Another one of these anecdotes is related in connection with a case
involving a bodily attack. Mr. Lincoln defended, and told the jury that
his client was in the fix of a man who, in going along the highway with
a pitchfork over his shoulder, was attacked by a fierce dog that ran out
at him from a farmer’s door-yard. In parrying off the brute with the fork
its prongs stuck into him and killed him.
“What made you kill my dog?” said the farmer.
“What made him bite me?”
“But why did you not go after him with the other end of the pitchfork?”
“Why did he not come at me with his other end?” At this Mr. Lincoln
whirled about in his long arms an imaginary dog and pushed his tail
end towards the jury. This was the defensive plea of “Son assault
demesne”--loosely, that “The other fellow brought on the fight”--quickly
told and in a way the dullest mind would grasp and retain.