The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-07-11

we'll have been foreseen by comparing the
talents of the counsel engaged on either
side. The Texas lawyers were utterly
overwhelmed by the arguments and supe-
rior eloquence of their distinguished op-
ponents. 1t was a fight of dwarf with
giants.
The SANDER suit was set for the 9th,
and the throng of spectators grew in num-
bers as we'll as excitement And what
may seem strange, the current of public
sentiment now ran decidedly for Hopkins.
His money had purchased pointed witness
es, who served most efficiently his power
full advocates. Indeed so triumphant had
been the success of the previous day, that
when the SANDER case was called, Mary
Elliston was left without an attorney
they had all withdrawn. The pigmy pet
tifoggers dared not brave against the sharp
wit of Pike, and the scathing thunder of
Prentiss.
"Have you no eounsel?" inquired Judge
Mills of the plaintiff.
"No, sir, they have all deserted me,
and I am too poor to employ any more" :"
said Mary, bursting into tears.
ain such case, will not some chival-
rous member of the profession volunteer"
inquired the Judge, glancing anxiously
round the bar
The thirty Texan lawyers were all silent
as death.
Judge NJ. repeated the question.
~ will, your honor" exclaimed a voice
from the thickest part of the crowd-sit-
uated behind the bar.
At the tones of that voice many started
half from their seats, and not heart in
that immense throng but which beat some
lquicker-it was so unearthly, sweet clear
ringing, soft, and mournful.
The first sensation, however was changed
to general laughter, when tall, gaunt,
spectral figure, that nobody present re-
membered having seen before, elbowed his
way through the crowd, and placed HIM
self within the bar. His appearance was
problem to the sphynx himself. His
high pale brow, and small, nervous, twitch-
ing face, seemed alive with the concentra-
ted essence and cream of genius; but then
his infantile blue eyes, hardly visible be-
meath their massive arches, looking dim,
dreamy, almost unconscious; and his cloth
ing was so shabby that the Court hesitated
to let the cause proceed under his manage
ment.
| Has your name been entered upon the
rolls of this State?" demanded Judge
Mills, suspiciously.
" 1t is immaterial about my name be-
ing upon your rolls" answered the stran.
ger, his thin lips curling into iendish
sneer; Il may be allowed to appear once
by the courtesy of the court and bar
Here is my license from the highest tribu.
nal in America" handing Judge Mills 9
broad parchment. The trial immediately
went on.
In the examination of witnesses the
stranger eyinced little ingenuity, as was
commonly thought. He suffered each one
to tell his own story without interruption
though he contrived to make each tell il
over two or three times. He put few
cross questions, which with keen witnesses
4 OuIJ oCkNCd W COIICCt uiSItthcSy dHu LIZ
made no notes, which in mighty memories
always tend to embarrass. The examina
/ tion being ended, as counsel for the plain
tiff he had right to the opening speech
. as well as the close but to the astonish
ment of every one, he declined the former
and allowed the defence to lead off. Ther
/, a shadow might have been observed to fiji
across the features of Pike, and to darker
even the bright eyes of Prentiss. The,
saw that they had caught Tartar;" bu
who it was, or how it happened, was i'm
4 possible to conjecture.
Col Ashley spoke first. He dealt tn,
jury dish of that close dry logic whicl
years after rendered him famous in tn,
Senate of the Union.
The poet Albert Pike, followed will
a rich vein of wit, and hale torrent o
ridicule, in which you may be sure neithe
the plaintiff nor the plaintiffs IS ragged at
torney were either forgotten or spared.
4 The great Prentiss concluded for tn
defendant, with glow of gorgeous words
brilliant as shower of falling stars, ant
concluded with final burst of orator
that brought the house down with ap
plause, in which the sworn jury themselve
Joined, notwithstanding the stern Order
of the bench. Thus wonderfully suscep
tible are the South Western people to i'm
passioned eloquence.
Il 1t was then the strangers turn. II
had remained apparently abstracted du
ring the previous speeches. Still, an
r straight, and motionless in his seat, hi
| pale smooth forehead shooting up like
t mountain cone of snow, but for that eter
nal twitch that came and went perpetual
, in his sallow cheeks, you would have ia
ken him for mere man of marble or
human form carved in ice. Even his dir