The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-12-14
SELECTED STORY.
The z Volunteer Counsel.
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= A THRILLING STORY so
a THRILLING STORY.
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'92 John Taylor was licensed, when a youth of
twenty zone, to- practice at the bar. He was
poor, bat we'll educated, end p,sscsscd cxtraor-
binary genius. ! He married beauty, who af
terwards deserted him for another. o
s7T On the 9tlpef April ,ithe Court House
lin ClarkAyille, Texas, Was crowded to overflow
{ ing, An exciting case was to be tried. George
h,;;:: hop,s;;;:::-, n w,.:.,,'hv pl ntcr, had offered "a
gross insult to. Mary l,,.i l,,".iison: the young and
beautiful wife Of his ,ovcrsccr. The nuss.:N,i
threatened to chastise him for outrage when,
Hopkins wont to Elison's house and shot hi*.
in his OWN door. The murderer was arrested
and bailcd to answer the charge This occur
rene" produced great excitement, aud Hopkins,
in lorderto turn the tide of popular indigna-
tion, had circulated reports against her charac-
ter, and she had suod him for slandcr. Both
suits were pcnding-for murder and slandcr.
The interest became deeper when it was
known that Ashley and Pike, of Arkansas, and
S. s.. Prentice, of New Orleans BY enormous
fees, had been retained 20 defend Hopkins
Hopkins was acquitted. The Texas lawyers
were, overwhelmed by their opponent. It was
afght of dwarf against giants. eGl
The SANDER suit was for the 9th, and the
throng Of spectators grew in numbers as in ex-
citemeht. Public opinion was setting in for
Hopkins; his money had procured witnesses
who served his powerful advocates. When
the ;sIander ease mas called Mar ELLISON was
left without an attorney-all had withdrawn
"Have you no counsel ?" inquired Judge
Wis, ;,i,,; .!ocokinc kindly on the plaintiff.
s'No, sir; they have all deserted me, and !
am too poor to employ any one" replied the
beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
"In such case, will not some chivarous
member of the profession volunteer ?" said the
judge, glancing around the bar.
. Tho thirty lawyers were silent: t
~ will, your honor" said voice from the
thickest part of the crowd, from behind the
bar.
At tho sound Of that voice many started-it
was SO uhearthly, sweet and mournfnl.
a The first sensation was changed into laugh
tor when a tall, gaunt, spectral figure olbowed
his way through the crowd, and placed him
self within the bar. His clothes looked SO
shabby that the c5Irt hcsitated to let the case
proceed under his management .l .,,i
"Has your name been entered on the rolls Of
the State ?" demanded the judge. l
ut is immatcrial,p answered the stranger,
his thin, bloodless lips curling up with sneer.
"Here is my license from the highest tribunal
in America" and ho handed the judge broad
parchment.
He suffered the witnesses to tell their own
story, and he allowed the defense to lead off.
Ashley spoke first, followed by Pike and Prem
tiss. The latter brought the house down in
cheers, in which the jury joined
4 lit was now the strangers turn. He rose be-
fore tho bar, not bohind it, and so near the
wondering Jury that he might touch the fore
man With his long, bony finger. He proceeded
to tear to pieces the arguments of Ashley,
which melted away at his touch like frost be-
u $% \ .-.