Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-07-27
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.
a THRILLING STORY.

twonty-one, to practice ut the bar. He was
ppor, but we'll educated, aud possessed extra
ordinary genius. lie married beauty, who
afterwards deserted him for another.
On the 9th Of April, 1S40, tho courthouse
in Clarksvilc, Texas, was crowded to over
flowing. An exciting case was to be tried.
George Hopkins, wealthy planter, had offer
/. ed a gross insult to Mary ELLISON, tho young
and beautiful wife Of his overseer The hus.
baud threatened to chastise him for the out.
rago, when Hopkins won't to Eson's house
and shot him in hs own door. The murder
cr was arrested and bailed to answer the
charge. This occurrence produced grent cx-
citomcnt, aud Hopkins, in order to turn the
tide of popular Indignation, had circulated re-
ports against her character, and she hnd sued
him for SANDER. Both suits were pcnding-
for murder and slandcr.
The interest became deeper when it was
known that Ashlcc and Pike, Of Arkansas,
and S. S. Prcntiss, of New Orleans, by cnor-
nous fees, had been retained to defend Hop
kins.
Hopkins was acquitted The Texas law
ycrs were overwhelmed by their opponents.
1t was fight of u dwarf against gants.
The SANDER suit was for the 9th and the
throng Of spectators grew in numbers as in cx-
citcmcnt. Public opinion was setting in for
Hopkins; his money had procured witnesses
the slander case was called, Mary Ellison was
"Havc you no counsel ?" inquired Judge
Mills, looking kindly on the plaintiff
Ono sir; they have all deserted me, and l
am too poor to employ any more" replied the
beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
Tn cucb n ooeo ,uill nrf c,,,o ,j,;
member Of the profession voluntecr?' said
the Judge, gancing around the bar
The thirty lawyers were silent
'sI will, your honor" said voice>from the
thickcst part Of the crowd, from behind the
bar
at the sound of that voice many stnrtcd--
it was so unearthly, sweet and mournful.
The first sensation was changed into laugh.
ter when tall, gaunt, spectral figure clbowcd
his way through the crowd, and placed him
self within the bar. His clothes looked so
shabby that the court hcsitated to let the case
proceed under his management
Has your name been entered on the rolls
of the State 2" demanded the Judge.
"1t is imnateriul," answered the stranger,
his thin, bloodless lips curling up with snccr
Here is my license from the highest tribu.
nal in America" and he handed the Judge n
broad parchment.
The trial went on
Ilo suffered the witnesses to tell their own
story, and he allowed the defense to lead OF.
Ashley spoke first, followed by Pike and
Prentiss The latter brought the house down
in cheers, in which the jury joined
1t was now the strangers turn. lie rose
before the bar, not behind it, and so near the
wondering jury that he might touch the fore
man with his long, bony finger. lie proceed
ed to tear to pieces the arguments Of Ashlcc
which melted away at his touch like frost be.
fore sunbeam; every one looked surprised
Anon he came to the duzzling wit of the poet.
lawycrt Pike. Then the curl of his lin grew
sharper, his smooth face began to kindle up,
and his eyes to open, dim and dreary no long
er, but vivid as lightning, red as FIRE globes
and glnrng as twin mctcors The whole soul
was in the eye the full heart streamcd out
OF his face. Then, without bcstowing an al.
fusion to Prentlss, he turned short around on
thc'pcrjured witnesses of Hopkins, tore their
testimony into threads, and hurled in their
faces such terrible inyectives thatall tremblcd
like aspens, and two of them fed from the
courthouse. The excitement of the crowd
was becoming tremendous. Their united life
and soul seemed to hang. upon the burning
tongue OF the stranger, and he inspired them
with the power of his passions. He seemed
to have stolen natures long hidden secret of|
attraction. But his greatest triumph was to
come.
His eyes began to glance at the assassin
Hopkins, as his lean taper fingers assumed
the same direction. lie hemmcd tho wretch
with wall of strong evidence and impregna-
Bile argument, cutting off all hope of escape.
He dug beneath the murdcrer's feet ditchcs
of dilemma, and held up the slandcror to tho
scorn and contcmptof tie populacc. Having
thus grt him about with circle Of fire, he
stripped himself to the work Of massacre
Oh then it was a vision both glorious and
dreadful to behold the orator His actions
became as impetuous as the motion of an oak
in a hurricane. His voice became a trumpet
filled with wild whirlpools, 'dcafcning the air
with the crashes Of power, and yet intermin.
gled all the while with sweet undcrsong of
the soft cadence. His forehead glowed like a
heated furnace, his countenanco was haggard |
like that of maniac, and ever and anon he
flung his long and bony arms on high as if !
grasping after thunderbolts.
He drew a picture Of murder n such appal.
ling oolors that in comparison hell itself might
seem beautiful; he painted the slaudcrer SO
black that the sun. seemed dark at MONDAY
when shining on such monster. And thon
fixing. both portraits on the shrinking Hop
l. G. A n. n Il