The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1865-07-13
3 Short sturg.
The Volunteer Counsel.
A THRILLlSG STORY.

John Taylor was licensed, when a
youth of twenty-one, 10 practice at the
bar. He was poor, but well educated
and possessed extraordinary genius. lie
married beauty, who afterwards desert.
ed him for another.
On the 9th OF April, 1910, the Court
House in Clarksville, Texas, was crowd
cd to OVERLOOKING. An exciting case
was ubou, to be tried. Geo. Hopkins, a
wealthy planter, had offered u gross in.
suit to Mary Ellison, the young and
beautiful wife Of his overscer. The hus.
band threatened to chastisc him for the
outrage, when Hopkins went to EIlison's
house, aud shot him in his own door,
The murderer was arrested aud bailcd to
o answer the charge. This occurrence
produced great excitement, aud Hop.
kius, in order TO turn the tide of popular
Indignation, had circulated reports against
her character, aud she had sued him fur
slander. Both suits were pcnding-ior
IN urdcr and slander.
The interest became deeper when Il
was known that Ashley aud Pike, of Ar.
kansas, and S. $. Prcntiss, of New Or.
leans, by enormous fees, had been re-
taincd to defend Hopkins. I.... ....
Hopkins was acquitted. The Texas
lawyers wera overwhelmed by their op-
pouents. 1t was fight of dwarf against
giants.
| The slander suit was for the 9th, and
the throng fspectators grew in number
as well as excitement /; public opinion
was setting in for Hopkins bis moucy
hud procured witnesses who served his
powerful advocates. When tho slandor
case was called, Mary Ellison was let
without an attorncy--all had withdrawn.
Have you no counsel inquired
Judge Mills, looking kindly at the plain.
tilf.
"No sir, they have all.descrtcd me, and
| am too poor to employ any morc, re.
rlied the beautiful Mary, bursting into
tears.
"In such clse, will not some chival.
rous'me mbcr OF the profession volunteerl''
said the Judge, gluncing round the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent.
IL will, your honor, said a voice from
the thickcsl part OF the crowd behind the
bar. I. .i......
At the sound Of that voic, many start :
cd = it was SO unearlhly, sweet an,
mournful.
The first sensation was changed int
laughter, when tall, gaunt, spectral fig
urc elbowed his way through the crowd
and placed himself within the bar. Iii
clothes looked SO shabby that the cour
lhestated to let the case proceed unde
his management.
II fIIas your name been entered on thC
: rolls OF tho State ~ demanded TN
: Judge. ..F
"It Is immaterial, answered tllc
stranger, his thin, bloodless lips curlin!
up with q fiendisl snccr. I" Here is m
license from the highest tribunal in Amei
lea " and he handed the Judge q broa
parchment. The rial went on. i-
He suffered the witnesses to tell the
own story, and he allowed the defense I
lead of. Ashley spoke first, followed
Pike and Preniiss. The latter brougl
the house down with cheers, ia whic
the jury joined. t.' ."".u
1t was now the strangers turn, no rise
before the bar, not behind it-and 5
near the wandering jury that he nigh
touch the foreman with his long bOny fin
ger. He proceeded TO tear TO pieces III
arguments Of Ashley, which melted nw a.
a at his touch ike frost before sunbeam
every one looked surprised. Anon h
came to the dazzling wit of the poet law
yer, Pike. Then the curl Of his lip
grew sharper, his smooth face began t
kindle up, and his eyes to open dim an
dreary no longer, but vivid as lightning
!, red as fire globes, and glnr!ng as twi
/. meteors. The whole soul was in the eye
the full heart streamed out of his face.-
Then without bestowing an alluson I
Prentiss, he turned short round on tn
. lperjured Witnesses of Hopkins, tore thei
.. testimony into sbreds, and hurled int
z their faces such terrible invectiyes tha
all trembled like aspens, and two OF thei
fed from the court house. The excite
ment of the crowd was becoming trcmer
dous. Their united life and soul SCENE
to hang on tho burning tongue Of tn
stranger, he inspired lhem with the pow
or oil his malignant passions he SCENE
: TO have stolen natures long hidden seerl
Of attraction. But lis greatest trump
g was TO come. i'I --t
b His eyes began to glance at the assai
!. sin Hoskins, as his lean upper fingers a,
= sumed the same direction. He hemme
= the wretch with wall Of strong evidenc
and impregnatle argument, cutting o
all nope Of escape. lie dug beneath III
: murderer's feet bitches Of dilemma, an
: held the slandereT up TO the scorn an
II contempt eflihe pepuloce, Having thu
? girt bin about With circle OF fire., b
stripped himself Tor the nassucre-Y 'A
q oh then il was a vjslou7 both gloTl
Gus and dreadful 10 be hold tile orasor.--
His uctions became as iinpetioas as Nh
rhotion OF an ouk iI n hurricane. { III
. voice became altrihDpet filed viii, vii
whirlpools, dea(ning tho eaei with III
'arashes'of power, aad yc, istsrnirgle