Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-12-07

akin him tO-mCer0V. Anu No Kept Ms
word. The next day the court room
VS. crowded 70 il utmost capacity.
Mr.. PreuGias. in summing up and com.
mentiug upon the evidence before the
jury dealt in bursts Of scathing, vither.
ing reflections Ca the conduct OF tho
defendant. "Why gentlemen, said he.
1.-The evidence before you shows that
this man. James Irwin. in robbing his
creditors, has not shown even the COM
mon honesty OF the highwayman, much
less his courage. for the highway man
in taking spoil does it ct the risk OF his
life, while l,e Vas never known to stoOp
No Low a. to rob the poor" Here Mr..
Prentiss male deep pause. and, Is II
rejecting ON the severity OF the Ian
QuaQe he hsl used. he turned from the
Jury aud thus adressed the Court:
May it please the Court, on refiec.
ton, deem il my duty. in presence OF
this vast assemblAge, to tender an apol-
ogy for the language l have just per.
mitted to escape from my lips profound
sepsation) for in the olden days OF
chivalry. when night errantry prevail
ed. there was q nobility, Q generosity
and magnanimity in the soul OF the
chivalrous highway man never possess
ell nv the defendant in this case" The
Court and counsel for the defendant
looked COMPOUNDED. while burst OF ir-
repressible applause broke forth from
the audience. Mr.. Prentiss continued:
II therefore feel compelled to do JUS
tice to the memory OF the
kniehtly honor OF the highway
man for having connected his name
with that OF man so degraded and dis
graced, and make my appolgy to the
Court for the wrong have committed"
Then, returning to the jury, he said:
"a more fitting and appropriate COM
parison, gentlemen, would be to asso-
ciate the name Of James Irwin with
tina. of the stealthy, light.fDgered
pickpocket, who robs you while not
knowing that you are robbed" The
effect was blasting and painfully with
ering, and which no effort Of the &C.
MUS and eloquence OF Randall Hunt
could obliterate. Prentiss had skined
the alligator.
The result was that Henry Clay r.
win, the oldest son Of Mr.. Irwin, spir-
tied young man, only % years old, sent
by the hand of his second, Mr.. Robert
johnson, Of Kentucky, . peremptory
challenge to Prentiss. The friends of
Mr.. Prentice, Baltic Peyton, then
United States District Attorney, and
the late Alex. G. Bullitt, editor Of the
Picayune, advised him to decline the
challenge on the ground that he was
not responsible for language used pro-
fessionally, and that Mr.. James Irwin
only had the right to demand satisfac-
ton, which was done to save young r.
win, as they felt tho duel would prove
fatal to him. But Prentiss said the
challenge stated that young Twins
father was unable to attend to such
matters, and if he declined it would
only lead to Q street fight; that he ad-
mired the spirit of the gallent boy and
his noble feelings, and, there
being no alternative, he was compelled
to give him satisfaction. The challenge
was consequently accepted, and time
given to Mr.. Prentiss to arrange his af-
fairs. In the meanwhile Gen. Huston
Was called in consultation. He advised
that it was possible to effect O reconcil-
iation. it should be done, a. The result
in any alternative would prove fatally
to the families of both par
lies. the aunt of young Irwin being the
wife of John Bell of Tennessee, who
was the great friend Of Prentiss, Gen.
Huston suggested that B. G.. Harvey
and q. F. Morse be selected. to act as
and accompany the parties to
the grounds. The principals and Sec
onds met at Pass Christian in February
1848. The weapons chosen we're pis-
tolls, at ten PAGES. It was then propos-
ed to Mr.. Irw.n's seconds that Harvey
and Noise be called in as umpires before
the principals were placed, which was
finally agreed to, subject to be accept
ed or rejected. After consultation Har-
ney and Noise drew up the following:
The difficulty between Mr.. Irwin and
Mr.. Prentiss having been referred to
us by their respective friends, we are
of the opinion that Mr.. Prentiss travel
ed out of the record in the use of the
offensive expression complained Of,
which it is therefore the duty of Mr..
Prentiss cheerfully, frankly, and fully
to retract.
This was accepted by the friends of
the ccmbatants, and Prentiss. accord
ingly, with his Characteristic cordial
and magnanimous feelings, made the
amende honorable to the great Joy Of
the friends and families Of both parties.
/ For several days, however, telegraphic
rumors filled the country that hostile
meeting had taken place. and that
Prentiss was killed, Mr.. Clay after
ward wrote Prentiss letter Of thanks
and gratitude for his noble conduct.
The sequel to this happy recoacilia-
ton finally ended in terrible tragedy.
Young Irwin being of q sensitive, high
toned nature, could not easily Danish
from his mind the stain that he con-
ceived had been fixed upon his fathers
honor. Notwithstanding the fullest
retraction that Prentiss had made, with
expressions of the deepest regret and be.
sides writing . note to Robert J ,hnson
honoring and approaching the gallan-
try Of young Irwin, and again making
the most generous concessions, young
Irwinwrithed under the sting of con.
domination which he felt public opinion
l.