The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-04-26
THE VOLUNTEER Council.
A TALE oF JOHN TAYLOR.

John Taylor was licensed, when youth
OF twenty one, TO practice at the bar of
Philadelphia. He was poor, but veil ed :
ueated, and possessed extraordinary geDi-
MUS. The graces of bis person, com bined
with the superiority of bis intellect, ena.
bled him to win the hand of fashiona-
ble beauty. Twelve months afterwards,
the husband was employed by wealthy
firm of. the city to 60 on mission as a
land agent to the West, As heavy sal
airy was offered, Taylor bid farewell to
his wife and infaut son. He wrote back
every week, but not line in snswer.-
Six mouths ealpsed, when be received "a
letter from bis employers that explained
all Shortly after bis departure for the
West, the wife and father removed to
Mississippi, There she im mmediately OBJ
taineGa divorce by an act of Legislature,
married again forthwith. and to com plstc
the climaS of eruey and wrong, had tbe
name Of Taylor's son changed to Marks
that of her second matrimonial part
ncr This pcr6dy nearly drove Taylor
insane His career from that period be
came ecceutric in the first degree At
last fever carried him off at o compare.
lively early age.
At an early hour OF the day, on the 9th
OF April, ls4O, the court house In Ciarks-
vile, Texas, was crowded to oyerHowng.
Save iu the war times past there bad new
er been witnessed such gathering in Red
river county, while the strong feelings ap-
parent on eyery flushed face, will sufi-
cieptly explain the matter.
Al the close of 1889, George Hopkins,
one of the wealthiest planters aud most
influential men of Northern Texas, offer
ed a gross insult,to Mary Elliston. the
young aud beautiful wife of his oyerseer.
The hu-band threatened to chsstise bim
for the outrage, whereupon Hopkins load,
ed his gun, went to Elliston's house, and
shot him in his own door. The murder
er was arrested aDd baled to answer the
charge. The occurrence produced intense
excitement, and Hopkins, in order to turn
the tide of popular opinion, or at least to
mitigate the general wrath, which at 6rst
was evidently against him, circulated re-
ports infamously prejudicial to the char.
aoter Of the woman who had suffered such
cruel wrong at bis 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 in
the April Circuit Court, for l6i0.
The interest naturally felt BY the com
munity as to the issue, became far deep.
er when it was known that Ashley and
Pike. of Arkansas, and the celebrated s.
S. Prentiss, of New Orleans, With enor-
nous fees, had been retained By Hopkins
for his defence.
The trial for the indictment of murder
ended on the 9Th of April, with the ac-
qaittal of Hopkins. Such result n1ight
well have beer forseen By comparing the
talents of the counsel engaged On either
side. The Texas lawyers were utterly o.
verUhelmed by the arguments and elo-
quence of their opponents. Itwas fight
of a dwarf against a giant.
The slander suit was set for the 9Th,
and the tbropg ofspeetators grew in num-
bers as we'll as excitement: aud what may
seem strange, the current of public seDti-
ment now ran decidedly for Hopkins
His money had purchased pointed wtnes-
es, who had served most efficiently his
powerful advocates. Indeed, SO triumph.
nal had been the success of the previous
day. that when the slandercsse was call
ed. Mary EIliston was left without an at
torney-they bad all Withdrawn. The
pigmy pettifoggers dared not brave again
the sharp wit of Pike, or the seathipg
thunder of Prentiss 81 a1
"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, "
replied the beautiful Mary, bursting into
tears.
Il such case, will not some ehival-
rous member of the profession solunteeFi'
asked the Judge, glancing around the
bar.
The thirty lawyers were as silent as
death.
Judge Mills repeated the question.
81 will, your honor, said voice from
the thickest part of the crowd, situated
behind the bar.
at the tone of that voice many started
half from their seats; and, perhaps, there
was not a heart in that immense throDg
which did not beat something quicker
it was SO uneartbly, sweet, clear, rigging
and mournfui SIS &aat aa
The first sensation, however, was chan
ged into general laughter, when tall,
guant, spectral figure, that nobody pres
ent remem bered ever to have seen before
elbowed bis way through the crowd, and
placed himself within the bar. His ap-
pearancc was a problem to puzzle the
sphinx himself. His high, pale, brow,
aud sma all nervously twitching face, Seem
ed alive with the concentrated essence and
cream of genius; but then his infantile
blue eyes, hardly VISIBLE beneath their
massive arches, looked dim, dreamy, all
most unconscious; bis clothiog was SO shah
by that the court hesitated toilet the cause