Lincoln writes to Joseph S. Copes, who seeks to ascertain the titleholder of some Sangamon county property "once owned by Mr. Abram A. Halsey and Mr. E. Lane." Copes, of New Orleans, Louisiana, obtained Lincoln's name from "a mutual friend...Rev. James Smith," who had served as pastor of Springfield's First Presbyterian Church, to which Lincoln's wife Mary belongs. Copes makes the inquiry on behalf of Halsey's "orphans...one of whom is with" Copes. Copes explained, "From what Dr. Smith tells me of you Sir, I feel that you are just the person to whom they can apply with the best assurances of having their title fairly examined & truly stated to them." Lincoln replies, "[T]he legal title...was wholly in Lane, though Halsey was the equitable owner of part of it...Lane sold...Halsey's part...by Mr. Halsey's direction" and donated the money to a missionary organization. Lincoln waives a legal fee. Joseph S. Copes to Abraham Lincoln, 8 April 1858, Robert Todd Lincoln Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to Joseph S. Copes, 2 June 1858, Private Collection.