Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-10-26
M MT.
JOHN TAYLOR-THE VOLUNTEER CoUN.
sell.
rIIR or rryAa
A TALE OF TEXAS.

The subject of the following sketch,
John Taylor, was licensed when youth
of twenty-one to practice at the bar of
Philadelphia. He Was poor, but we'll edu-
Gated. and possessed extraordinary genius.
The graces of his person, combined with
the superiority of his intellect, enabled
him to win the hand of fashionable
beauty. Twelve months later, her hus-
band was employed by wealthy firm Of
the city to 60 on mission as land
agent to the West. AS heavy salary
was offered, Taylor bid farewell to his
wife and infant son. He wrote back ev-
cry week, but received not a line in an
swer Six mouths elapsed, when the hus-
hand received letter from his employer
that explained all. Shortly after his de-
parture for the West. the wife and her
father moved to the Mississippi. There
she Immediately obtained divorce by an
act of the Legislature, married again
forthwith, and, to complete the climax Of
cruelty and wrong had the name of Tay-
lor's sou changed to Mark-that of her
second matrimonial partner. The per6dy
came near driving Taylor insane. His
career, from that period, was eccentric in
the last degree sometimes he preached,
sometimes he plead at the bar; until, al
last, fever carried him off at compar.
lively early age.
At an carly hour, on thu 9th of April
l84O the Court House in Clarksville
Texas, was crowded to overHowing Save
in the war times past, there had nevei
been witnessed such gathering in Rec
River County, while the strong feeling
apparent on every flushed face Throughout
} the assembly, betokened some great occa
sion. A concise narrative of facts viii
: sufficiently explain the matter.
About the close of 1910. Geo. Hopkins
one of the wealthiest planters and mos
influential men of Northern Texas, otferet
: a great insult to Mary Ellison, the youn
e. and beautiful wife of the chief overseer
;; The husband threatened to chastise hir
for the outrage, whcrcupon Hopkins load
ID his gun, went to Ellison's house, an
shot him in his own door. The murdere
Was arrested. and bailed to answer tn
charge. The occurrence produced inteus
: excitement, and Hopkins, i'll order to AZ
II pease the general wrath, which at frs
= was violent against him, circulated RI
ports infamously prejudicial to the woma
It who mad already suffered such cruel wron
at his hands She brought her suit ft
" SANDER And thus two cases-one criu
If iual, and the other civil-lnd both of tn
> same tradegy. were pending in the Apr
=. circuit court for 1910
e The interest naturally felt by the con
muuity as to the ISSUE became far deep
At when it was known that Ashley aud Pill
y Of Arkansas, and the celebrated S.
n Prentiss of New Orleans, each with emo
lie nous fees, had been retained by Hopkil
- for his own defense
The trial on the indictment Of murd
II. ended on the 9Th of April, with the a
+, t. quittal of Hopkins Such results mig
have been forseen, by comparing Il
r. talents of the counsel engaged on eth
side. The Texan lawyers were utter
an overwhelmed by the arguments al
BY eloquence of their opponents. 1t was
fight of dwarfs against giants.
IT. II. The slander suit was set for the ct
and the throng of spectators grew
|. number as well as excitement, and, VIII
, may seem strange, the current of pub
= sentiment now ran decidedly for Hopkir
IN His money had procured perjured W
Is, nesses, who served his powerful advocat
80 most efficiently. Indeed, so triumpha
had been his success of the previous da
i11ss that when the slander case was callt