Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-09-26
Select AliscelIanp,
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL
A TALE OF JOHN TAYLOR.

The following which we find in the Philadel-
phla Saturday Evening Post, is one of the finest
sketches we have read for many day We
should like to know who it is that wields the
pen which wrote it.-ED.
[We copy the following from the New York
Sunday Times. The subject of it, John Tay
lor, was licensed, when youth of twenty-one,
to practice at the bar of this city. He was
poor, but well educated, and possessed extra
ordinary genius. The grace of his person,
combined with the superiority of his intellect,
enabled him to win the hand of faslonable
beauty. Twelve months afterwards the hus-
band was employed by a wealthy firm of the
city to go on a mission as land agent TO the
West. AS heavy salary was offered, Taylor
babe farewell to his wife and infant SON. He
wrote back every week, but received not line
in answer. Six months elapsed, when the
husband received letter from his employers
that explained all. Shortly after his departure
for the West, the wife and her father removed
to Mississippi. There size Immediately obtain
ed a divorce by an act of the Legislature,
married again forthwith, and, 10 complete the
climax Of cruelty and wrong, had the name of
Tavlor's son changed 10 Marks that of her
second matrimonial partner! This perfdy near
y drove Taylor insane. His career, from that
period, became eccentric in the last degree !:
sometimes he preached, sometimes he blended
at the bar; until, atast, fever, carried him off
at a comparatively early age.-Pdladelph,d
Bulietinl
Atan early hour on the 9th of April, 1910,
colwded to overfowing Save in the wartime
past, there had never been witnessed such a
es~s'--.'.s s.-'s D-I ns c,--.s-y- .--lil-a-. 49,.
strong feeling, apparent on every flushed face
throughout the assembly, betokened some great
occasion. A concise narrative of facts will
sufficiently explain the matter.
About The close of 1885, George Hopkins,
one of the weathiest planters and most inf1u
entail men of North Texas, offered gross in.
suit to Mary Elliston, the young and beautiful
wife of his chief overseer. The husband
threatened to chastlse him for the outrage,
whereupon Hopkins loaded his gun, went to
Elliston's house and shot him in his own door
The murderer was arrested, and bailed to ans
wer to the charge. This occurrence produced
intense excitement: and Hopkins, in order tc
turn the tide of popular opinion, or at least tt
mitigate the general wrath, which at first was
violent against him, circulated reports Infamous
ly preiudical to the character of the woman
who had already suffered such cruel wrong a
his hands, She brought her suit of slander.-
and thus two causes, one criminal, and the othe
civil, and both out of the same tragedy, wert
pending in the April Circuit Court, for 1910.
The interest naturally felt by the communit,
as to the issue, became far deeper when it wal
known that Ashley and Pike, of Arkansas, ant
the celebrated S. S. Prentiss, of New Orlean
each with enormous tees, had been retained b!
Hopkins for his defence
The trial, on the indictment for murder. end
ed on the 9Th Of April, with the acqmttal of Hop
kins. Such result might well have been fore
seen, by comparing the talents of the counse
on either side. The Texan lawyers were utter
ly overwhelmed by the argument and eloquenc'
of their opponents 1t was fight of dwarf
against giants.
The slander suit was set for the 9th, and TIT
throng of spectators grew in numbers as wei
as IN excitement and what may seem strang'
the current of public sentiment now ran decid
edly for Hopkins. His morey had procure'
pointed witnesses, who served most effic
ienty his powerful advocates. Indeed SO tri
umphant had been the success of the previou
day, that when the slander case was called, Ma
ry Eiston was left without an attorney-the,
had all withdrawn. The pigmy pettifogger
dare not brave against the sharp wit of Pix
and the scathiDg thunder of Prentiss.
"Have you no counsel" inqired Judg
Mills, Looking kindly at the plaintiff.
"No, sir; they have all deserted me, and
am too poor to employ any more," replied tn
beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
SIN such a case will not some chivalrou
member of the profession volunteer ?" asked th
Judge, glancing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent as death.
Judge Mills repeated the question.
81 will, your honor" said a voice from tn
thickest of the crowd, situated behind the ba
At the tone of that voice many started hall
way from their seats; and perhaps there wa
not heart in the immense throng which did
not beat something qucker-it was SO unearth
ly sweet, clear, ringing, and mournful.
The first sensation, however, was changed in
: to general laughter, when a tail, gaunt, spec
tra figure, that nobody present remembered ey
er to have seen before, elbowed his way throug
the crowd, and placed himself within the BAR
His appearance was a problem to puzzle tn
sphinx herself His high, pale brow, and smal
f nervously- y-twichng face, seemed alive with tn
concentrated essence and cream of genius; br
then his intantine blue eyes, hardly visible be
meath their massive arches, looked dim, dream,
almost unconcious; and his clothing was so eS
ceedingly shabby that the court hesitated to Il
the cause proceed under his management.
, "TIas your name been entered on the rolls {