Lincoln participates in several cases in the U. S. Circuit Court. In the case of Emmitt v. Barret, Lincoln & Herndon represent plaintiff James Emmitt. Judge Samuel H. Treat hears the attorneys' arguments regarding Emmitt's demurrer to defendant James A. Barret's plea. Emmitt is suing Barret for failure to repay a promissory note. Lincoln and Norman H. Purple represent plaintiff Lloyd Powell in two cases, Powell v. Kern and Powell v. Ament & Beer, both involving a dispute over some land located in Adams County. Lincoln and Purple file a declaration and a notice in each case, and Lincoln signs documents naming himself as a surety in the cases. Lincoln and Purple ask the court to order the defendants in both cases to "plead...in twenty days, or...his default be entered." Judge Treat grants the requests. In the case of S. C. Davis & Co. v. Miller, Lincoln & Herndon represent the plaintiff company, which is suing John B. Miller to recover the money Miller owes on an unpaid promissory note. Miller fails to appear in court, and Judge Treat declares Miller in default. Judge Treat orders the court clerk to assess the damages in the case and then orders Miller to pay that amount, $1,635.97, to the company. Order, 12 January 1858, Emmitt v. Barret, Record Group 21, General Records, Vol. 1, 244; Declaration, filed 2 January 1858, Emmitt v. Barret, Record Group 21, case file 279; Declaration, Notice, filed 12 January 1858, Powell v. Kern, Record Group 21, case file 311; Declaration, Notice, filed 12 January 1858, Powell v. Ament & Beer, Record Group 21, case file 723; Clerk's Docket, 12 January 1858, Powell v. Kern, Record Group 21, [Clerk's] General Docket, Vol. 1, fol. 63; Clerk's Docket, 12 January 1858, Powell v. Ament & Beer, Record Group 21, [Clerk's] General Docket, Vol. 1, fol. 63, all in U. S. Circuit Court, Southern District of Illinois, all in National Archives and Records Administration, Great Lakes Region, Chicago, IL; Bond for Costs, 12 January 1858, Powell v. Kern, Lincoln Memorial University, Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, Harrogate, TN; Bond for Costs, 12 January 1858, Powell v. Ament & Beer, Record Group 21, case file 723; Order, 12 January 1858, Powell v. Kern, Record Group 21, General Records, Vol. 1, 245; Order, 12 January 1858, Powell v. Ament & Beer, Record Group 21, General Records, Vol. 1, 245; Assessment, [12 January 1858], S. C. Davis & Co. v. Miller, Record Group 21, case file 255; Order, 12 January 1858, S. C. Davis & Co. v. Miller, Record Group 21, General Records, Vol. 1, 246; Judgment Docket, 12 January 1858, S. C. Davis & Co. v. Miller, Record Group 21, Judgment Docket, Vol. 1, fol. 18, all in U. S. Circuit Court, Southern District of Illinois, National Archives and Records Administration, Great Lakes Region, Chicago, IL.