Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-11-04
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.
A THRILLING STORY.


John Taylor was licensed, when youth
of twenty-one, to practice at the bar. He
was poor but well educated, and possessed
extraordinary genius. He married a beau
ty, who afterwards deserted him for anoth-
er. o. .. ., en-. n. I..
On the 9th of April, 1910, the Court
House in ClarksYille, Texas, was crowded
( to OVERLOOKING. An exciting case was
about to be tried. Gen. Hopkins, wealthy
planter, had offered gross insult to Mary
Ellison, the young and beautiful wife of
his overseer The husband threatened to
chastise him for the outrage, when Hopkins
went to Ellison's house and shot him in his
own door. The murderer was arrested and
!bailed to answer the charge. This occur
renee produced great excitement and
Hopkins, in order to turn the tide of pop
ular indignation, had circulated reports
against her character, and she had sued him
for SANDER. Both suns were pending
for murder and SANDER.
The interest became deeper when it was
known that Ashley and Pike, of Arkansas,
and SIS. Prentiss, of New Orleans, by
enormous fees, had been retained to defend
Hopkins. .t .rH
Hopkins was acquitted. The Texas law
yers were overwhelmed by their opponents;
twas fight of dwarfs against giants.
lHe sIauueI sun was loI Ine jill, duu Iho
throng of spectators grew in number as
well as excitement; public opinion was
setting in for Hopkins; his money had pro-
cured witnesses who served his powerful
advocates. When the SANDER case was
called Mary Ellison was left without an at
torney-all had withdrawn.
slave you no c0unselT inquired Judge
MiIlett, looking kindly at the plaintiff.
mo, sir, they have deserted me, and
am too poor to employ any more;" replied
the beautiful Mary, bursting into tears. r-
I'm such o case. will not some chivalrous
member OF the bar volunteer!" said the
Judge glancing around thesbar.. 1EHEC 7
The thirty lawyers were silent. - 4
81 will, your honor" said voice from
the thickest part OF the crowd behind the
bar. !, g,,.,,,., Y1G.5.
AT the sound OF that voice many started
it was so unearthly, sweet and mourntul.
The first sensation was changed into
laughter, when tall, gaunt, spectral figure
elbowed his way through the crowd, and
placed himself within the bar. His clothes
looked so shabby that the Court hesitated
toilet the case proceed under his manage
ment. ...... -
"Ias your name been entered on the rolls
Of the State?"' demanded the Judge, -
ut is immaterial," answered the stran-
ger, his tnln Dloouless lips curing up Win
a fiendish sneer. Here is my license, from
the highest tribunal in American and he
handed the Judge broad parchment.
The trial went on, .. ..g..o. Nv, I
.Hesuhered the witnesses to tell their own
story, and he allowed the defense to lead
of. Ashley spoke first, iolloweq Dy flke
and Prentiss. The latter brought the house
down with cheers, In which the jury join
ed. 'E'" 100 %. ,Its w. ~ =,
1t was now the strangers turn ne rises
before the bar, not behind it-and SO near
the wondering jury, that he might. touch
the foreman with his long, Dony fingers.
He proceeded to tear to pieces the argu-
ments of Ashley, which melted away at his
touch like frost before sun peam Every
one looked surprised. Anon ne cameto the
dazzling wit of the lawyer, Pike-the curl
of his lip grew sharper, his thin face began
to kindle up, and his eyes to open, dim and
dreary no longer butvivid as lightning,red
as fire globes, and glaring as meteors, the
| whole soul was In the eye; the full heart
streamed out ofhis nce.s Then without
bestowing an allusion to Prentiss, he turn
ed short around on the peIJured witnesses
L AIak I'M aN.w. Dr.