The Panola star. ([Panola] Panola County, Miss.) 1856-1857, 1856-07-09

Gne 9Jn, ana the tnrong OF spectators
grew in numbers as well as excite
ment; and what may seem strange,
the current of public sentiment now
ran decidedly for Hopkins. His money
had procured pointed witnesses who
served most efficiently his powerful
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an attorney-they had ell withdrawn.
The pigmy -pettifogger dared not brave
against the sharp wit of Pike, and the
scathing thunder Of Prentiss.
Have you no counsel 2" inquired
Judge Mills, looking kindly at the
plaintiff
"NO sir, they have all deserted me,
and am too poor to employ any MORE"
replied the beautiful Mary, bursting
into tears.
"In such a case, will not some chiv-
alrous member of the profession vol
unteer ?' asked the Judge, glancing
around the bar.
The lawyers were silent as death.
Judge Mills repeated the question.
Il will, your honor" said voice
from the thickest part of the crowd,
situated behind the bar. At the tones
of that voice many started half way
from their seats and perhaps there
was not a heart in the immense thrOng
which did not beat somewhat quicker
it was so unearthly sweet, clear,
ringing and m0urnful.
The first sensation, however, was
changed into general laughter, when
tall, gaunt, spectral figure, that nobody
present ever remembered to have seen
before, elbowed his way through the
crowd, and placed himself within the
bar. His appearance was a problem
to puzzle the sphynx herself. His
high, pale brow, and small nervously
twitching face, seemed alive with the
concentrated essence and cream of
genius; but then his infantine blue
eyes, hardly visible beneath their mas
sive arches, looked dim, dreamy, al
most unconscious and his clothing
was so exceedingly shabby that the
court hesitated to let the cause proceed
under his management.
HAS your name been entered on
the rolls of the State!" demanded the
Judge, suspiciously.
''It is ilnmaterlai about my name
being on your rolls" answered the
stranger, his thin, bloodless lips curl
ing up into a fiendish sneer. Il may
be allowed to appear once, by the cOur-
tesy of the court and bar. Here is
my license from the highest tribunal
in America !" and he handed Judge
Mills broad parchment. The trial
| Immediately went on.
In the examination of witnesses the
stranger evinced but little ingenuity,
as was commonly thought. He suffer
ed each one to tell his own story with
out interruption, though he cOntrived
to make each one tell it over two or
three times. He put few cross ques-
tionS, which, with keen witnesses, only
serve to correct mistakes; and he
made no notes, which, in mighty memo
ries, always tend to embarrass. The
examination being ended, as counsel
for the plaintiff he had right to the
opening speech, as well as the close !;
but to the astOnishment of every one,
he declined the former, and allowed
the defence to lead off. Then shadow
might be seen to fit across the fine
features of Pike, and to darken even
the bright eyes of Prentiss. They
saw that they had caHght a Tartar f.;
but who it was, or how it happened,
was impossible to guess.
Col. Ashley spoke first. He
dealt the jury a dish of that close
dry logic, which, years afterwards,
rendered him famous in the Senate
of the Union.
The poet, Albert Pike, followed
with a rich rain of wit, and half
torrent of caustic ridicule, in which
you may be sure the plaintiff, nor
the plaintiffs ragged attorney was
either forgotten or spared.
The great Prentiss concluded
for the defendant, with a glow of
gorgeous words, brilliant as show
ers of falling stars, and with a
final burst of oratory that brought
the house down in cheers, in which
the sworn jury themselves joined,
Notwithstanding the stern "order
order !" of the bench. Thus
wonderfully susceptible are the
southwestern people to the
charms of impassioned eloquence.
1t was then the strangers turn.
He had remained apparently alb
stracted during all the previous
speeches. Still, and straight, and
motionless in his head, his pale
smooth forehead shooting up high
like a mountain-cone of snow; but