The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-11-18
In the Full Enjoyment of Ills Faculties
When lie Signed the Trih-
me Affidavit.
Subsequent to Signing II lie Presided
at Il Republican Mass Meeting
at the Opera House.
70 the Editor of the TRrEuNr:

some people may be DESTROYS of knowing
the truth about the Prcntiss affair.
After the three circulars, known as
the Record Of Two Judges Judge
Benton's reply and The Record Of
Twelve Judges" had been generally cir
culated, Mr.. Prcntiss. the chairman of
the republican county committee. eX-
pressed some doubt as to the accuracy
OF the report IF the committee OF the
bar set out in THE Record of Twelve
Judges, and d desire TO verify or dis
prove that report 10y a personal invest
CATION OF the record. On Sunday last, |
gave him the use Of my library, to en-
able him to make such Investigation. and
after spending au hour or two in exam
lining the Montana Reports. Mr. Prcntiss
expressed himself as entirely sat
listed that the report of the committee
, CT the bar was true.
On Monday there issued from the re
publican CImmittec rooms IL circular de-
nouncing the statements contained in
''The Record Of Twelve Judges" as infa-
nous lies. Between 1 and , O'Clock in
the afternoon on Monday ! met MIR.
Prentiss on Central avenue in front of
the Dunn block. W. y. Fletcher. IL. a.
Day. +. ID. Townsend, W. +. Parker.
Thomas Brady. NJ. S. Parker. and G.. W.
e Pomeroy. who were either passing or
CHANGED to be standing at that point at
/ the time. were present during the CON
versation between myself and Mr.. Prem
d tiss and heard what vas said. | called
r the attention Of Mr.. prentiss to the cir
t cular Just issued from the republican
E committee. and told him that | thought
it was beneath the level of decent poll
: tics for him to permit a circular Of that
i character TO issue from his committee
: after he had made a personal investiga-
, ton as to the truth OF the report Of the
E committee of the bar and had rX.
pressed himself as satisfied that
, the report was true. Several Of the
gentlemen | have named took part in the
conversation following. No one request
u ed Mr.. Prcntiss to take any steps what.
: ever toward undoing the work Of his
u committee. but all expressed in some.
what strong terms their Misrepresentation
. of his course. Mr.. Prentiss, after stat,
l my that he was satisfied that the COm,
q mittee's report was correct. then Offered
to 90 to the YEIHrNE Office and sign d
t statement for publication 10 the effect
t that he believed the report Of the COM
| mittee set out in The Record Of Twelve
: Judges" to be true. lie proceeded at
y once to the IWEvNE office. dictated and
i signed the statement which appeared
over his signature in the Tuesday morn
ing issue OF the IEIHrNE.
Mr.. Prentiss presided over the re-
publican mass meeting held at the opera
house Monday evening. and Immediately
after its adjournment went +" the Office
X of the TRIBUNE. where he had an inter
O view with Mr., Macknight, the editor Of
the TEIBrNE: inspected his statement as
it would appear the following morning
in the paper and also some OF the edi-
n torial matter relating t. it: expressed no
5 dissatisfaction with any part thereof. and
, asked to make no change in his state
mcnt. except that il be addressed to the
committee Of the bar, instead Of the
editor Of the TRIBUNE as originally
written. The change in the adde's" &as
made as he requested.
! had not seen Mr.. Prcntiss. to the
best OF my recollection. on Monday, prior
to the interview above referred to.
Tuesday morning. when the polls
opened. the celebrated "prcntiss Mi
ddvit" was in circulation ut all polling
precincts. Under what influence or by
what means Mr.. Prentiss was induced
TO sim this affidavit. | have no knoWl-
edge. Doubtless the editor Of the
Leader and his curf.rierat"s could throw
light on this subject,
1t will appear frum Ia" facts stated
above that the Prcntiss HliiavIt was
false in several important particulars.
! prentiss nNp iuade an Investigation Of
the record He was Nnr requested hy
me t. sign the statement winch APP
pcared in the IGlGlNE or any statement
whatever Mr.. Cooper was NoT Present
at the interview on central avenue. and
had no know ledge of the fact that
! prentlss proposed to make any statement
in H." TmHrNE until after Prcntlss had
left the NEIINE office +
It was reported in the interest Of
Judge Bone o. 10y his friends upon clgc-
ton day that Nj. Cooper ana hld
made prentiss drunk or in some way
abused his intellect and induced Tim to
sign his lrtIcr To- the IrIGUNE when he
was Of unsOund mind, viii leave il to
the hundred, Of republicans who at.
tended the mass meeting AT the opera
house over which Mr.. Prtutiss presided
as chairman To say whether at that
time hc vas either drunk or crazy. The
editor Of the TRIHuNE. vino had a inter
view with prentiss about half past ten
in the evening viii I've able Ia assure his
readers that Mr.. Prcntlss was at the in
terview apparently IN the enjoyment of
good health and a sound mind.
The prcntiss affidavit, coupled with
the Infamous SANDERS which Judge ben
tons friends circulated, doubtless did
much toward the defeat of Mr.. Pigott,
If the easily deludcd mortals who were
induced hv those ISLANDERS t. vote for
Judge Benton can today persuade them
selves that the! have done the rommu
nifty "a service in SO doing their voices
should not be raised in condemnation Of
the imheciIty Of Prentiss.
In conclusion. let me say that the re
port of the committee Of the bar stated
nothing but the truth in placing Judge
Benton at the bottom Of the list of the
district judges in the state, and if he is
collected. the people Of Cascade county