In the Shelby County Circuit Court, Lincoln writes a promissory note for John A. Mercer, his client in the case of People v. Noland et al. In the note, Mercer promises to pay Lincoln $7.69 within five months for "value received." Promissory Note, 25 May 1852, People v. Noland et al., IHi, Springfield, IL.

In inventory of Lincoln's estate, note is listed as "worthless." IHi—Lincoln Estate Inventory.

Lincoln appears in court for the defendants in two related trespass vi et armis cases, Alderson v. Noland et al., and Alderson v. Noland et al. Lincoln asks Judge David Davis to require plaintiff German Alderson to file a bond for costs in both cases. Lincoln files an affidavit in support of that motion and he also files a set of pleas in both cases. Lincoln and Anthony Thornton represent defendant James Mitchell in the slander case of Mitchell et ux. v. Mitchell, and they file a plea on his behalf. In another slander case, Johnson v. Hardy, Lincoln and Samuel W. Moulton file three pleas for defendant Thomas Hardy. Johnson's attorneys file replications to all three pleas, and Lincoln endorses the replications with joinders. Judge Davis calls a jury to hear the evidence in the case. The jury finds Hardy guilty and awards plaintiff John W. Johnson $50 in damages. Judge Davis also orders Hardy to pay $9.85 for court costs. The court rules against Lincoln's client, William Walker, in the appeal case of Walker v. Morrison, and orders him to pay defendant John Morrison $7.39. The court also orders Walker to pay "the costs of this suit, in both courts, except the attendance and costs of subpoenaing Joseph Morrison, the Defendants son." Affidavit, 25 May 1852, Alderson v. Noland et al., Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Pleas, filed 25 May 1852, Alderson v. Noland et al., Lincoln Collection, Tokyo Lincoln Center, Meisei University, Tokyo, Japan; Pleas, Notice, 25 May 1852, Mitchell et ux. v. Mitchell, Shelby County Circuit Court, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; Plea, c. May 1852, Johnson v. Hardy, case file, box 9; Plea, c. May 1852, Johnson v. Hardy, case file, box 9, both in Shelby County Circuit Court, Illinois Regional Archives Depository, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL; Plea, Replication, c. May 1852, Johnson v. Hardy, Alfred Whital Stern Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Replication, c. May 1852, Johnson v. Hardy, Henry Horner Lincoln Collection, IHi, Springfield, IL; Judgment, 25 May 1852, Johnson v. Hardy, Circuit Court Record D, 340; Order, 25 May 1852, Walker v. Morrison, Circuit Court Record D, 339, both in Shelby County Circuit Court, Shelby County Courthouse, Shelbyville, IL .