Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-08-20
9 GbrilImg Shstt9,.
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL,
A TALE OF JOHN TAYLOR.

rive copy the following from the New
York Sunday Times. The subject of it,
John Taylor, was licensed when youth of
twenty-one, to practice at the bar Of Pbila-
delphia. He was poor but we'll educated,
and possessed extraordinary genius. The
graces of his person, combined with the su-
periority of his intellect, enabled him to win
the hand of fashionable beauty Twelve
months afterwards the husband was employ
ed by wealthy firm of the city to go on a
mission as land.agent to the West. As a
heavy salary was offered, Taylor bade fare
we'll to his wife and infant son. He wrote
back every week, but received not line in
answer. Six months elapsed, when the hus-
band received letter from his employers
Tho. explained all. Shortly oftor hio dopor-
ture 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 forth
with, and, to complete the climax Of cruelty
and wrong, had the name of Taylor's son
changed to Mark-that of her second mat
rimonial partner The per6dy nearly drove
Taylor insane. His career, from that period,
became eccentric in the last degree; some
times he plead at the bar; until, at last
fever carried him off at comp paratively ear
ly age.
At an early hour, the 9th Of April, 1910,
the court house in Clarksville; Texas, was
crowded to overhowing. Save in the1war-
times past, there had never been witnessed
such gathering in Red River county, while
the strong feeling, apparent in every flushed
face throughout the assembly, betokened
some great occasion. A concise narrative
of facts will sufficiently explain the matter.
About the close oflsS9, George Hopkins,
one of the wealthiest planters and most in
fuential men of Northern Texas, offered a
gross insult to Mary Elliston, the young and
beautiful wife of his overseer The husband
threatened to chastise him for the outrage,
whereupon Hopkins loaded his gun, went
to Elliston's house, and shot him in his own
door, The murderer was arrested, and bail
ed to answer the charge. This occurrence
produced intense 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, cir
culated reports iufamously prejudicial to the
character of the women who had already
suffered such cruel wrong at his hands. She
brought her suit for SANDER. And thus two
causes, one criminal, and the other civil, and
both out of the same tragedy, were pending
in April Circuit Court for 1910.
The interest naturally felt by the com.
munity as to the issues, became far deeper
when it was known that Ashley and Pike of
Arkansas, and the celebrated S. S. Prentiss
of New Orleans, each with enormous fees,
had been retained by Hopkins for his de-
fence.
The trial. on the indictment for murder,
ended on the 9Th of April with the acquittal
of Hopkins. Such result might we'll have
been foreseen, by comparing the talents of
the counsel engaged on either side. The
Texan lawyers were utterly overwhelmed by
the argument and eloquence of their oppon-
ents. 1t was fight of dwarfs against gi-
ants
The SANDER suit was set for the 9th of
April, and the throng of spectators grew in
numbers as we'll as excitements aud what
may seem strange, the current of public SEN
timent now ran decidedly for Hopkins. His
money had procured pointed witnesses, who
served most efficiently his powerful advo-
Gates. Indeed, 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 with
drawn. The pigmy-pettifoggers dare not
brave again the sharp wit of Pike, and the
scathing thunder of Prentss.
"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, replied
the beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
sIn such case, will not some chivalrous
member of the profession volunteer 7" asked
the Judge, glancing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent as death.
I,d~a Mills repoatad the nuestion