The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-10-08
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.

John Taylor was licensed, when youth
of twenty-one, to practice at the bar of
-. He was poor, but well educated,
and possessed extraordinary genius. The
grace of his person, combined with the SUI
periority of his intellect, enabled him to
win the hand of a fashionable beauty
Twelve months afterwards, the husband
was employed by wealthy firm in the
city to go on mission as land agent to the
West AS heavy salary was offered,
Taylor babe farewell to his wife and infant
son. He wrote back every week, but re-
ceived not line in answer. Six months
elapsed, when the husband received let
ter from his employers which explained all.
Shortly after his departure for the West,
the wife and her father removed to Mis-
sissippi. There she Immediately obtained
divorce by act of Legislature, married
forthwith and to complete the climax of
her cruelty and wrong, had the name of
Taylors son changed to Marks-that OF
her second matrimonial partner. This per-
fidy nearly drove Taylor insane. His ca
reer from that moment became eccentric
in the first degree; sometimes he preached,
sometimes he plead at the bar, until at last
a fever carried him off at comparatively
early age.
ACCOUNT OF ONE OF HIS EFFORTS AT THE BAR.
AT an early hour on the 9th of April,
1910, the Court House in GAINESVILLE, Tex
as, was crowded to OVERLOOKING. Save in
the war times, there had never been wit
messed so large a gathering in the Red
River country, while the strong feeling APP
parent in every flushed face will sufficient
~ explain the matter following:
About the close of 1889, George Hop
kins, one of the Iwealthiest planters and
most influential men in Northern Texas,
offered a gross insult to Mary Ellison, the
young and beautiful wife of his chief over
seer. The husband threatened to chastise
him for the outrage, whereupon Hopkins
loaded his gun, went to Ellison's house,
and shot him in his own door. The MUIR
derer was arrested, and bailed to answer
the charge. This occurrence produced in
tense excitement, and Hopkins, in order
10 turn the tide Of popular Iopinion, or at
least to mitigate the general wrath, which
at first was violently against him, circulated
reports UNANIMOUSLY prejudicial to the char
acter and standing of the woman who had
suffered such cruel wrongs at his hands.
She brought her suit for SANDER. And
thus two cases-one criminal and the other
civil, and both out of the same tragedy
were pending at the April Circuit Court
for 1910.
The interest naturally felt by the com
munity as the issue, became far deeper
when it was known that Ashley and Pike,
of Arkansas, and the celebrated S. S. Prem
tiss, of New Orleans, each by enormous
fees, had been retained by Hopkins for his
his defence
The trial of indictment for murder end
ed on the 9Th of April, with the acquittal
of Hopkins. Such result might
well have been foreseen, comparing
the talents of the counsel engaged on eth
er side. The Texas lawyers were COM
pletely overwhelmed by the arguments and
eloquence of their opponents. 1t was a
fight of dwarfs against giants.
The SANDER suit was set for the 9th, and
the throng of spectators grew in numbers,
the excitement increased; and, what seem
ed strange, the current of public opinion
now ran decidedly for Hopkins. His mo-
ney had procured witnesses who served his
powerful advocates. Indeed, SO triumph
ant had been the success on the previous
day that, when the case was called, Mary
Ellison was left without an attorney-all
had withdrawn. The pigmy pettifoggers
dared not brave the sharp wit of Pike, and
the scathing thunder of Prentiss.
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" re-
piled the beautiful Mary, bursting into
tears.
q In such a case, will mot some chival-
rous member of the profession yolun-