The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-01-31
THRILLING NARRATIVE.
Il Friend of the Widou.

21 to practice at the bar of -. He was poor
but well educated, and possessed of extraordinary
genius The graces of his person. combined with
the superiority of his intellect enabled him to wiz
the heart of a fashionable beauty.
Twelve months afterwards the husband EN-
ployed by a wealthy firm of that city to 90
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
a line in answer. Six months elapsed, when the
husband received a 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 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 Taylor insane. His
career from that moment became eccentric in the
| first degree-sometmes he preached, sometimes he
plead at the bar until at last fever carried him
off at comparatively early age. The following is
an account of one of his efforts at the bar:
At an early hour on the 9th Of April 1910, the
Court House in Clarksville, Texas, was crowded
| to overhowng. Save in the war times, there had
never been witnessed so large a gathering in the
Red River country, while the strong feeling ap-
parent in every face, will sufficiently explain the
matter following.
! About the close of 1889, Geo. Hopkins, one of
the weathiest planters and most influential men in
Northern Texas, offered gross insult to Mary
Ellison the young and beautiful wife of his princi
pal overseer. The husband threatened to chastse
him for the outrage, whereupon Hopkins loaded
his gun, went to Ellisons house, and shot him in
his own door.
The murderer was arrested and bailed, to answer
the charge. The occurrence produced intense
! ciement, and Hopkins, order to turn the tide
Of popular opinion or at least to mitigate the gen.
era wrath which was first violently against him,
circulated reports infamous y prejudicial to the
character and standing of the woman, who had
suffered such cruel wrongs at his hands.
She brought suit for SANDER. And thus two
cases-one criminal and the other civil and both
ont of the same tragedy, pending at the April
Circuit Court for 1910.
The interest naturally felt by the community
to the issue, became far deeper when it was known
that Ashley and Pike Of Arkansas, and the cele-
brated S. s. Prentiss, of New Orleans, each by
enormous fees had Leen retained by Hopkins for
defense.
The trial of Indictment for murder concluded
on the Sth of April, with the acquttal of Hopkins.
Such result might have we'll been foreseen, COM
pairing the talents of the counsel engaged on either
side.
The Texas lawyers were utterly overwhelmed
by the arguments and eloquence of their opponents
1t was fight of dwarf against giants
The SANDER suit was set for the 9th, and the
throng of spectators grew in number, we'll as ex
citcment And what seemed strange the current
Of the public opinion directly for Hopkins
His money had procured witnesses who served his
powerful advocates. Indeed, triumphant had
been the success on the previous day that when the
SANDER case called Mary Ellison was left with
out an attorney All had withdrawn.
The pigmy pettifoggcrs couldn't 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, replied the beautl-
full Mary, bursting into tears.
"1n such will not some chivalrous mem
Der of the profession volunteer" asked the Judge,
glancng around the bar.
The thirty lawyers silent
81 will, your honor" said voice from the thick
est of the crowd, situated behind the bar.
AT the tone of that voice many started half from
their seats, and perhaps there not heart in the
intense throng that did not beat somewhat quicker
it unearthly sweet ringing and mourn
full.
The first sensation, however, was changed into
laughter, when tall, gaunt, spectral figure, that
person present remembered to have seen before
ebowed his way through the crowd and placed
himself within the bar. His appearance was
problem to puzzle the sphynx herself. His high,
pale brow, ard his small, nervously twiching face
seemed active with the concentrated essence and
cream of genius; but then his nfantile blue eyes
hardly visible beneath their massive arches look
ing dim, dreamy, almost unconscious, and his cloth
ing was so shabby that the court almost hesitated
to let the case proceed under his management
HAS your name been entered on the rolls ofthe
Statc?" demanded the, Judge, suspciously.
1T is immateral about my name being on your
rolls. answered the stranger, his thin lips curling
up into fendish snecr II may be allowed by the
courtesy of the court and bar Here is my license
from the highest tribunal of America and he
handed Judge Miles parchment
The trial Immediately went on. In the examna-
ton of the witnesses the stranger evnced very lit
tie ingenuity as commonly thought. He suffered
each one to tell their story, without Interrupt
ton, though he generally managed to make each
one tell it over two or three times. He put a few
cross questions, which with keen witnesses only
served to correct mistakes. and he made no notes,
which in mighty memories, only tend to embar |
rasS.
The examination being ended, counsel for the |
plaintiff he had .ht to the opening as the clos
ing speech but to the asonishment Of every one he
declined the former and allowed the defence to
lead off
Then shadow might have been seen to fit ac-
ross the features of Pike and to darken the bright
eyes of Prentiss. They saw that they had caught
a Tartar, but who it was, or how it happened, was
impossible to guess.
Col Ashley spoke first. He dealt the jury a