Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-08-10
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL

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THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL
John Taylor was licensed, when a youth Of
twenty-ono, to practice at the bar Of. He
was poor, but well educated, and possessed of
extraordinary genius. The graoes of bis per-
SOD, combined with the superiority of his intel
lect, enabled him to win the hand CT fashion
able beauty.
Twelve months afterWard the husband was
employed by wealthy firm of that city to 20
on q mission as land agent to the West AS q
heavy salary was offered, he babe farewell to
his wife and son. He wrote back every week,
but received not line in answer. Six months
elapsed when the husband received letter from
his employer that explained all.
Shortly after his departure for the West, the
wife and her father returned to Mississippi -
Then she Immediately obtained a divorce by
act of Legislature, married again forthwith, and,
to complete the climax of her cruelty and wrong,
had the name Of Taylor's son changed to that
of Marks-that of her second matrimonial part
neF.
This perfidy nearly drove Taylor insane -
His career from that moment became eccentric
10 the first degree-sometimes he preached,
sometimes plead at the bar, until at last
fever carried him of at q comparatively early
age.
The following is an account of one Of his Of
forts at the bar:
At an early hour on the 9.h OF April, I64O
the Court House at Clarksville, Texas, was
crowded to oveIfowing. Save in the war times
there had never been witnessed 30 large q gath.
eriog in the Red River country, while the strong
feeling apparent in every face will explain the
matter following:
At the close of 1899, George Hopkins, one
of the wealthlest planters and most influential
man in Northern Texas, offered gross insult
to Mary Ellison, the young and beautiful wife
of his principal overseer. The huebsnd threat
ened to chasIise him for the outrage, whereup
on Hopkins loaded his gun, went to Ellison'i
house, and shot him in bis own door.
The murderer was arrested, and bailed Il
answer the charge. The occurrence produces
intense excitement, and Hopkins, in order +,
turn the tide of popular opinion, or at least t
mitigate the general wrath, which was frs
violently against him, circulated reports infa
mously prejudioial TO the character and standing
of the woman, who had suffered such crue
wrongs st his hands.
She had brought suit for slander; and thu
Two oases-One criminal and the other civil, su
both out OF the same tragedy, we're pending y
| the Apti Circuit Court for 1910
The interest naturally tel. oJ the community
as to the iseue became far deeper ohep il va
known mat Ashley ald Pike, OF Alkansss. an,
the celebrated 5. 5. P.entss, Of New Orleans
each by enormous fees, mad oeen retained b
| Hopkins i0T the detcase.
The Tihl Ot ia1ic cmenJ for murder concluded
on che OH oi AprIi, Win Lna Asq4iLtal Ot Hoy
kins. Sucn a Eeeult might well nave oeen lore
seen, comp-rlug the 1Alents vi she coulaei O.
gagged on either side.
! The Texas lawyers were utae.ly OverWhelm
ed hy the argume. is and elvquence OF shei
opponents. IL was fght oi a Dwarf sgains
giants. -.-....-
The slGnder suit Gas aet for toe 9 b, and th
throng Of spectators Geew in Dug,beF as well u
excitement. Aud what seemed st.angc, 60
ourTeus OF puollc opinion uoE rAu jeoi edly 20
HOPKINS, His money ad1 procG.ea W tnesse
who served Rls % OWeCiui Advocates. I4dl ed, 8
trlumphAnthaa Oeeu the SUCCESS Oh the preyiou
cay, that, whea the slander case was called
Mary Ellison was Lei. without an attorney.
All had withdrawn.
Tne pigmy pettifoggers dare not brave th
sharp VII OF Pike, and the scathing thunder Z
Prenties.
"fiave you no couusel - inquired Judge Mill
looking kindly at tue plaintiff.
"No, sir; they have all deserted me, and
an too poor to employ any more" replied tn
beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
"ln such a case, will not some chivalrou
member OF the profession volunteerm asked th
Judge, glancing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent.
al will, your honor" said q voice from th
thicksst of the crowd, situated behind th
door.
At the tone of that voice many started ha
from their seats, and perhaps there was net
heart in the intense lhrong that did not bes
quieker--it was 30 unearthly sweet, ringing an
m0ntnful. .s.r-.
The fret sensation, however, was change
into laughter, when a tall, gaunt, spectral I'll
ure, that no person remembered to have SCI
before, elbowed himself through the crowd OF
placed himself within the bar saH ei'
His appearance was problem 70 puzzle Il
sphynx herselt, His high, pale brow, and
small, neryously tEitching face seemed aetiy
with the concentrated essence and cream
genius, but then bis infantile blue ewes, hare
visible beneath their massive arches, lookil
dreamy, sleepy, almost unconscious, and
clothing was 80 shabby that the court almo
hesitated to let the case proceed under b
management ie'5
"Has yeur name been entered on the ro
of the State 2" demanded the Judge, susv
ciously.
1t is immaterial about my nsme being
your rolls," answered the stranger, his Ii
lips curling up into fiendish sneer. 81 m
be allowed by the courtesy of the court
bar. Here is my licenae from the highest {
bunal In America" and he handed Judge Mi
q broad parchment. t4.
The trial Immediately went on. In the Z
animation of the witnesses tho stranger evlnC
very little ingenuity, ss commonly thought.
He suffered each one to tell their own ato
without interruption, though be general
: managed to make each one tell 1t over two
thFee times. He put few cross question
which, with keen witnesses, only served to ct
Erect mistakes, and he made no notes, whi
10 mighty memories, only tend to embarrasa
Tho examination having ended, as couu
g for the plaintiff he had a right to the 6peni
as we'll az the closing speech but, to the
8 tonisnment of every one, he declined the /
mer, and allowed the defense TO lead Oif.
Then shadow might have been seen to
lacross the features Of Pike, and TO darkenl [
\ bright eye Of Pfentiss. They saw they |
y "caught Taftaf,n but who Il was, OF how