in Illinois, so he declined and resumed his law practice. Prairie lawyer In his Springfield practice, Lincoln handled "every kind of business that could come before a prairie lawyer". Twice a year he appeared for 10 consecutive weeks in county seats in the Midstate county courts; this continued for 16 years. Lincoln handled transportation cases in the midst of the nation's western expansion, particularly river barge conflicts under the many new railroad bridges. As a riverboat man, Lincoln initially favored those interests, but ultimately represented whoever hired him. He later represented a bridge company against a riverboat company in Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Company, a landmark case involving a canal boat that sank after hitting a bridge. In 1849, he received a patent for a flotation device for the movement of boats in shallow water. The idea was never commercialized, but it made Lincoln the only president to hold a patent. Lincoln appeared before the Illinois Supreme Court in 175 cases; he was sole counsel in 51 cases, of which 31 were decided in his favor. From 1853 to 1860, one of his largest clients was the Illinois Central Railroad. His legal reputation gave rise to the nickname "Honest Abe". Lincoln argued in an 1858 criminal trial, defending William "Duff" Armstrong, who was on trial for the murder of James Preston Metzker. The case is famous for Lincoln's use of a fact established by judicial notice to challenge the credibility of an eyewitness. After an opposing witness testified to seeing the crime in the moonlight, Lincoln produced a Farmers' Almanac showing the moon was at a low angle, drastically reducing visibility. Armstrong was acquitted. Leading up to his presidential campaign, Lincoln elevated his profile in an 1859 murder case, with his defense of Simeon Quinn "Peachy" Harrison who was a third cousin; Harrison was also the grandson of Lincoln's political opponent, Rev. Peter Cartwright. Harrison was charged with the murder of Greek Crafton who, as he lay dying of his wounds, confessed to Cartwright that he had provoked Harrison. Lincoln angrily protested the judge's initial decision to exclude Cartwright's testimony about the confession as inadmissible hearsay. Lincoln argued that the testimony involved a dying declaration and was not subject to the hearsay rule. Instead of holding Lincoln in contempt of court as expected, the judge, a Democrat, reversed his ruling and admitted the testimony into evidence, resulting in Harrison's
{
        'QUESTION: What did Abraham Lincoln do when he first started practicing law?' : 'Answer: When Abraham Lincoln first started practicing law, he worked as a "prairie lawyer" in Springfield, handling various types of cases.',
        'QUESTION: How often did Lincoln appear in county seats during his career?' : 'Answer: For 16 years, twice a year, Lincoln appeared for 10 consecutive weeks in county seats in the Midstate county courts.' ,
        'QUESTION: What type of cases did Lincoln handle during his time as a riverboat man?' : 'Answer: During his time as a riverboat man, Lincoln mainly dealt with transportation cases related to river barges and their conflicts under newly built railroad bridges.',
        'QUESTION: Which notable case led to the nickname "Honest Abe"?': 'Answer: The nickname "Honest Abe" came from Lincoln's successful representation of William "Duff" Armstrong in a murder trial, where he used a creative argument based on judicial notice to discredit an eyewitness account.',
        'QUESTION: Who was one of Lincoln\'s most significant clients between 1853 and 1860?': 'Answer: One of Lincoln's major clients during this period was the Illinois Central Railroad.',
        'QUESTION: Can you tell me more about the trial of Peachy Harrison?': 'Answer: In the trial of Peachy Harrison, Lincoln defended his third cousin against a murder charge. He successfully argued that a dying declaration made by the victim should be admissible as evidence, even though it was considered hearsay. This strategy resulted in Harrison\'s acquittal.',
        'QUESTION: Did Lincoln ever receive a patent? If yes, what was it for?': 'Answer: Yes, Lincoln held a patent. It was for a flotation device designed to aid the movement of boats in shallow waters. However, he never commercially exploited this invention.',
        'QUESTION: How many times did Lincoln argue in front of the Illinois Supreme Court?': 'Answer: Lincoln appeared before the Illinois Supreme Court in 175 cases.',
        'QUESTION: What was unique about Lincoln\'s role in the Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Company case?': 'Answer: In the Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Company case, Lincoln represented both sides - the bridge company and the riverboat company. This showcases his ability to represent whichever party hired him.',
        'QUESTION: What happened when Lincoln protested the exclusion of certain testimony in the trial of Simeon Quinn "Peachy" Harrison?': 'Answer: Despite expecting to be held in contempt of court, Lincoln managed to convince the judge to reverse his earlier ruling. Consequently, the previously excluded testimony became part of the proceedings, leading to Harrison\'s eventual acquittal.'
    }
    return q_a_dict['QUESTION:' + key] if key in q_a_dict else None
}

    OUTPUT:
    QUESTION: What did Abraham Lincoln do when he first started practicing law?
    ANSWER: Answer: When Abraham Lincoln first started practicing law, he worked as a "prairie lawyer" in Springfield, handling various types of cases.
    
    QUESTION: How often did Lincoln appear in county seats during his career?
    ANSWER: Answer: For 16 years, twice a year, Lincoln appeared for 10 consecutive weeks in county seats in the Midstate county courts.
    
    QUESTION: What type of cases did Lincoln handle during his time as a riverboat man?
    ANSWER: Answer: During his time as a riverboat man, Lincoln mainly dealt with transportation cases related to river barges and their conflicts under newly built railroad bridges.
    
    QUESTION: Which notable case led to the nickname "Honest Abe"?
    ANSWER: Answer: The nickname "Honest Abe" came from Lincoln's successful representation of William "Duff" Armstrong in a murder trial, where he used a creative argument based on judicial notice to discredit an eyewitness account.
    
    QUESTION: Who was one of Lincoln's most significant clients between 1853 and 1860?
    ANSWER: Answer: One of Lincoln's major clients during this period was the Illinois Central Railroad.
    
    QUESTION: Can you tell me more about the trial of Peachy Harrison?
    ANSWER: Answer: In the trial of Peachy Harrison, Lincoln defended his third cousin against a murder charge. He successfully argued that a dying declaration made by the victim should be admissible as evidence, even though it was considered hearsay. This strategy resulted in Harrison's acquittal.
    
    QUESTION: Did Lincoln ever receive a patent? If yes, what was it for?
    ANSWER: Answer: Yes, Lincoln held a patent. It was for a flotation device designed to aid the movement of boats in shallow waters. However, he never commercially exploited this invention.
    
    QUESTION: How many times did Lincoln argue in front of the Illinois Supreme Court?
    ANSWER: Answer: Lincoln appeared before the Illinois Supreme Court in 175 cases.
    
    QUESTION: What was unique about Lincoln's role in the Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Company case?
    ANSWER: Answer: In the Hurd v. Rock Island Bridge Company case, Lincoln represented both sides - the bridge company and the riverboat company. This showcases his ability to represent whichever party hired him.
    
    QUESTION: What happened when Lincoln protested the exclusion of certain testimony in the trial of Simeon Quinn "Peachy" Harrison?
    ANSWER: Answer: Despite expecting to be held in contempt of court, Lincoln managed to convince the judge to reverse his earlier ruling. Consequently, the previously excluded testimony became part of the proceedings, leading to Harrison's eventual acquittal.