North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-12
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.
A TkbE OF JOHN TAYLOR.

rvu. .oov The following from the New Y ork Sun
dav Times: The subject of II, John Taylor, was
licensed when youth Of twenty-one, to practice at
the bar of Philadelphia He was poor but well ed
ucated, and possessed extraordinary genius. The
traces of his person, combined with the superiority
Of his intellect, enabled him to win the hand OF
fashionable beauty. Twelve months afterwards the
husband was employed by wealthy hrm OF the city
to po 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 eiaPs-
ed when the husband received letter from his en-
blowers that explained all. Shortly after his depar-
lure for the West, the wife and her father removed
Mississippi. There she Immediately obtained di-
vorce by act of the Legislature, married again
forthwith and, to complete the climax OF cruelty and
wrong, had the name OF Faylor's son changed to
Mark-that of her second matrimonial partner. The
per6dy nearly drove Taylor insane. His career, from
that period, became eccentric in the last degree
sometimes he plead at the bar until, at last fever
carried him off at comparatively early age
At an early hour, the 9th of April, 1910, the court
house in GAINESVILLE, Texas, was crowded to over
flowing Save in the warsimes past, there had never
been witnessed such gathering in Red River coun-
y while the strong feeling, apparent in every flush
ed face assembly, betokened some great
OCCASION concise narrative of facts will suhclenI
ly explain the matter.
About the close of 1889, George Hopkins one OF
the weaithiest planters and most influential men OF
Northern Texas, offered gross insult to MARY Ellis
The husband threatened chastise him for the out
rage, whereupon Hopkins loaded his gun, went 10
Ellistons house, and shot him IN MS own door, Inc
murderer was arrested, and balled to answer the
charge. This occurrence produced intense excite
ment; and Hopkins in order to turn the tide OF poPu-
lar opinion, or at least TO mitigate the general
wrath which at first violent against him, clrcu-
lated reports UNANIMOUSLY preudicla to the character OF
the woman W no had already suffered such cruel wrong
at his hands. She brought her suit for SANDER. And
thus two causes, CRIMINAL and the other civil,
and both out of the same tragedy, were pending In
April Circuit Court for lS4O
The interest naturally felt by the community as to
the issues, became far deeper when it was known
that Ashley and Pike of Arkansas, and the celebra-
ted S. S. Prentiss of New Orleans, each with enor-
nous fees had been retained by Hopkins for his de-
fence.
The trial, on the Indictment for murder, ended on
the 9th of April with the acquittal of Hopkins Such
a result might well have been foreseep, by compar-
ing the talents of the counsel engaged either side
The Texan lawyers were utterly overwhelmed by
the argument and eloquence of their opponents. 1t
was fight of dwarfs against giants.
The SANDER suit set for the 9th of April, and
the throng OF spectators grew in numbers as well as
excitement; and what may seem strange, the current
of public sentiment now ran decidedly for Hopkins
His money had procured pointed witnesses, who
served most efficiently his powerful advocates. In
Decd triumphant had been the success of the pre-
vious day, that when the SANDER case was called,
Mary Ellison was left without attorney-they had
brave again the sharp wit of Pike and the scathing
thunder of Prentiss.
"Have You no counsel? % inquired Judge Mills,
looking kindly at the plaintiff
"No, sir; they have all deserted me, and am too
poor to employ any more, replied the beautiful Mary
bursting into tears.
s'In such a case, will not chivalrous member
of the profession vounteer! asked the Judge, glanc-
ing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent death.
Judge Mills repeated the question.
I" will, your honor" said voice from the thick
part of the crowd situated behind the bar At the
tones of that voice many started half way from their
seats and perhaps there not heart in the i'm
mense throng which did not beat something Quicker
it was SO uneaE:hly, sweet, clear, ringing, and |
mournfnl.
The first sensation, however, was changed into
general laughter, when tall, gaunt, spectral figure
that nobody present remembered ever to have seen
before, elbowed his way through the crowd, and
placed himself within the bar. His appearance was
problem to puzzle the sphinx herself. His high pale
brow, and small, nervousl y-twiching face seemed |
alive with the concentrated essence and cream of
genius; but then his infinite blue eyes, hardly visi-
bile beneath their massive arches looked DIM DREAMY
almost unconscious and his clothing was so exceed
ingy shabby that the hesitaed let the cause
proceed under his management.
/" Has your name been entered on the rolls of the
State?' demanded the Judge, suspicousy
IS 1t is immateria about my names being on y0ur
rolls" answered the stranger, his thin, boodless
lips curling up into sort OF hendish sheer. d" may
be allowed to appear once by the courtesy of the
court and bar. Here is my license from the highest
tribunal in America ~ and he handed Judge Mills a
broad parchment. The trial Immediately went on.
In the examination of witnesses the stranger evinced
but little ingenuity, was commonly thought. He
suffered each to tell his story without inter-
uption, though he contrEed make each one tell il
over two or three times. He put few cross-ques-
ions, which, with keen Witnesses only serve to cor
ect mistakes; and he made notes, which, in mighty
memories, always tend to emharrass. The examina-
ion being ended, counsel for the plaintiff he had
right TO the opening speech, well as the close
,ut to the establishment of every one he declined the
former, and allowed the defence to lead off Then a
shadow might have been observed to fit across the
inc features of Pike. and to darken even the brqht
yes of Prentiss. They saw that they had cQngM a
Tartar; but who it was, or how it happened. was
impossible TO guess.
Col. Ashley spoke first. He dealt the iury dish
that close, dry logic which, years afterwards, rem
cred him famous in the Senate of the Union =
The poet, Albert Pike, followed with a rich rain d
wit, and hail-torrent Of causc rdicuIe in which
on may be sure neither the plaintiff nor the plaintiffs
ngged attorney was either forgotten or spared.
The Treat Prentiss concluded for the defendant y
nth a glow of gorgeous words brilliant az showers
falling stars, and with final burst of oratorv that
rought the house down in cheers in which the sworn
Try themselves joined, notwithstanding the stern .
order J! s. order ~ of the bench. Thus wonderful
susceptible the south western people to the
harms of imprisoned eloquence!
1t was then the strangers turn He had remained D
pPareny distracted during all the previous sneecb :
s. Sill, and strait. and motioness in his seat his
ale smooth forehead shooting up high like noun
n-cone OF snow but for that eternal witch that
anne and went perPetually in his sallow cheeks you
ouid nave taken him for mere man of marble or r
uman form carved in ice. Even his dim dreamy e
yes were Invisible beneath those gray, shaggy eve
rows. ~ -ssJ W