Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-14
FAMOUS LAWYER DIES
John Prentiss Poe Long a
Leader of Maryland Bar.
APPEARED IN NOTED CASES
Was Author of Platform on Which
Judge Parker Ran.
PERSONAL FRIEND OF GORMAN
Many Standard Legal Works Bear
His Name-With Maryland
University Since 1869.
PERSONAL FRIEND OF G0RMAN
Snccial DiSnatch 10 The Star.

BALTIMORE Nd. October 14.--John
Prentiss Poe. one of the grand old men
of the local bar ard chief support Of
the democratic party in Maryland, died
at O'Clock this morning at the home
of his daughter. Mrs. Alfred Tyler at
RuXton. Death was due to paralysis.
The end came peacefully and up to
the time death ensued Mr. Poe's mind
was unclouded.
All of Mr. Poes family, with the eX-
ception of his son. Arthur. who is in
Iowa, were at his bedside when he died.
There was no man in Maryland who was
better known and whose legal ora
torical abilities and general information
were more generally recognized than
were those of Mr.. Poe For fifty-two
years he had been member of the
Baltimore bar, having been admitted to
practice August q, 1857. For a quarter
of a century more he was one of
the leaders of the bar. He appeared in
the most famous cases of the day in
the local courts, and in the court of APP
peals, where he won signal victories.
Author of Poe Amendment.
For many years Mr.. Poe was counsel
to the democratic state central committee.
and in performing the duties which were
assigned to him in this capacity he
framed the election laws and the suffrage
amendment to the state constitution
which bore his name and which was de-
feated two years ago. He frequently ap-
peared on the stump as an advocate of
democratic policies and candidates. His
last public appearance was at the August
meeting of the democratic state central
committee, when he made the speech
frrv .n1lx ,afff INr L <~e
his nomination for state controller. He
was a personal and political friend of
the late Arthur L. German, whose son,
Arthur z. German, jr.. prepared himself
fer the practice of law in his office.
Senator German seldom came to this city
without viS..lng Mr. Poe at his office.
Although it is not generally known,
it is fact that Mr.. Poe fashioned the
platform u-c-. which the democratic
party nor..i.ated Judge Parker on the
now famous gold pledge. Mr.. Poe went
to the convention practically unknown to
the national party managers, and it ex-
cited some wonder when Mr.. Poe took
the scattered threads of the party's plat
form and put them into shape in short
time. David 3. Hill then expressed adj
miration for Mr.. Poes work
Was a Legal Authority.
Mr.. Poe was an author of legal works
of high standing. Among his best known
WI Nc 'SdolHS anu aCtlCe Ill SOuTLS
of Common Law QSS4. So great was
the demand for it that it went through
three editions In 1885, 1890 and 1904 he
was selected to codfy the laws of Mary
land. His manuscript of the codified
laws was destroyed during the fire of 1904
while in the printers hands. He was set
to work at once to prepare a new work.
He also prepared the city code OF 1850
and of 1888. Mr.. Poe became identified
with the University of Maryland i'm 1869.
and upon the organization of the law de-
partment two years later he became one
of it's chief lecturers and dean of the
faculty. He never severed his connection
! with the university despite the great
pressure upon his time because OF his
law practice and his public duties. About
every member of the Baltimore bar who
has entered the legal profession during
the past thlrty-five years was a pupil OF
Mr.. Poe. and under him gained the first
insight into law.
His Courtesy Proverbial.
There was no member of the bar who
was kinder to and more consderate of
youthful and inexperienced practitioners
than Mr.. Poe. His courtesy and gentle
ness were proverbial. He was never at a
loss for a word or apt expression He
was trained In the Old school of law
yers, which included such distinguished
advocates as John V. l.. Mcmahon, Will
liam Schley, John Thompson Mason, Rev
erdy Johnson. l. Nevett Steele, William
Pinkney Whyte, and others, all of whom
are dead, but whose memories are still
cherished by lawyers of the present gen.
/ Grafton.
! Nil Poe was born in Baltimore August
! %. 1876. He was seventy-three years
Old. His father was the late Nelson Poe,
who was also distinguished lawyer and
author His mother was Mrs. Josephine
Emily Poe. Two of his brothers still
/ living-Neilson and Charles Poe. He was
| Il second cousin by blood relation and d
J nephew by marriage of Edgar Allan Poe,
| the author and poet.
Nine Children Survive.
! He leaves nine children--siX sons and
three daughters. The daughters are Mrs.
Alfred Tyler. Mrs. S. n. Duer and Miss
Marguerite Poe.
| The sons are S. Johnson, who was as
ISOLATED with his father in the practice
of law and who is a court auditor; Edgar
| ~. city solicitor, John p, jr., who has
served in the United States Army and
| WHO has recently been mine prospector
in the west Nelson. who has been an
| associate of his brother in mining opera
tions in the west; Arthur Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, and Gresham Poe, a Baltimore
stock broker. All of Mr.. Poe's sons won
| fame at Princeton on the foot ball field.