Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-12-01
The VoIunteer counsel.


genlas. The grace of bis 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 firm Of the city TO go on mission as
land agent to the West As heavy salary was
offered, Taylor babe farewell to his wife and IN
FAINT son. He wrote back every week, but re-
ceiyed not line in return. Six months elapsed,
when the husband received letter from his en-
ployers that explained all. Shortly after his de-
parture Tor the West, tile wife and her father re-
moved to Mississippi There she Immediately OBJ
tanned divorce by an act Of the Legislature.
married again forthwith, and to complete the CHI
mex Of cruelty and wrong, had the name ofTay~
lor's son changed TO Marks, that of her second
matrimonial partner This per6dily nearly drove
Taylor insane. His career from that period, be-
came eccentric in the last degree; sometimes he
preached, sometimes he pleaded at the bar, until
at last fever carried him off at Comparatively
early age Philadelphia Bulletin.
Al an early hour the 9th of April, 1S40, the
Court House in Clarksville, Texas, was crow ded
to the Overlooking. Save in the war times past,
there had never been witnessed such gathering
in Red River County, while the strong feeling ap-
parent on every flushed face throughout the as
sembly, betokened some great occasion. A con-
else narrative Of facts will sufficiently explain the
matter
About the close of 1889, George Hopkins, one
of the weahes planters and most influential
men Of Northern Texas, offered a great insult TO
Mary Elliston, the young and beautiful wife of his
chIef-oyerseer. The husband threatened TO chas-
tlse him for the outrage, whereupon Hopkins
loaded his gun and went to Estons house and
shot him in his own door. The murderer was ar.
rested, and bailed to answer the charge This
occurrence produced intense excitement; and
Hopkins, in order to turn the tide Of popular
opinion, or at least TO mitigate the general wrath,
which at first was violent against him, circulated
reports prejudciaI to the character of the woman
who had already suffered such wrong at his
hands. She brought her suit for SANDER. And
thus, two causes, one criminal, and the other civ.
ll,and both growing out of the same tragedy, were
pending in the April Circuit Court, for 1910.
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 celebrated S. S. Prentiss, of New Orleans,
each with enormous fees, had been retained by
Hopkins for his defence,
The trial, on the Indictment for murder, ended
on the 9Th of April, with the acquiltal Of Hop
klns. Such result might have been we'll fore
seen, by comparing the talents Of the counsel en-
gagged on either side. The Texan lawyers were
utterly overwhelmed by the argument and elo-
quence of their opponents Ii was fight Of
dwarls against giants.
The SANDER suit was set for the 9Th, and the
tbrong OF spectators grew in numbers as well as
excitement and what may seem strange, the
current of public sentiment now ran decidedly for
Hopkins. Hismoney had procured pointed wit
nesses, who served most efficiently his powerful
advocates. Indeed so triumphanly had been the
success Of the previous day, thai when the SLAM
der case was called, Mary Elhston was left with
ont an attorney, they had all Withdrawn The
plgmy pettlfoggers dared not brave again the
sharp wit of Pike, and the scabing thunder Of
Prentiss.
Have youno counsel2' enquired Judge Mills,
looking kindly at the plaintiff
!" NO sir they have all deserted me, and am
too poor to employ any more, replied the beauti-
ful Mary, bursting into tears.
p" In such case, will not chvalroas
member Of the profession volunteer % asked the
Judge, glancing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent as death.
Judge Mills repeated the question.
will your honoT,'' said a voice from the
thlckest part of the crowd, situated behind the
bar.
AT the tones Of that voice many started half
way from their seats; and perhaps there was not
heart IN the immense throng which did not beat
something quicker, it was SO unearthly sweet,
clear, ringing, and mournful.
The first sensation, however, was changed in
figure, that nobody present remembered to have
seen before, elbowed his way through the crowd
and placed himself within the bar. His appear
ance was problem TO puzzle the sphinx herself
His high, pale brow, and small nervouslt -twich-
ing face, seemed alive with the concentrated es-
sence, and cream of genius, bnt then his lnfan-
tine blue eyes, hardly visible beneath their mas
slve arches, looked dim, dreary, almost nncon-
scous, and his clothing was SO exceedingly shah
by that the court hesltated 10 let the cause pro-
coed under his management.
Has your name been entered on the rolls Of
the Slater" demanded the Judge suspicious
ly,
1t is immaterial about my name's being en-
tered on your rolls,' answered the stranger,
his thin, bloodless lips curling into a 6endish
sneer. A&s
Imay be allowed 10 appear once, by the
courtesy of the Court and Bar Here is my Ii.
cense from the highest tribunal in America?''
and he handed Judge Mills broad parch-
ment.
The trial Immediately went on.
In the examination Of the witnesses the srane
ger evinced but little ingenuity as was commonly
thought. He suffered each one to tell his own
story without interruption, though he contriyed TO
make each une Of them tell it over two or three
times. He put few cross questions which, with
keen witnesses, only serve to correct mistakes
and he made no notes, which in mighty memor.
les, alwaystend to embarass. The examination
being ended, the stranger,as COUNSEL for the plain
TIT had right to the opening speech, as well az
the close; but 10 the establishment Of every one
ne declined the former, and allowed the defence
TO lead off Then shadow might have been OBJ
served to fiI acrossthe fine features Of Pike, aud
to darken even in the bright eyes Of Prenliss -
They saw they had cdughtd Tartar, but who
be was, or how it happened, ii was impossible 10
guess. de
Colonel Ashley spoke FIRST. lie dealt the jury
dish Of that close, dry logic, which, years az
forwards, rendered him famous in The Senate Of
the United States.
The poet Albert Pike, followed with rich rain
of nd hnlf