Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-12-07
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.
A TALE or JOHN TAYLOR.

A TALE or JOHN TAYLOR.
John Taylor was licensed, when q
youth of twenty-ene, 10 practice at the
bar Of this city. He was poor but well
educated, and possessed extraordinary
genius. The graces of his person com;
bined with the superiority of his intel.
lect, enabled him to win the hand of a
fashionable beauty. Twelve months
afterwards he was employed by a veal.
thy firm Of the city to go on mission
as land agent to the west. As heavy
salary was offered, Taylor bade fare
well to his wife and infant son. He
wrote back every week, but received not
line in answer. Six months elapsed,
when he received line from his en-
ployers that explained all. Shortly
after his departure for the west, the
wife and her father removed to Missis-
sippi. There she Immediately obtained
a divorce by an act of the Legislature,
married again forthwith, and to com
plete the climax of cruelty and wrong,
had the name of Taylor's son changed
to Marks-that of her second matrimo-
NAL partner. This perfdity nearly
drove Taylor insane. His career from
that period became eccentric in the first
degree. At last fever carried him off
at comparatively early age.
At an early hour on the 9Th of April,
1910, the court house in Clarksville,
Texas, was crowded to overfowing.-
Save in the war times past, there had
never been witnessed such gathering
in Red River country, while the strong
feeling apparent on every flushed face
will sufficiently explain the matter.
At the close of 836, George Hop
kius, one of the wealthiest planters and
most influential men Of Northern Texas,
offered gross insult to Mary Elliston,
the young and beautiful wife of his
chief overseer. The husband threat
ened to chastise 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 answer for the
charge. This occurrence produced in
tense excitement, and Hopkins, in order
to turn the general wrath which at first
was violent against him, circulated re-
ports UNANIMOUSLY prejudicial to the
character of the woman who had suf-
fered such cruel wrong at his hands
She brought her suit for SANDER. And
thus, two cases, one criminal and the
other civil, and both out of the same
tragedy, were pendingi in the April Cir
cult Court for 1910.
The interest naturally felt by the COM
mittees as to the issues became far
deeper when it was known that Ashley
and Pike, of Arkansas, and the cele-
brated S. S. Prentiss, OF New Orleans,
each with enormous fees, had been re-
tanned by Hopkins for his defence.
The trial for the Indictment for muir
der ended on the 9th of April, in the
acquittal Of Hopkins. Such a result
might well have been .foreseen by COM
pairing the talents of the counsel on
either side. The Texas lawyers were
utterly overwhelmed by the arguments
and eloquence of their opponents. 1t
was fight of adwarf against giants.
The SANDER suit was set for the 9th,
and the throng of spectators grew in
number as well as excitement; and what
may seem strange, the current of public
excitement now ran decidedly for Hop
kins. His money had purchased pointed
witnesses, who served most efficiently
his powerful advocates. Indeed SO tri-
umphant had been the success of the
previous day, that when the slander case
was called, Mary Elliston was left with
out an attorney-they had all with
drawn. The pigmy pettifogers dared
not brave again the sharp wit of Pike
and the scathing thunder of Prentiss.
"Have you no counsel?" inquired
Judge Mills, looking kindly at the plain
fH.
"No, sir, they have all deserted me,
and I am too poor to employ any more, :"
replied the beautiful Mary, bursting into
tears.
eIn such case, viii not some chiv-
alrous member of the profession volun-
teer?" asked the Judge, glancing around
the bar. Ln E'5 .se
The thirty lawyers were all silent as
death.
Judge Mills repeated the question.
81 will, your honor" said voice
from, the thickest part of the crowd,
: situated behind the bar.