Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-10
e5se(<ef &iferefar<.
Tie Volunteer Counsel-A Tale of John
Taylor. 81.

At an early hour, the 9th of April, 1910, the
Court House in Clarksville, was crowded to
oVerfowing. Save in the war times past
there had never been witnessed such gath
ering in Red River County, while the strong
feeling, apparent in every flushed face through
out the assembly, hetokened some great oc-
caslon. A concise narrative of facts will suf-
fciently explain toe matter.
About the close of 1889, George Hopkins,
one of the wealthiest planters and most inhu-
ential men of Northern Texas, offered gross
insult to Mary Eliston, the young and beau
titul wife Ofhis overseer. The husband threat
ened to chastise him for the outrage, where
upon Hopkins loaded his gun. went to Ellis
tons house, and shot him in his own door. =
The murderer was arrested and baied to an
swer the charge This occurrence produced
immense excitement; and Hopkins, in order
to turn the tide of popular opinion, or at least
to mitigate the general wrath, which at first
was violent against him, circulated reports
UNANIMOUSLY prejudicial to the character of the
woman who had already suffered such cruel
FOR SANDER. Anu 'rnus two eausrr, -,sso-
inal and the other civil and both out of the
same tragedy, were pending in April Circuit
Court for 1910.
The interests naturally felt by the commu-
nifty as to the issues became far deeper when
it was known that Ashly and Pike Of Arkan-
sas, and the celebrated S.. S. Prentiss, of New
Orleans, each with enormous fees, had been
retained by Hopkins, for his defence.
The trial, on the indictment Of murder
ended on the 9th of April with the acquittal
cf Hopkins Such result might well have
been foreseen; by comI airing the talents OF
the counsel engaged on either side. The
Texas lawyers were utterly overw helned by
the argument and cloquence of their oppo-
nents.
The slander suit was set for the 9th OF
April, and the throng of spectators grew in
numbers as well as excitement, and what
may seem strange, the current of public sen
timent now ran decidedly for Hopkins. His
money had procured witnesses by whom he
could prove anything, and with the aid o.
those pow eIful advocates no one doubted his
success. Mary Elliston's lawyers had deser
ted her and withdrawn; the pigmy pettiiog
gers dare not brave against the sharp wit o
Pike or the scathing thunder of Prentiss
Have YOU no counsel - inquired Judg
Mills, l,cking kindly at the plaintiff.
No, sir; they have all deserted me, ant
am too poor to employ any more, reple'
the beautiful Mary, bun sting into tears.
d" In such case, will not some chivalrou
member of the profession volunteer aske
the Judge gancng around the tar.
The hitty lawyers were silent as death
Judge Mills repeated the question.
. will, your honor" said voice fror
the thick, st part Of the crowd situated be
hind the bar. At the tones Of that voic
many started half way from their seats an
Perhaps there vas in the immense throng n
heart which did not beat some hing qulcl
er-it was so unearthly-sweet clear, rim,
! ing and mOurntH.
| The first sensation, however, was change
! into :, neral laughter, when a tall, gaun
spcct al figure, that nobody present remer
! Lered ever to have seen before elbowed b
way through the crowd and placed himse
within the bar. His appearance was pro
lem to puzzle the sphinx herself His hig
pale brow, and small, neIvously twitchiT
face seemed alive with the concentrated G
scnee and cream Of genius but then his j
finite blue eyes, hardly visible beneath the
massive arches. looked him dreamy, almc
unconscious and his clothing was so G
ceedingly shabby that the court hesltated
let the cause proceed under his managemer
"Has your name been entered on the 70
of the State p demanded the Judge sus
} ciously
! at is immaterial about my name being
| GOUf rGllS, aliSA clGu .iUc MS Il
5 blooJless lips curling up into sort of tiel
t ish sneer. Il may be allowed to apps
i once by the courtesy of the count and b
!, Here is my license from the highest tribu
: in America" and he banded Judge Mil
o broad parchment. The trial immediat
went on.
: In the examination of the witnesses
d stranger evinced but little ingenuity, as
: commonly thought He suffered each
rs to tell his own story without interrupt
:. though he contIived to make each one fe
W over two or three times. He put few CT
" questions, which, with keen witnesses, c
I'd serve to correct mistakes; and he made
In notes, which, in mighty memories, alW
tend to embarrass The examination b'
ended, as counsel for the plaintiff, he h
20 right to the opening, as well as the clt
n but to the astonishment of all, he decl
20 the former, and allowed the defense to
i off. Then shadow might have been obs
ID ed to fit across the fine features of Pike,
-, to darken even the bright eyes of Prem
1t IL. L.