, 1860-01-06
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.

John Taylor was licensed, when youth Of 81,
to practice at a bar Of -. He was poor,
but well educated, and possessed Of extraordin.
ary genius. The graces Of his person, combined
with the superiority Of his intellect, enabled him
to win the hand Of fashionable beauty.
Twelve months afterwards the husband was
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 re.
ceived not line in answer. Six months elapsed,
when the husband received letter from his EN-.
ployer that explained all. a.s
Shortly after his departure for the West, the
wife and her father returned to Mississippi Then
she Immediately obtained divorce by act oil
legislature, married again forthwith, and, to com.
plete the climax Of her cruelty and wrong, had
the name Of Taylor's son changed to that ol
Marks-that Of her second matrimonial partner.
This perhdy nearly drove Taylor insane. His
career from that moment became eccentric in
the first dcgree-sometime he preached, some
times he plead at the bar, until at last fever car
ried him of 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, 1s40, the
Court House in Clarksville, Texas, was crowded
OOONSthOWluBs OANS III buc war gtAiOcp tuOtC hoA
nIvrr been witnessed so large q 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 wealthiest planters and most influential men
in Northern Texas, offered a gross insult to Mary
Ellison, the young and BEAUTIFUL wife Of his prin-
cipal oveisGer. The husband threatened to chas-
tise him for the outrage, whereupon Hopkins
loadt his gun, went to Eson's house, and shot
him in his own door.
The murderer was arrested, and bailcd to ar
swer the charge. The occurrence produced i'll
tense excitement, and Hopkins, in order 10 turn
the tide Of popular opinion, or at least to mti-
gate the general wrath which was first violently
against him, circulated reports UNANIMOUSLY preju-
dicial to the character and standing Of the wo-
man 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
out Of the same tragedy, were pending at the
April Circuit Court for 1910.
The interest naturally felt by the community
as to tie issue became far deeper when il was
known that Ashlry AID Pike, vi Arkansas, and
the celebrated 5. 5. Prentiss, Of New Orleans,
each BY enormous Ices, had been retained by Hop
kins for defense
The trial Of indictment for murder concluded
on the Sth Of April with the acquittal Of Hop
kinS. Such a result might have well boon foro
seen, comparing the tale. IS Of the counsel en-
gagged On either side.
The Texas lawyers were utterly overwhelmed
by the arguments and elOquence Of their oppo-
nents. II was fight Of dwaris against giants.
The SANDER suit was set for the 9th, and the
throng Of spectators grew in number, as well as
A. \ a
rent 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 SANDER case was called, Mary
Ellison was LEFT without an attorney. AL had
withdrawn.
The pigmy pettifoggers dare not brave the sharp
wit Of Pike, and the scathing thunder Of Prem
tiss.
"Have you no counsel" inquired Judge Mills,
looking kindly at the plaintiff
"NO, sir; they have all deserted me, and l an
too poor to employ any more," replied the beau
tiful Mary, bursting into tears.
"ln such case, will not some chiValrous mem.
Der Of the profession volunteer5" asked the Judge
glancing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent
II will, your honor" said q voice from the
thickest Of the crowd, situated behind the bar.
At tho tone or that voice many started hall
from their seats, and perhaps there was not q
heart in the intense throng that did not beat
somewhat quicker-it was so unearthly sweet
ringing and mourntnL
The first sensation, however, was changed into
laughter, when tall, gaunt, spectral figure, that
no person present remembered to have seen be-
fore, elbOwed his way through the crowd, and
placed himself within the bar.
His appearance was 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 &C.
MUS; but then his iniantile blue eyes, hardly
visible beneath their massive arches, looking
dim, dreamy, almost unconscious, and his cloth
ing was so shabby that the court almost hesi.
tated to let the case proceed under his manage
ment
"IIas your name been entered on the rolls
Of the Statel" demanded the Judge, suspi-
ciously.
ait is inmaterial about my name being on
your rolls" answered the stranger, his thin lips
curling up into a 6endish sneer. 81 may be al
lowed by the courtesy Of the court and bar.
Here is my license from the highest tribunal ol
America" and he handed Judge Mills broad
parchment
The trial Immediately went on. In the exam
nation Of the witnesses the stranger evinced very
little ingenuity, as commonly thought lie suf.
fered each one to tell his own story, without in
terruption, though he generally managed to make
each one tell Il over two or three times. He put
few cross questions, which, with keen witnesses,
only served to correct mistakes, and he made no
notes, which in mighty memories only tend to
embarrass.
The examination being ended, as counsel for
the plaintiff, he had right to the opening as wei
as the closing speech; but, to the astonshment
Of every one he declined the former, and allowed
the defence to lead of.
Then shadow might have been seen to Git