The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-05-16

yOuuS duu uodutllul WIG vi his Cu.ei over
seer. The husband threatened to chastise
him for the outrage, whereupon Hopkins
loaded his gun, went to Ellson'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 surn the tide of popular
opinion, or at least to mitigate the geners
al wrath which was at first against him,
circulated reports infamously prejudicial
to the character and standing of the wo-
man who had suffered such cruel wrongs
at his hands.
She brought suit FOR slander and thus
two cases-one criminal and the civil and
both out of the same tragedy were pend
ing 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.
Prentice of New Orleans, each by enor-
nous fees had been retained by Hopkins,
for the defence.
The trial for indictment for murder
concluded on the 9th of April, with the
acquittai of Hopkins. Such result
might have well been foreseen, comparing
the talent of counsel on either side.
The Texan lawyers were utterly over
whelmed by the eloquence and arguments
of their opponents. 1t was the fight of
giants against dwarfs. o.
The slander suit was set for the 9th,
and the throEg of spectators grew in nu1-
Der as we'll as the excitement. And what
seemed strange, the current Of public
opinion now ran decidedly for Hopkins.
His money had procured witnesses who
served his powerful advocates. Indeed so
triumphant had been the success on the
previous day, that when the slander 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an attorney-all had withdrawn.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 Prentice.
"Have you no counsel?" Inquired Judge
Mills. looking kindly at the plaintiff.
mo, Sir; they have all deserted me,
and am too poor to employ any more,'
replied the beautiful Mary, bursting into
tears.
'In such case, will not some chival-
rous member of the profession volunteer?'
asked the Judge glaucing round the bar
The thirty lawyers were silent.
II will, your honor" said-a q voice from
the thickest of the crowd, situated be-
hind the bar.
At the tone of that voice many started
half from their seats, and perhaps ther'
was not a heart in the intense throng tina
did not beat somewhat quicker-it wa
so unearthly, sweet ringing and mourn
full.
The first sensation, however, was chang
ed into laughter, when tall, gaunt, spec
trail figure, that no person present remem
bered to have seen before, elbowed hi
way through the crowd, and placed him
self within the bar.
His appearance was problem to puz
zle the sphinx herself His high, pal
brow, and his small nervously twitchiR
face seemed active with the concentrate
essence ard cream of genius; but then h
infantile blue eyes, hardly visible beneat
their massive arches, looking dim, drear.
; almost unconscious, and his clothing We
so shabby shat the court almost hesitate
to let the case proceed under his mar
Iagement.
"Has your name been entered upo
i. the rolls of the State?" demanded tt
Judge, suspiciously.
at is immaterial about my name beir
on yours" answered the stranger, his thi
b lips curling up into fendish sneer.
y may be allowed the courtesy of the cou
= and bar. Here is my license from IL
highest tribunal in America" and he han'
ed Judge Mills broad parchment.
o The trial Immediately went on. In tt
examination of witnesses the strang
d eyinced very little ingenuity as common
It thought. He suffered each to tell b
o own story, without interruption, thoue
d he generally managed to make each OF
. tell it over two or three times. He p
IT a few cross questions, which with ke'
d witnesses only served to correct mistake
% he made no notes which, IN mighty mer
ories, only tend to embarrass
I, The examination being ended, as cou
3. sci for the plaintiff, he had right to t
ID opening as we'll as the closing speec
ID but to the astonishment of every one,
l. declined the former, and allowed the d
,e fence to lead off.
of Then a shadow might have been Sc
r. to fit across the features of Pike, and
Q. darken the bright eyes of Prentice. Th
G. saw they had "caught tartar" but W
ne it was, or how it happened, was impos
II, BILE to guess.
q COL Ashley spoke first. He dealt
Jury dish of that dry coarse logic, viii
of afterwards rendered him famous in t
Senate of the Union.
il, The poet, Albert Pike followed wi
e, vein of wit, and half torrent of ri'
- cule. in which neither the plaintiff nor
er ragged attorney were forgotten or spare
he The great Prentice concluded for
sl- defendant, with a glow of gorgeous wor
Il I,s11 oH oc eol cforo w