Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-11-13
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.

John Taylor was licensed, when a youth
of twenty one, to practice at the bar. He
was poor, but we'll educated, and possessed
extraordinary genius. He married a beauty
who afterward deserted him for another.
On the 9th of April, 1910, the court house
in Clarksville, Texas, was crowded to over
flowing. Al exciting case was to be tried.
George Hopkins, wealthy planter, had of
fered 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 door The muir
.lerer was arrested, and bailed to answer the
charge. This occurrence produced great ex-
element, and Hopkins, in order to turn the
tide OF indignation, had circulated reports
against her character. and she sued him for
SANDER. Both suits were pending-for SLAM
der and for murder.
The interest became deeper when it was
known that Ashley aud Pike, Of Arkansas,
and S. S. Prentiss, of New Orleans, by en-
orInous fees, had been retained to defend
Hopkins.
Hopkins was acquitted The Texas law
yers were overwhelmed by their opponents
1t was fight Of dwarf against giants.
The SANDER suit was on the 9th, and the
thrpng of spectators In numbers as in excite
meat. Public opinion was setting in for
Hopkins; his money had procured witnesses
who served his powerful advocates. When
the SANDER case was called, Mary Ellison
was left without an Attorney-all had with
drawn
Have you no counsel ?" inquired Judge
Mill, looking kindly on the plaintiff.
No sir; they have all deserted me, and
am too poor to employ any more replied
the beautiful Mary, bursting into tears
In such case, will not some chivalrous
me.nber of the profession volunteer" said
the Judge, glancing around the bar
TIC thirty lawyers were silent.
Il will, your honor, said voice from
the thickest part of the crowd, behind the
bar
At the sound of that voice many started
1t was SO unearthly sweet and mournful.
4, The first sensation was turned into laugh
ter when TALL gaunt, spectral figure elbow
ed his way through the crowd and placed
himself within the bar. His clothes looked
20 shabby that the Court hesitated to let the
case proceed under his management.
Has your name been entered on the rolls
of the State? p demanded the Judge.
Its inmaterial, answered the stranger,
his thin, bloodless lips curling up with
est tribunal in America y and he handed
the Judge broad parchment
The trial went on He suffered the wit
nesses to tell their own story, and he allow
ed the defence to lead off 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 stranges's S turn. He rose
before the bar, not behind it, and so near
the wondering jury that he might touch its
foreman with his long, bony finger. He
Proceeded to tear to pieces the argument of
Ashley, which melted away at his touch like
ifost before sunbeam every one looked
surprised. Anon he came to the dazzling wit
Of the poet lawyer, Pike. Then the curl of
MS lip grew sharper, his smooth face began
70 kindle up, and his ewes to open, dim and
dreary no longer, but vivid as lightning, red
~ n, flre globes, and glaring as twin meteors.
Inc whole soul was in the eyes the full
heart streamed out of the face. Then,with
out bestowing an allusion to Prentiss, he
turned short around on the perjured wit
hesses of Hopkins, tore their testimony into
threads and hurled into their faces such in
sectlves that all trenlbled like aspens, and
eSo OF them fed from the court house. The
eicltement of the crowd was becoming tre-
ne1dous. Their united life and soul seemed
70 hang upon the burning tongue of the
stranger. and he inspired them with the
power of his passions. He seemed to have
,.oIen natures long hidden secret of attrac-
'on. But his greatest triumph was to come.
II hIs eyes began to glance at the assassin,
u hopkins, as his lean taper finger assumed
.ne same direction. Hehemmed the wretch
WIN WIN wall of strong evidence and impreg-
aaole argument, cutting of all hope of es-
ape He dug beneath the murderers
5Nhes of dilemma, and held up the SLAM
sss'sr ss'sr to the scorn and contempt of the pop
4see' Having thus girt him about with