The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-23
OF UBsCRIPTIoS:
FoR THE CLARION
sEARGENT S. PRENTISS.
No IL

oH.cTcd the laW-Omce oil Robert j
Walker, who afserward became famous
in the political world OF his character
and ability, the following extracts from
the pens Of two Mississippians will be
interesting:
" A comparative pigmy in size, he
was giant in intellect. Subtle as Ma
chiayelli, ambitious rs Cesar, he rose
from the bar to the Senate, from the
senate 10 the Treasury bench, and
proved himself TO be not only one Of the
most honest, but the most competent
tinancier that had ever sat as Secretary.
Handling millions, he came out as poor
as he went ir, and left the country in a
prosperous condition. But for our civil
war, it is mere than probable that Mis-.
sissippi might have had the honor of
furnishing the President of the Repub-
lie"
"He was mere whiffet Of man,
stopping and diminutiye, with a wheezy
voice ana eXpressionless face, but like
the French minister Louvois, and our
Amos Kendall, he concealed under this
magnificent exterior a vaulting ambi-
tion, seconded by great abilities and
consummate cunning" "He was the
FIRST 10 introduce sectionalism." "He
whispered into Mr.. Tylers ear the dream
Of he Presidency. MrsTyler yielded to
the tempter, ard returned to his first
love. The great Wing party, brilliant
with statesmen and orators, was Jock
eyed. Walker was the Deiiah that
sheared the locks of Sampson. Silent,
subtle, capable Of the deepest plots, and
most intricate complications, he whis.
pered Democracy and the Presidency
iutO the ear of Mr.. Tyler, while he was
playing for the glittering prize himself .
These extracts will give some idea of
the man whom Prentiss chose for his
preceptOr, and who was then at tae head
of the bar He had six months to pre-
pare for examination, and at the time
appointed, appeared before Chancellor
Buckner, "a Rhadamanthus in exacti-
tude," and passed a creditable examin-
alton" lie was not yei twenty-one, and
in the eye of the law was still an inf ant,
though what "Mr. Viucent.Crummeies"
calls can iaJaat J,henomenon" After
his admission he wrote 10 his brother
IL am now a lawyer, but how | shall
succeed il a doubtful question. X
Ii | can make out to get a start,
have no doubt I shall ultimately sue.
ceed."
He did not have long 10 wait. Gen.
Huson, distinguished member of the
bar, took him into a partnership, to help
him in the drudgery of the office. He
Is reported as saying, he chose an assist
ant, and soon found Prentiss "was the
leader and he the assistant" His first
case was the prosecution Of man for
burglary. The man was convicted, and
was so impressed with the young attor-
ney's oratory, that he said, "lf an angel
OF light were tried, and that man were
the prosecutor, he would convict him."
His second case was for the value of a
horse, killed under peculiar circun-
stances, which palliated if it did not JUS
rify the act. Prentiss admitted the facts,
but denied any legal obligation to pay
damage. His speech in this case made
his first fame. 1t was full of ridicule,
pathos aud satire. The court was
moved to 'convulsive laughter, and
then moved To tears" and for many 4
day the young and briefiess lawyers of
Natehez read Prentiss's demurrer as
the highest type of legal wit"
The bar at Natchez was crowded, and
young lawyers, whatever their ability,
had to wait for business. This deter
mined Mr.. Prentiss to remove to Vicks-
bug. The bar Of that city was, As ii is
now, famed for ability Joseph Holt
and Henry 5. Foote were young men,
with promise of future fame In after
years the early promise came to fact,
and they secured national regulations.
Mr. Prentisss first case in Vicksburg
was a novel one The smallpox had
broken out in large building, which
stood rlone on one of the squares of the
city. The authorities quarantined the
place, and Prentiss was employed TO en-
Join the ordinance, aud have it repealed.
He won fame in his management of the
case, and succeeded in having the order
repealed. No record of his speech ex
lists. but those who listened To him for
more than two hours pronounced it a
wonderful speech. He had opportunity
for wit. inVective and pathos, and of all
these he was master.
His next case was an important one,
aud as a bit of the wild life of those
days, will be interesting. The country
drained by the great river was infested
with a gang of robbers, lead bv man
named Phelps, of New England birth
well educated and connected. A man
of great personal courage, one OF the
laws of his code was, never to kill man,
unless compelled to for personal safety.
He was daring robber OF the rich, and
like Robin Hood, friend of the poor.
He had grim humor in his way OF do
ing things, as the following will show.
The Rev. Mr.. Cotton, a. Methodist min
ister, was returning from his church.
few rods before him he saw a man run
across the road Curious to know what
the man was going to do in the woods
he followed him. A short distance
from the road he found him with rifle
cooked.
"Stand, and deliver!' was the imperi-
Gus command.
The preacher plead his vocation.
Only dear sir, | have nothing. Pm
nothing but poor Methodist preacher.
II see you have watch, said Phelps,
"hand it over"
There was no help for the preacher,
and he began slowly to unfasten the
time-piece. Phelps grew inpatient.
Throw it down, you id old fool,
said he.
II cant; might break it, said the
preacher. :,
That's nay lookout, not yours, sir, 7"
and the preacher lost his watch.
Before Phelps let him go, he gave
him a short sermon on the evils OF
curiosity.
This, sir, will teach you lesson.
Remember, when you wish to follow
stranger hereafter, in the manner you
have followed me, first to make sure he
il not robber, for if you do not make
sure of it, you may have to pay more
dearly for your temerity than by tue
loss of a watch.
The robbery created intense excite
ment, and a few days after Phelps was
arrested for the murder of y man in
Yazoo county. Mr.. Prentiss was en-
ployed to prosecute him. 1t was 4 case
of circumstsntial evidence, and but for
the character of the prisoner would not
have convicted him. The prosecution
was masterly, and the man was SEN
fenced to be hung. After the trial he
sent for Prentiss, and made confession
of his life. He had lived under an
assumed name, and his life had been
full of events stranger than fiction.
Away back in the days when boyhood
WIS widening in.o young manhood, his
life had been crossed and the purpose OF
early dreams broken Off Following the
directed course, it brought him TO the
murderers doom. He confessed also te
Prentiss that while he was speaking III
the case, he intended to rush upon him
and escape in the confusion. Prentiss
replied, II saw it all, and was ready fo'
you"
This was one of the very few case.
where Prentiss appeared as prosecutor
He may have feared the intensity of hi:
mowers lest he might convict some in