The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-12-14
5elrrtra Sturu.
A Volunteer Counsel-A Tale
OF JOHN TAYLOR,

was crowded to overHowing. Save in
the war time past, there bad never been
witnessed such a gathering in Red River
County, while the strong feeling, appa.
rent in every busbed face throughout The
assembly, betokened some great occasion.
a concise narrative Of facts will sufficient
ly explain the matter.
About the close of 1899. George Hop.
kins, one of the weallhest planters and
most influential men CT Northern Texas,
offered a gross insult to Mary Eliston, the
Young ard beautiful wife of his overseer.
The husband threatened 10 chastise him
for the outrage, whereupon Hopkins load
ed his gun went 10 Eiiston's house, and
shot him in bis own door. The murder
er was arrested, and bai.ed TO answer the
charge. The occurrence produced i'm.
mense excitement and Hopkins, in or.
der TO turn the tide Of popular opinion,
or at least to mitigate the general wrath,
which at first were violent against him,
circulated repor,s UNANIMOUSLY prejudicial
to the character Of the woman who had
already suffered such cruel wrong at bis
hands. She brought her suit for slander
hHu NuuS tWO Cdus' OHc dnJ
the other civil, aud both out Of the same
tragedy, were pending in April Circuit
Court for 1910.
The interest naturally fe.t by the com
munity rs 10 the issues, became far deep
er when it WAS known tina, Ashley and
Pike Of Arkansas, aud the celebrated 5.
5. Prenliss, Of New Orleans, each with
enormous lees, had been retained by
Hopkins. in his defeuce.
The trial, on the indictment OF murder,
ended on the 9th day oi April with -ac
quital ot Hopkins. Such result might
we'll have been foreseen by comparing
the talents OF the counsel engaged on
ether side. The Texas lawyers we're ut
terly overwhelmed by the argument and
e!oquence Of their opponents.
The slander suit was sci for the 9th OF
April, and the lhrong Of spectators grew
in number AS We'll as excitement, aud
What ma! seem sraage, the current OF
public sentiment now ran decidedly for
Hopkins. Ills money had pr"ru ell wit
nesses, by whom he could prove ANYTHING
and with the AID of those powerful ad
vocstes no one d. uhted'hs 5 succr, s. Mary
Eliston's law, era had deserted her and
Withdraw the pigmy pe,lifneger dare
not brave the sharp vii of Pike or the
sca.hing thunder # Prentiss.
Have You no counsel 2 inuuirel Judge
Mills, looking kindly at the paint II.
NO, sir, the, have all des, ried me. and
| am too poUr to employ sny more" re.
piled the beautiful Mary, bursting into
tears.
In such case, will not some chvaI
rous member Of the profession volanteerl'
asked the Judge, glaneiug around the
bar.
The thirty LAWYERS were as silent rs
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 in tho I'M
mense tbrong no heart which did not
beat something quicker--it was 20 un.
earthly-sweet, clear, ringing and mourn.
full
The FIRST sensation, however was chang.
ed into general laughter, when tall,
gsunt spectral figure, that nobody pres
ent ever remembered 10 have seen before.
elbowed his way through the crowd, and
placed himself within the bar. His nd
pearance was problem to puzzle The
sphinx herself. His high pale brow, and
small, nervously twitching face seemed
alive with the consecra,ed essence and
q n
blue eyes, hardly visible beneath their
massive arches, looked dim and dreamy,
almost uucohsciouS; and lis clothing vas
so exceedingly shabby that the court hes.
t,a,ed to lot the cause proceed under his
management.
Has your name been entered on the
rolls Of the State 2 demanded the Judge
suspiciously.
II L. iGgmete.ial about my name beng
upon your rolls answered the stranger,
his thin bioodIess lips curling up into a
sort Of fiendish sneer. 'iyiaay be allowed
10 appear once by the courtesy Of the
court and bar. Here ia. pns license from
the highest tribunal in America aud he
handed Judge Mills a board parchment.
The trial Immediately ver, On.
10 the examination oftns witnesses
the stranger svinced but little ingenuity,
as was commonly ,hougbi, lie suffered
each one to tell bis own story without
interruption, though. he cootsived to
max each one tell il over two or three
times. lie put few cross questions,
which with keen witnesses, only serve to
correct mistakes and he made no notes,
which, IN mighty memories, always tend
to embarrasa The examination beipa
ended, as counsel for the plaintiff, he had
arigbtto the opening, as we'll as the
close, but TO the astonishment Of eyery
one he declined the former, and allowed
the defence'to lead off. Then a shadow
might have been observed TO Git scross
the fine features OF Pike and to darken
the bright eyes Of Pfeptiss They saw
that they had caught Tartar ; bu,
q. II =. 4.