The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-12-17
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.
A TALE OF JOHN TAYLOR.

TALE OF JOHN TAYLOR.
John Taylor was licensed, when a
youth of twenty-one to practice at the
bar. He vas poor but well educated,
and possessed extraordinary genius. The
graces Of his prison combined with the
superiority of his intellect, enabled him
to win the hand Of "A fashionable beauty.
Twelve months afterwards, the husband
VAS employed by a wealthy firm Of the
city to go on mission as land agent TO
the west. As heavy salary was offer
ed, 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 re-
c"ived Litter from his employees that
explained all. Shortly after his depar-
tIr" for the west, the wife and her father
removed to Mississippi. There she i'm
medlalrl y obtained divorce by an act
Of the l. 'gislature, married again forth
with, and, to complete the climax Of
cruelty and wrong, had the name of
raylor's son changed to Marks-that Of
her second matrimonial partner. This
pertidy nearly drove Taylor insane. His
career from that period became -ccent-
&c in the FIST degree sometimes he
preached, sometimes he plead at tho har
until at last fever carried him oil at
comparatively early age.
AT an early hour on the 9th Of April,
1910, the Cour, House in GAINESVILLE,
Texas, was crowded TO Overlooking.
Save in the war times past, there had
never been witnessed such a gathering
IN Red River county, Will the strong
t""ling apparent on every flush ID face
will sufficiently explain the matter.
ABOUT the close OF 1899, George Hop.
kin;, one Of thu wraIthirst planters and
N Isl influential men OF Northern Texas,
offered gross insult to Mary Ellisjon,
the Young and beautiful wife of his
cli,t ov-rS"rr. The husband threaten.
cl 20 .hlSliSA him Tor the Outrage;
Nh',rupon Hopkins loaded his gun,
went to EIiston's house, and shot him
IA his own door. The murderer was
al ''N''N', ana ohiltu w aus " el tHe CHdlSe
.Ihi, occurrence produced intense ex-
ci.rm mt, 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 UNANIMOUSLY prrjudicial to the
character of the woman who had suffer
ed such cruel wrong at his hands. She
brou 5ht her suit tor SANDER. And thus
two cases. one criminal and the other
civil, and both out OF the same tragedy,
We're pending in the Apri! Circuit Court
for 1919.
The interest naturally felt by the com
mun,ty as to the issues b"clme far deep
rr when it was known that Ashley and
Pike of Arkansas, and the celebrated S.
5. Prrntis> OF New Orleans, each with
enormous fees, had been retained by
Hopkins for his defence.
The trial for the Indictment of muir.
der ended on the 9Th of April, with the
acquttaI of Hopkins. Such result
might we'll have been toreseen by COM
pairing the talents of the counsel en-
gagged on either side. The Texas law
yers We're utterly over whelmed by the
arguments and eloquence of their oppo
nents. 1t was a fight of dwarf against
giants.
The SANDER suit was set for the 9th,
and the lhrong Of spectators grew in
number as we'll as excitement; and what
may seem strange, the current of public
sentiment now ran decidedly for Hop.
kins. His money had procured pointed
witnesses, who served most efficiently
his powerful advocates. Indeed, so tri
nmphant had been the success Of the
previous day, that when the SANDER
case was called, Mary Ellison was left
withou, an attorney-they had all with
drawn. The pigmy pettifoggers dared
not brave against the sharp wit of Pike,
and the scAthing thunder OF Prentiss.
"Have you no counsel - inquired
Judge Mills, looking kindly at the plain
tiff.
"No, sir, they have all deserted me.
and am too poor to employ any more, y
replied the beautiful Mary, bursting in
to tears.
.'In such case, will not some chiv-
alrous member of the profession volun-
teer /" asked the Judge, glancing around
the bar,