A lesson from Abe Lincoln

Reader comment on: Portland Outlaws Groupon Discounts

Submitted by kyl (United States), Apr 27, 2012 00:17

I remember reading a story about Abe Lincoln when he was a practicing atty. He was representing railroad companies who were being sued by the steamboat companies who were trying to prevent them from competing.

The opposing attorney's closing argument to the jury lasted several hours. When Lincoln approached the jury, he said that while his opponent did an impressive job and was very convincing, the jury's job was to simply decide if the steamboaters had MORE OF A RIGHT to move goods than did the railroaders. Then he sat down.

And won. The jury, as I recall, returned their verdict within minutes.

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