The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-27
The EloqueRce Of Tortured Genius
Triumphant Defense of Friendless

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Triumphant Defense of o Friendiess
Widow.
John Taylor was licensed, when youth
of twenty-one, to practice at q bar Of
lie was poor, but we'll educated, and
possessed of extra ordinary genius. The
graces of his person, combined with the
superiority of his intellect, enabled him
to win the hand of fashionable beauty.
Twelve months afterward the husband
was employed by wealthy firm of that
city to 60 on a mission as land agent to
the West As heavy salary was offered,
he bade farewell to his wife and SON. He
wrote back every week, but received not
q line in answer. Six months elapsed,
when the husband received letter from
his employer that explained all Shortly
after his departure for the West, the
wife and her father returned to Missis-
sippi Then she Immediately obtained q
divorce by act of Legislature, married
again forthwith, and, to complete the
climax of her cruelty and wrong, had the
name Of Taylors son changed to that OF
Marks-that of her second matrimonial
partner.
This perfdy nearly drove aylor insane.
His career frolA that moment became
eccentric in the first Representatives
he preached, sometimes he pleaded at the
bar, until at last fever carried him off
at q comparatively early age. The
following is an account ofo Of his efforts
at the bar;
At an early hour on the 9th of April,
lS4O, the Court House in Clarksville,
Texas, was crowded to oyerfowing Save
in the war times, there had never been
witnessed so large gathering in the Red
River country, while the strong feeling
apparent in every face, will sufficiently
explain the matter following.
About the close of 1889, Geo. Hopkins,
one of tho wealthiest planters and most
influential men in North ern Texas, offered
gross insult to Mary Ellison, the young
and beautiful wife of his principal 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 murderer was arrested and bailed
to answer the charge. The occurrence
produced intense excitement and Hop
kins in order to turn the tide of popular
opinion, or at least to mitigate the general
wrath which was first violently against
him, circulated reports UNANIMOUSLY
prejudicial to the character and standing
of tho woman, who had suffered such
cruel wrongs at his hands.
She brought suit for slander. 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 to the issue, became far deeper
when it was known that Ashley and Pike,
Of Arkansas, and the celebrated S. s.
Prentiss, of New Orleans, each by enor-
NOUS fees, had been retained by Hopkins
for defense. ...
The trial of Indictment for murder con.
cluded on the 9th of April, with the
acquittal of Hopkins Such result
might have wellbeen foreseen, comparing
the talents of the counsel engaged on
either side.
The Texas lawyers were utterly over
whelmed by the arguments and eloquence
Of their opponents. 1t was a fight of o
dwarf against giants
The SANDER suit was set for the 9th,
and the throng of spectators grew in
number, as well as excitement. And
what seemed strange the current of the
public opinion how ran directly for Hop
kins His money had procured witnesses
who served his powerful advocates. In
deed, so triumphant had been the success
on the previous day that when the slander
case was called Mary Ellison was left
without On attorney. All had with
drawn. a...-
The pigmy pettifoggers dare not brave
the sharp wit of Pike and the scathing
thunder Of Prentiss. "
"Have you no counsel?' inquired Judge
Miles, 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.
"In such case will not some chiv-
alrous member of the profession volun-
teer2" asked the Judge, glancing around
the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent.
II will, your honor" said voice from
the thickest of the crowd, situated behind
the bar.
At the tone of the voice many started
half from their seats, and perhaps there
was not heart in the intense throng that
did not beat somewhat quicker-it was so
unearthly sweet, ringing and mournful
The first sensation, however, was
changed into laughter, when tall, gaunt,
spectral figure, that no person present
remembered to have seen before, elbowed
his way through the crowd AMI placed
himself within the bar. His appearance
was a problem to puzzle the sphynx
herself His high, pale brow, and his
small, nervously twitching face seemed
active with the concentrated essence and
cream of genius; but then his infantile
blue eyes, hardly visible beneath their
massive arches, looking dim, dreamy,
almost unconscious, and his clothing was
80 shabby that the court almost hesitassd
to let the case proceed under his manage
ment