The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-10-24
5. 5. PREMISES LAST DUEL.
"Reminiscences of the Great Orator-A Law
Case the Origin of the Duel-Challenged
by Grandson of Henry Ciay-The Lat
ter's Tragic End.

Searpent s. Prentiss had won a
worldwide reputation in Mississippi as
an orator and a lawyer. His two duels
with Gov. Henry S. Foote in 1888, in
which he was both times challenged, and
each time wounded his adversary, had
established his reputation for courage
The witchery of his eloquence surpass-
ed any living orator of his times, or, in
deed, any that had preceded him, from
Patrick Henry down to the present day.
He first came to NatcheZ, Miss, IN
1877, and was employed as tutor IN the
private family of the widow of the late
Judge Shields, of the Supreme Court OF
that State, and awaited himself of the
fine library of that noted jurlst. Al
though a native of the State OF Maine,
Prentiss had none of the prejudices OF
his people, and readily adapted himself
to Southern customs and institutions.
In 1929 he was admitted to the bar, and
formed a law partnership with Gen. Fe-
lix Huston at Natchez. In 1881 he re-
moved to Vicksburg, but frequently VS.
tied his old home in Natchez. The
writer first met with Mr.. Prentiss at
Natchez after his wonderful defense Of
DIR. Wilkinson, of Mississippi, in 1889,
for the killing of Rothwell and Meeks
in the celebrated tragedy at the Gait
House in Louisville, Ky, on which oc-
casion he was associated with the dis
tinguished Judge John Rowan.
His argument on that occasion was
considered his great masterpiece OF
forensic eloquence, and which resulted
in the acquittal of DR.. Wilkinson, al
though the best talent of the State of
Kentucky was employed for the prose
cution. His repartee, sprightliness OF
wit and whitening sarcasm were unsur-
passed. The result of his power lay in
his wonderful application and adapta-
/ ton of classical, historical and poeti-
/ cal quotations with which he adorned
and illustrated his speeches and argu-
/ ments
| Mr.. Prentiss was small in stature, not
being over five feet eight inches in
/ height, and was deformed by his right
/ foot being smaller than the left one, and
which turned under, so that he used q
/ cane in walking. He had a massive
cliff forehead, large blue eyes, hand
some features, with remarkably intel
lectual expression, in which nobleness,
daring and magnanimity were singu-
larry combined. He had very slight
lisp, which gave to certain words q
Kissing sound, and the expression of his
features gave great force to his Ian
guage In those days there were more
wealth, aristOcracy and cultivated re
fnement within o circumference of q
miles around Natchez than in any Other
portion of the States. During the time
Prentiss was teaching in the family o.
Mrs. Shields he was invited to q neigh
borhood party, and, being tota
stranger, and at that time extremely
sensitive as to his deformity, he fel
himself neglected and looked down up
on by the aristocratic planters and fan
ladies, and unjustly attributed the cause
to his Icing poor, lame school master
From that time he secluded himsel
from all society and wholly devoted
himself to his books and studies, hay
ing resolved to himself that he would
to use his own language, "one da.
bring these people to his feet" In re
lating this incident to the writer, h
said it was to the modification he fel
on that occasion that he owed his future
success.
On one of Mr.. Premises visits t
Natchez, the writer, who had then JUS
been admitted to the bar, took stroll
with him to the Natchez Bluffs, whicl
are some 800 feet asove the level of tn
river, and from its long reach command
ed fine view. A glorious sunset, witt
its crimson hue5, was melting on tn
western sky, and sprinkling the fleec.
clouds with the golden splendor of it
rays, when Prentiss broke forth into
rapturous improvisation in which tn
exquisite beauty of his language was on
~ equaled by the gorgeous brilliancy o
the scene before US. When he had fin
ished, suppOsing that he had beef
quoting from some author, the write
asked where the supposed quotation
was from? Tapping his forehead will
his fingers, he said, q" From here, L new
er heard it before"
Ia 1874 Mr.. Prentiss moved to New
Orleans (where the writer had preceded
him) and formed a partnership with hi
old confrere, General Huston. In Jan
uary, 1913, he was employed in a sui
against James Irwin, the son-in law o
Henry Clay, to set aside certain deed
of trust made by James Irwin to hi
brother Andrew, who lived in Tennes
see, on the ground of fraud. Randall
Hunt, one of the ablest advocates a
the bar, was retained to defend Mr.. Ir
win. The case occupied three days IL
taking the testimony, and created gen
eral interest. On the testimony being
closed, the court adjourned until the
next day for the argument of the case
There was great deal of feeling on bott
sides, and no little clashing and spar
ring between the counsel. As they were
| going down the Courthouse steps, the
writer being behind them, Hunt Observ-
ed, with a pompous, confident air,
@ Well, Prentiss, l rather think you
have got an alligator case to han
die" "Yes," replied Prentiss, with
his kissing lisp, sc it is an alligator
case, Hunt, and | am going to skin
/ him to morrow" And he kept his
word. The next day the courtroom
was crowded to its utmost capacity.
| Mr. Prentiss, in summing up and COM
menting on the evidence before the jury,
dealt in bursts of scathing, whitening
reflections on the conduct of the defend
ant " Why, gentlemen" said he, ''the
evidence before you shows that this man
James Irwin, in robbing his creditors,
has not shown even the common homes
ty of the highwayman, much less his
courage, for the higewayman in taking
spoil does it at the risk of his life,
while he was never known to stOOp so
low as to rob the poor" Here Mr..
Prentiss made a deep pause, and, as if
rejecting on the severity of the langu ige
he had used, he turned from the jury
and thus addressed the court: "May it
please the Court, on reflection, | deem
it my duty, in presence of this vast as
semblage, to tender an apology for the
language have just permitted to escape