A young man living in Kentucky had been enticed into the rebel army.
After a few months he became disgusted, and managed to make his way
back home. Soon after his arrival, the Union officer in command of the
military stationed in the town had him arrested as a rebel spy, and,
after a military trial he was condemned to be hanged.
President Lincoln was seen by one of his friends from Kentucky, who
explained his errand and asked for mercy. “Oh, yes, I understand; some
one has been crying, and worked upon your feelings, and you have come
here to work on mine.”
His friend then went more into detail, and assured him of his belief in
the truth of the story. After some deliberation, Mr. Lincoln, evidently
scarcely more than half convinced, but still preferring to err on the
side of mercy, replied:
“If a man had more than one life, I think a little hanging would not
hurt this one; but after he is once dead we cannot bring him back, no
matter how sorry we may be; so the boy shall be pardoned.”
And a reprieve was given on the spot.