Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-10-30
:. \ PRENTISS'LAST DU Ell.
Challenged by Grandson OF Henry Clay
1.-The Tragical End.
Courier-Jo

Sargent ). PrentlSS nau won WOIlu-
wide reputation in Mississippi as an
orator and lawyer. His two duels
with Gov. Henry S. Foote, in 1888, IN
which he was both times challenged
and each time wounded his adversary,
mad established his reputation for cour-
age. The witchery of his eloquence
surpassed any living orator Of his time,
or. indeed, any that had preceded him,
from Patrick Henry down to the pres
ent day.
He first came to Natchez, Miss, in
1927. and was employed as tutor III 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 jurist. AL
though native of the state Of Maine,
Prentiss had none of the prejudices of
his people, and readily adapted hum
self TO southern customs and lnstltu-
tons. In 1929 he was admitted to the
bar. and formed a law partnership with
General Felix Huston at Natchez. In
1881 he removed to Vicksburg, but fire.
ouently visited his old home in Natchez.
The writer first met with Mr.. Prentiss
at Natchez after his wonderful defense
of DR.. 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 acouittal Of DIR. Wilkinson, al
though the best talent Of the state Of
Kentucky was employed for the prose
cution. His repartee, sprlghtllness of
passed. The result of his power lay IN
his wonderful application and adapta-
ton Of classical, historical and poetical
quotations with which he adorned and
illustrated his speeches and arguments.
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
a cane in walking. He had massive
cliff forehead, large blue eyes. hand
some features, with q remarkable intel
lectual expression, IN which nObleness,
daring and magnanimity were singu-
larry combined. He had very slight
lisp, which gave to certain words hiss
ing 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-
finement within a circumference of 20
miles around Natchez than in any other
portion of the state. During the time
Prentiss was teaching in the family of
Mrs. Shields he was invited to a neigh
borhood party, and being a total
stranger, and at that time extremely
sensitive as to his deformity, he felt
himself neglected and looked down
upon by the aristocratic planters and
fair ladies, and unJustly attributed the
cause to his being a poor, lame school
master. From that time he secluded
himself from all society and wholly de-
voted himself to his books and studies,
having resolved to himself that he
would, to use his own language. zone
day bring these people to his feet" In
relating this incident to the writer, he
said 1t was to the modification he felt
on that occasion that he owed his future
success. f:ssd #n-s''sa- :. ..aI
During one of Mr.. Prentiss' Wis
its to Natchez, the writer, who
had then just been admitted to
the bar, took stroll with him to the
Natchez Bluff, which is some
800 feet above the level of the river, and
from its long reach commanded fine
view, A glorious sunset, witt, its Grim
son hues, was melting on the western
sky, and sprinkling the heecy clouds
With the golden splendor Of its rays,
when Prentiss broke forth into raptur-
Gus improvisation in which = the ex-
quisite beauty of his language was only
equalled by the gorgeous brilllancy of
the scene before us. When he had fin
shed, supposing that he had been quot
ing from some author, the writer asked
where the supposed quotation was from?
Tapping his forehead with his fingers,
he said, From here, I never heard it
before"
In 1914 Mr.. Prentiss moved to New
Orleans where the writer had pre-
ceded him) and formed partnership
with his old confrere, General Huston.
In January, 1049, he was employed in
suit against James Irwin, the son-in-
law of Henry Clay, to set aside certain
deeds of trust made by James Irwin to
his brother Andrew, who lived in Ten
nessee, on the ground Of fraud. Ran
dali Hunt, one of the ablest advocates
at the bar. was retained to defend Mr..
irwin. The case occupied three days
II taking the testimony, and created
general 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 both sides, and no little clashing
and sparring between the counsel. As
they were going down the courthouse
steps, the writer being behind them,
Hunt observed with a pompous, con-
tident air, "Well, Prentiss, | rather
think you have got an alligator case to