Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-07-06
The Volunteer Counsel.

John Taylor was licensed, when youth ot
21, to practice at the bar of PHILADELPHIA.
He was poor, but we'll educated, and posses
sed extraordinary genius. The grace of bis
person, combined with the superiority of his
intellect. enabled him to win the hand of q
fashionable beauty. About year afterwards
the husband was employed by a wealthy
merchant Of the city to go on a mission as
land agent to the West. AS a heavy salary
was afforded, Taylor bid farewell to his wife
and infant son. He wrote back every week
butreceived not a line in answer. Six months
elapsed, when he received letter from his
employer that explained ALL Shortly after
his departure for the West, the wife and her
father removed to Mississippi. There she i'm
mediately obtained divorce by an act of the
Legislature, married again forthwith and to
complete the climax Of cruelty and wrong
had the child's name of Taylor changed to
that of Marks-her second matrimonial part
ner.-This perfdy nearly drove Taylor in
sane. From that period his course became
eccentric in the first degree. At last a 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 the Red River county.
while the strong feeling that was apparent on
every flushed face will sufficiently explain
the matter.
At the close of 1889, George Hopkins, one
OF the wealthiest planters and most infuen-
tial men of Northern Texas. offered gross
insult to Mrs. Mary Eliston, the wife of his
chief overseer. The husband threatened to
chastise him for the outrage, whereupon Hop
kins loaded his gun, went to the house Of Ell
liston, and shot him in his own door, The
murderer was arrested and bailed to answer
the charge.-This occurrence produced III
tense 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
infanously prejudicial to the character of the
woman who had suffered such cruel wrong at
his hands. She bro't her suit for SANDER.
And thus two cases, one criminal and the
other civil, and both out of the same TRACE
dy, were pending in the April Circuit Court
for 1840.
The interest naturally felt by the commu-
nifty became deeper when it was known that
Ashley and Pike, of Arkansas, and the cele-
brated S. S. Prentiss, Of n. Orleans, each
with enormous fees, had been retained by
Hopkins to conduct his defence.
The trial Of the Indictment for murder end
ed on the 8th Of April, with the acQuittal OF
Hopkins. Such result might have been
fOreseen by comparing the talents of the
| counsel engaged on either side. The Texas
lawyers We're utterly overwhelmed by the ar
guments and eloquence of their opponents,
1t was light of dwarf against giants.
The SANDER suit was set down for the 9th,
and the throng Of spectators grew in num-
bers 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 efectually his powerful advocates In
deed so triumphant had been the success OF
| the previous day, that when the slander case
was called, Mary Elliston was left without
an Attorney-they had all withdrawn The
pigmy pettifoggers dare not brave the sharp
wit Of Pike, and the scathing thunder of the
learned Prentiss
Have you no counsel?" enquired Judge
Mills kindly. looking at the plaintiff.
''No, sir, they have all deserted me, and I
am too poor to employ any more" replied
the beautiful Mary, bursting into tears I'm
such case, will not any chivalrous member
of the profession volunteer" asked the
Judge, looking at the bar.
The thirty lawyers remained silent as
death.
Judge Mills repeated the question.
i will, your honor" said voice from the
thickest part Of the crowd Of bystanders be-
hind the bar.
AT the tone Of the voice many started half
from their seats, and perhaps there was not a
heart IN that immense throng that did not
peat something quicker-it seemed so un-
earthly clear, sweet ringing and mournful.
Inc hrst sensation, however, was changed
into laughter, when tall, gaunt, spectral
figure. that nobody present remembered to
have seen before, elbowed his way through
the mass, and placed himself inside the bar.
His presence was problem to puzzle the
sphinx himself. His high and pale brow and
small nervOusly twitching face, seemed alive
with the concentrated essence and cream of
genius; but then his infantile blue ewes hard
ly visible beneath their massy arches, looked
dim, dreamy. almost unconscious; and his
clothing looked so shabby that the court hesi
tated to let the case proceed under his man
agement
HAS your name been entered on the rolls
of the State?" demanded the Judge, eyeing
him suspiciously.
sit is immaterial about my name being on
the rolls" answered the stranger, his thin
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