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Lincoln Law Partner William Herndon. Autograph Lincoln Law Partner William Henry Herndon.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:2,200.00 - 2,800.00 USD
Lincoln Law Partner William Herndon. Autograph Lincoln Law Partner William Henry Herndon.
<B>Lincoln Law Partner William Henry Herndon.</B></I> Autograph Document Signed <I>"Nancy M. Clarkson by Lincoln & Herndon her Sols".</B></I> Sangamon Co. (Ill.), April 1860, three pages, folio. A bill for divorce which, among its grounds, makes a very rare mention of attempted child-rape. Mrs. Clarkson states that she married James J. Clarkson in Texas in 1853 and that they subsequently lived in Louisiana before moving to Illinois, where they settled at Chicago and then, in July 1856, at Springfield. She avers that in Chicago her husband <I>"had illicit intercourse with various women of bad character" and that in Springfield he has "committed adultery with various bad and lewd women...Said Clarkson is a shiftless man, a man of bad habits, drinks & gambles."</B></I> Furthermore, on or about Dec. 1, 1860 (sic; presumably 1859) Clarkson <I>"evilly & wickedly made an assault upon a little girl named Mary Wood with an intent…to commit a rape on her. She is about 10 years of age and could give no consent; and if she could it is all the same so far as this bill is concerned…Clarkson…was arrested…and bound over to…appear before the next term of the circuit court…Clarkson gave bail and has departed to places unknown…"</B></I> From the Henry E. Luhrs Collection.