Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-15
q keire 9iteraiurs.
The Volunteer Counsel.
TABLE OF aoIzs TAYLOR.


city lie was poor, but well educated, and
possessed extraordinary genius. The gracesI
of his person combined with the superiority L
of his intellect, enabled him to win the hand
Of a fashionable beauty. Twelve months af-
Iterwardss the husband was employed by |.
wealthy firm Of the city, to 60 on mission
as land agent to the West. As a heavy SAL /
Ell tc fs.ss rs /
wife and infant son. He wrote back every I
week, bot received not a line in answer
Six months elapsed, when he received letter
from his employers which explained all
Shortly after his departure fop the West his |
wife and her father removed to Mississippi. |
There she Immediately obtained divorce by |
an act of the Legislature, married again
forthwith, and to oOmplete the climax of base
lcruelty and wrong had the name. of Taylors |
son changed to Marks-that of her second
matrimonial partner.
This perfdy nearly rendered Taylor in
sane. His career from that period became
eccentric in the first degree. At last a fever
carried him off at a comparatively early age.
At an early hour on the 9Th Of April, 1910,
the Court House in Ciarksville, Texas, was
filled to overfowing. Save in the war times
past, there had never been such a gathering
in the Red River county, while. the strong
feeling apparent on every flushed face will
sufficiently explain the matter.
At the close of 1886, George Hopins, one
OF the wealthiest planters and most influential
men in 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: where
upon the planter loaded his gun, went to Ellis
toms house and shot him in his own door,
The murderer was arrested, and bailed to
answer the charge.
This occurrence produceG immense excite
ment, and the murderer, in order to turn the
tide OF the popular opinion or to mitigate the
general wrath that was violent against him,
circulated reports UNANIMOUSLY prejudicial to
the character of the woman who had suffered
such cruel wrong at his hands. She brought
suit for slauder. That two cases, one crimi-
nal and the other civil and both out of the same
tragedy, We're pending theApril Circuit Court
for 1S40
The interest naturally felt by the commu-
nifty as to the issues, became far deeper when
it was known that Ashley and Pike, of Ar
Kansas and the celebrated Prentiss, of New
Orleans, each with enormous fees had been
retained by Hopkins for his defence
The trial for the Indictment of murder en-
ded on the 9Th of April with the acquitial OF
Hopkins. Such a result might have been
foreseen, by comparing the talents of the
soS9sssl gsa engagadt So elSahaF aaaa
gnments and superior eloqnence Of then dIs
tinguished opponents. Itwas fight as of ;
dwarf with giants.
The slander suit was set for the 9th, an
the throng of spectators grew in number
as we'll as excitement. And what may seen
. strange, the current of public sentiment nov
ran decidedly for Ifepkins His money ha
purchased puriured witnesses who served mos
: efficiently his powerfal advocates. Indeed
0 so triumphant had been the success of tn
t previous day, that when the SANDER suit wa
. called, Mary Elliston was left without an a
Z torney-they had all withdrawn. The pigm
pettifoggers dare not brave again the shar
wit of Pike, and the scatching thunder
, Prentiss.
r Have you no counsel ?'' inquired Judg
y Mills of the plaintiff.
b No, sir, they have all deserted me, and
d am too poor to employ any more, said Mar
Al bursting into tears.
a. "In such a case will there not some chi
alrous member of the profession volunteer
rt INQUIRED the Judge, glancing anxiously
&c round the bar.
le Judge NJ. repeated the question.
to az will, your honor" exclaimed vol
rs from the thickest part of the crowd-sltuat
ha behind the bar.
y At the tones of that voice many started h
Us from their seats and not a heart in that i
les mense crowd but which beat something quiz
IL er-it was so unearthly sweet, clear, rlngll
cts soft and mournful.
nd The first sensation, however, was chang
w. to general laughter, when tall gaunt, sp
;lv trail figure, that nobody present remember
- having seen before, elbowed his way thror
9h- the crowed and placed himself within
efi bar. His appearance was problem to
nd snhynx himself. His high, pale brow,
nc small nervously twitching face seemed a
or with the concentrated essence and cream
genius: but then his infantile blue eyes, ha
80 " visible beneath their massive arches, lc
RI eli dim, dreamy, almost unconscious, and
anu clothing was So shabby that the court hes
lgs, ted to let the case proceed under his mana
rec ment.
ION, HAS YOUR name been entered upon
on rolls of the State - demanded Judge NJ
1t suspiciously.
on. at is imnlaterial about my name be
,,tb upon your rolls" answered the stranger
~ thin lips curling up into fendish suee
may be allowed to appear once by
ltly courtesy of the court and bar. Here Is
1t license from the hghesttribunal in Amer
one handing Judge Mills broad parchmen
tire The trial Immediately went on.
can In the examination Of witnesses, the 81
&c ger evinced but little ingenuity, as was
monty thought. He suffered each to tel
an0e own story without interruption, though he
per- trived to make each tell it over two or
up times. He put few cross-q1estions, "
they with keen witnesses only serve to correct
! the takes, and be made no notes, which In mi
over memories always tend to embarrass.
rate examination being ended, as counsel for r
4ho tiff. he had right to the opening spee'
'n we'll as the close but, to the astonishmt
1g Oh every one he declined the former and all
0 alb the defense to lead off, Then a shadow 1
Id be have been observed to fit across the fea
save of Pike, and to darken even the bright c
sting Prentiss. They saw that they had " cau
offorf Tartar !" but who it was, or how it happ
..oat was impossible to conjecture.
clee' u COL Ashley spoke FIRST. He dealt the
u nre dish of that close, dry logic, which
Woe after rendered him famous In the Sena
rink, the Union.
akest The poet, Albert Pike, followed, with
t look vein of wit, and hail torrent of ridicu
A. which YOU may be sure neither the pl
nor the plaintiff ragged attorney, were
onon. forgotten or spared.
ope The great Prentiss concluded for the
tents, ldant with glow of gorgeous words, Or