Soon afterwards he met with an accident by which he lost a hand.

Meeting Lincoln some time after, on the steps of the State House, the kind lawyer asked him how he was getting along.

"Badly enough," replied Mr.
Cogdal.

"I am both broken up in business and crippled." Then he added, "I have been thinking about that note of yours." Lincoln, who had probably known all about Mr.Cogdal's troubles, and had prepared himself for the meeting, took out his pocket-book, and saying, with a laugh, "Well you needn't think any more about it," handed him the note.

Mr.
Cogdal protesting, Lincoln said, "Even if you had the money, I would not take it," and hurried away.
Mr.G.L.Austin thus describes an incident of Lincoln's career at the bar: "Mr.Lincoln was once associated with Mr.Leonard Swett in defending a man accused of murder.