Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-06-20
Cbuirf Titrraturf.
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.
A TALE OF JOHN TAYLOR.

THE NOIONIEhh OOONoHlh.
TALE OF JOHN TAYLOR.
We copy the following from the New
York Sunday Times. The subject of it,
John Taylsr, was licensed, when youth
of twenty-One, to practice at the bar Of this
city. He was poor, but well-edueated, and
possessed extraordinary genius. The gra-
ces of his person combined with the superior
ity Of his intellect, enabled him to win the
hand Of fashionable beauty. Twelve months
afterwards the husband was employed by a
wealthy firm Of the city, to 60 on mission
as land agent to the West. As heavy sal
airy was offered, Taylor bade farewell to his
wife and infant son. He wrote back every
week, but received not line in answer
Six months elapsed, when the husband re-
ceived a letter from his employers that ex-
planned all. Shortly after his departure to
the West, the wife and her father removed
to Mississippi. There she Immediately OBJ
tanned divorce by act Of the Legislature,
married again forthwith and, to complete
the climax of cruelty and wrong, had the
name Of Taylor's son changed to Marks
that Of her second matrimonial partner -
This per6dy nearly drove Taylor insane
His career from that period, became eceen,
tric in the last degree sometimes he preach
ed, sometimes he pleaded at the bar (; until,
at length fever carried him off at a COM
Paratively early age.-Philadelphia Bulle-
tan.
Atan early hour on the 9th of April 1910,
the Court House in GAINESVILLE, Texas, was
crowded to overfowing. Save in the war
times past, there had never been witnessed
such gathering in Red River county. while
the 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 1889. George Hop
kins, one of the wealthiest planters and
most influential men Of Northern Texas, Of
fered gross insult to Mary Elliston, the
young and beautiful wife of his chief over
seer The husband threatened to chastise
him for the outrage, yhereupon Hopkins
loaded his gun, went to Elliston's house and
Shot him in his own door. Tho Murderer
wasarrested, and bailed toanswer the charge.
Thisoccurrence produced intense excitement
and Hopkins, in order to turn the tide Of
popular opinion, at least to mitigate the gen.
eral wrath, (which at first was violent against
him, circulated reports UNANIMOUSLY preludic
ial TO the character Of the woman who had
already suffered such cruel wrong at his
hands. She brought her suit for SANDER
And thus two causes, one criminal and the
other civil, and both out of the same trage
dy, were pending in the April Circuit Court
for 1910.
!. The interest naturally felt by the commu
nifty as TO the issues, became far deeper
when it was known that Ashley and Pike
Of Arkansas, and the celebrated S. S. Pren
tiec, Of New Orleans, each with enormou
!, fees, had been retained by Hopkins for tn
defence.
The trial, on the indictment for murder
ended on the 9Th of April, with the acqrits
ofHopkins. Such . result might well hav
been fOreseen by comparing the talents {
the counsel on the other side. The Texa
lawyers were utterly overwhelmed by th
argument and eloquence Of their opponents
II was fight Of dwarfs against giants.
The SANDER suit was set for the 9th, an
the throng Of spectators grew in numbers g
well as excitement and what may seel
strange, the current of public sentiment no
ran decidedly for Hopkins. His money ha
procured pointed witnesses, who served mo
efficiently his powerful advocates. Indeed
50 triumphant had been the success of Il
previous day, that when the SANDER case wi
called, Mary Elliston was left without an a
torney--they had all Withdrawn. The pi
my pettifoggers dared not brave again Il
sharp wit of Pike and the scathing thu