Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-04-27
q q Qbrillin9 Stony,
The Volunteer Counsel.

John Taylor was licensed, when youth
Of twenty.one, to practice at the bar ol this
CITY. He was poor, hut well educated, and
possessed extraordinary genius. The grace
of his 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 a
wealthy firm of that city to go on mission
as land agent to the west. As heavy sala.
ry was offered Taylor bade farewell to his
wife and infant son. He wrote back every
week, but received not word in answer
Six months elapsed, when the husband re-
ceived letter from his employers that OK.
planned all. Shortly after lis departure for
the west, his wife and her father removed to
Mississippi. There, she Immediately obtain.
ed divorce by an act of Legislature. mar.
ried again forthwith, and to complete the
climax of cruelty and wrong, had the name
of Taylor's son changed to Markets--that
OF her second matrimonial partner. This
pertidy drove Taylor insane. His career
from that period was ecceuttic in 'h" first
degree. At last fever carried him off al Il
comparatively early age.
At an early hour on the 9th of April.
1910, the court house IN Clarksville, Texas,
was crowded to overAowing. Save in the
wartimes past, there had never been wit
messed such gathering in Red river county,
while the strong feeling apparent on every
flushed face will sufficiently explain the mat
ter.
At the close Of 1880, George Hopkins,
one of the weathiest planters and most ill.,
huental men of Nnrthern Texas, offered a
gross insult to Mary Elli>ton, the young and
beautiful wife of his chief overseer The
husband threatened to chastise him.fer the
outrage; ~herenpon Hopkins loaded his gun,
went to Elliston's house, and shot him in
his own door. The murderer was arrested,
and baed to answer the cl,arge. This oc.
currence produced intense excitement, and
Hopkins in order TO turn the tide of popular
opinion, or at least to mitigate the general
wrath which was at first violent against him,
circulated reports infamousIy prejudirial to
the character of the woman &ho bad suffered
such cruel wrong at his hands. She brought
her suit for slander. Aud thus two cases,
one criminal and the other civil and both
out of the same tragedy, were pending in
the April Circuit Court for 1910 The in
terest naturally felt by the community as to
the issue, became far deeper when it was
known that Ashley and Pike of Arkansas
and the celebrated 5. S. Prentice, Of New
Orleans, each with enormous fees, had been
retained by Hopkins for his defence.
The trial for Indictment of murder ended
on the Sth of April, with the acqnial OF
Hopkins Such result might we'll have
been foreseen by comparing the talents o
the counsel engaged on the other side. The
Texas lawyers were utterly y overwhelmed by
the arguments and eloqnence of their oppo
nents. 1t was u fight of dwarf agains
giants.
The sander suit was set for the 9th. anc
the throng Of spectators grew in number as
well as excitement; and what may seen
strange, the current of public sentiment nov
ran decidedly for Hopkins. His money hae
procured pointed witnesses, who served mos
efficiently his powerful advocates. Indeed
so triumphant had been the success of the
previous day. that when the slander case
was called. Mary ElIston was left withou
an a,torney--,hey had all witldrawn. The
Pigmy pettifoggcrs dared not brave agains
the sharp wit of Pike, and the scathing
Thunder of Prentice
"Have You no counsel :" inquired Judge
Mills, looking kindly at the plaintiff:
"No sir, they have all deserted me, and
am too poor to employ any more" repliee
the beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
In such case will not chvalrou
memher of the profession volunteer :" aske'
the Judge, glancing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent as death.
Judge Mills repeated the question.
will, your honor" repeated voic
from the thickest part Of the crowd, situated
behindr6e bar.
At the tones Of that voice many startet
half from their seats; and perhaps there wa
not n heart in that immense throng wlicl
did not beat something quicker--it was St
unearthly, sweet, clear, ringing, and mourn
full.
The first sensation, however, changed in
to general laughter, when tall, gaunt, spec
traI figure, that nobody present remembers
ever to have seen before, elbowed himse
through the crowd and placed himself with
in the bar, His appearance was probler