Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-01-30

what Chatterton was to English liter
ature. For his years he was a phe-
nomenon which promised to outblaze
the brightest sun in his sphere. A
characteristic anecdote is related Of
one of his brilliant efforts.
He was to defend man accused Of
murder, and the evidence appeared to
be plain. No one expected he would
be acquitted, and almost every one was
sure he would hang. Prentiss had
told some intimate friends that he
could only hope for long sentence,
instead of hanging, even if he could
obtain this much. But on the day he
was to make his speech he was, as too
frequently occurred, helpless from
drink. But he was on hand, in
spite of the protests of his
colleagues in the great case.
When his name was called, he got up
in dazed sort of way, and insisted
on speaking. He made most power
full speech, but, to the amazement of
his colleagues, and to the horror of the
prisoner, he made terrible speech on
the side of the prosecution. 1t was
said that there had never been heard
such convincing argument made to o
jury ip New Orleans, where the trial
occurred, against any man. AS he
closed with one of his matchless bursts
of eloquence, he started to take his
seat, as the other lawyers for the de-
fense exclaimed:
"Great God! What have you done !?
You have hung your own clientl"
1t flashed on Prentiss all at once
that he had, in his drunken stupor
made speech for the State instead of
for his client. He was thoroughly
sober now. Reaching for pitcher of
water standing near, he said, as if he
had only paused for new strength:
"Mr. Sheriff, give me a glass,
please"
He then took drink of water, set
the pitcher down, looked around on
the jury, the Judge, the lawyers and
the audience, amidst profound silence.
Every one, who had been under the
spell of his argument and amazed
at his change, was breathless with
expectation at this strange conduct.
They all knew that something unusual
was about to take place. What, they
could not guess. But that they were
to be treated to something great, even
for Prentiss, all felt, and not one in
the vast throng so much as breathed
for few seconds. The fiery orator
did not keep them waiting but mo-
ment. He settled himself on his feet,
slowly wiped his mouth, raised his
hand, pointed it at the array of talent
and learning on the side of the prose
cution, and began:
MAY it please the court and gentle
men of the jury, I have given what l
believe to be the strongest arguments
that the prosecution could possibly
bring against my client; arguments
which, 1 admit, seem to involve him in
network of convicting evidence more
inextricable than the meshes of the silk
en- web woven about his victim by the
cunning and alluring spider. But, gen
tlemen of the jury, will now address
myself to the arguments in favor OF
the accused, and L think L shall be
able to sweep away the entangling web
even as the hand of man sweeps away
the spiders silvery threads of silker
letters and sets free the captive fly"
He then proceeded to make not only
the most eloquent, most remarkable
speech he had ever made, but the mos
remarkable, perhaps, in the Englisl
language. The jury, judge, audience
and even counsel for the prosecution
were dumfounded, overwhelmed will
amazement. Applause and tears came
at the bidding of the great orator
When he ceased speaking he fell bacl
exhausted; and, when he recovered hi
strength, he was told that the jury
without leaving their seats. had brough