McGlasson v. Power et al., when court affirms decision of lower court awarding plaintiff $32.50 damages. In Cantrall, conservator of Cantrall v. Cantrall et al., before court November 23, 1853, their client is permitted to sell lands of his lunatic son. Pleadings are filed in five other cases. Record.

Defendant in Amos v. Ransom, mechanics lien, is ordered to pay Lincoln & Herndon's client $23. In Spear v. Hay, ejectment suit, jury finds their client, John Hay, defendant, not guilty. Lincoln writes instructions to jury. Agreed verdict with leave to appeal to Supreme Court is entered in Coffin et al. v. Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln & Herndon represent complainant. They have four other cases which do not come to trial. Record; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

State's attorney drops prosecution of two cases of People v. Williams, indictments for murder and assault. Lincoln & Herndon are Williams' attorneys. They dismiss Martin v. Martin, chancery, and agree to submit Snow & Keys for use of Keys v. DeCamp, assumpsit, to arbitrators. They file demurrer to defendant's cross-bill in Shoup v. Owens, and amended bills in McGraw v. Adams et al., and Sperry v. Sperry. Record.

Lincoln & Herndon's demurrer in Shoup v. Owens is sustained, and after argument, complainant is ordered to recover $581.92. In Blackford et al. v. People, defendants are enjoined from collecting part of judgment, and by agreement are allowed appeal to Supreme Court. Lincoln writes court order. Lincoln & Herndon are attorneys for complainant. They win two other cases, are granted new trial in third, and file pleas in four more. Record; Photocopy.

Supreme Court meets but adjourns from day to day until January 4, 1854. Record.

Lincoln receives letter from T. J. Turner together with depositions to be used in Adams case, which is docketed for approaching session of federal courts. Abraham Lincoln to Thomas J. Turner, 14 December 1853, CW, 2:207-8.

Lincoln replies to Turner's letter: "By my agreement with Logan, made when I filed the Bill last summer, he has the option to continue the cause over this ensuing term, and now elects to do so. This dispenses with your coming now, even if you should attend the trial when it does come off, which I think you need not do at any sacrifice." Abraham Lincoln to Thomas J. Turner, 14 December 1853, CW, 2:207-8.

"The United States' District and Circuit Court opened in this city on Tuesday—Judge Drummond present, and all the officers. . . . It is said the docket is quite large, and that the term is likely to be interesting." Illinois Journal, 22 December 1853.

Lincoln writes to T. J. Turner: "We can use Bradshaw as a witness, and we ought, by all means, to do it, if we can have any assurance that he will testify fairly. . . . He can make the matter entirely plain, on all the points, and no one else can. If you conclude to trust him, write me, and I will, at this term, get an order of court to examine him." Abraham Lincoln to Thomas J. Turner, 21 December 1853, CW, 2:208.

Lincoln and Bowman, representing plaintiff in Jones v. McLean in U.S. Circuit Court, secure verdict for their client in amount of $34.44 and costs. Record.

Complainant in Bank of Missouri v. Caldwell et al., before U.S. Circuit Court November 4, 1852, dismisses his bill against alleged debtors of bank. Record.

Lincoln writes to H. E. Dummer: "Butler has just shown me your letter to him concerning the Grubb debt; and, in relation to your intimation that you might be induced to sell it, he desires me to say to you that, in a few daysover three months he is sure to get the principal of the debt (without interest) and that . . . he will entertain any proposition you may make, to sell." Abraham Lincoln to Henry E. Dummer, 26 December 1853, CW, 2:209.

Williams and Lawrence for plaintiff and Browning, Bushnell, and Lincoln for defendant try Northrup v. Wallen et al., ejectment suit. Record.

In Northrup v. Brown, before U.S. Circuit Court January 28, 1853, jury is waived and court finds for plaintiff with one cent damages. Case is ejectment suit. Browning, Bushnell, and Lincoln are counsel for defendant. Court also finds for plaintiff with same damages in Northrup v. Wallen et al.Record.

Lincoln deposits $2.06 cash in his account at Irwin's store, and is credited with $3.31 on year-end balance. Irwin Ledger and Journal.