The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-11-20
SELECT STORY.
A THRILLING STORY.

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A THRILLING STORY.
Z John Taylor was licensed, when
IS youth of twenty one, to practice q
the bar. He was poor but well edu
Gated, and possessed extraordinar,
genius. He married q beauty, VIII,
II afterwards deserted him for another
II On the 9th Of April, 1910, the Cour
r House in Clarksville, Texas, was gill
ed to overflowing. An exciting cas-,
was about to be tried. Gen. Hopkins
a wealthy planter, had offered a 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 occurrence produced
, great excitement, and Hopkins, in
order to turn the tide of popular in
dignation, had circulsted slanderous
reports against her character, and she
had sued him for SANDER. Both suits
were pending, for murder and slander.
The interest became deeper when
it was known that Ashley and Pike,
of Arkansas, and S.. S. Prentiss, Of
New Orleans, by enormous fees, had
been retained to defend Hopkins.
Hopkins was acquitted. The Texas
lawyers were overwhelmed by their
opponents; it was fight of dwarfs
against giants.
The slander suit was for the 9th,
and the throng grew in number as
well as excitement public opinion
was setting in for Hopkins; his mon
ey had procured witnesses who served
his powerful advocates. When the
slander case was called, Mary Ellison
was left without an attorney-all had
withdrawn.
Judge Millet, L. counsel9'' inquired
plaintiff.
"No sir, they have deserted me
and am too poor to employ any
more;" replied the beautiful Mary,
bursting into tears.
"In such a case, will not some chiv-
alrous member of the bar volunteer"
said the Judge glancing around the
bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent.
81 will, your HONOR said voice
from the thickest part OF the crowd
behind the bar.
At the sound of that voice many
started-it was so unearthly, sweet
and mournful.
The first sensation was changed
into laughter, when a tall, gaunt,
spectral figure elbowed his way thro'
the crowd, and placed himself within
the bar.
His clothes looked so 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.
"It is immaterial," answered the
stranger, his thin, bloodless lips curl
ing up with fiendish sneer. "Here
is my license from the highest tribu-
nal In America % and he handed the
Judge q broad parchment.
The trial went on. =,
He suffered the witnesses to tell
their own story, and he allowed the
defense to lead off. Ashley spoke
first, followed by Pike and Prentlss.
The latter brough. the house down
with cheers, in which the jury join
ed.
IL was now the strangers turn; he
rises-before the bar, not behind it
and so near:the wondering jury, that
lhe might touch the foreman with his
long bony fingers. He proceeded to
tear to pieces the arguments OF
Ashley, which melted before his touch
like frost before sun beam. Every
one looked surprised. Anon he came
to the dazzling wit of the lawyer
Pike-the curl Of his lip grew sharp
} er. his thin face began to kindle up
and bis eyes to open. dim and dreary
lno longer. but vivid as lightning,
red as fire globes, and glaring as
meteors. the whole soul was in the
leve. the full heart was in the face.
Then without bestowing al allusion
Ito Prentiss, he turned short around
lon the perjured witness of Hopkins,
tore their testimony into shreds and
bnrled into their faces such terrible
;nvoctives that all trembled like as
Mons and two OF them fed from the
conrt house. The excitement OF the
crowd was becoming tremendous
Tbe;r united life and soul seemed to
hang on the burning tongue OF the
STRANGER; he inspired them with the
lover of his malignant passions he
seemed to have stolen natures long
hidden secret of attraction.
But his greatest triumph was to
come.
He began to. glance at the assassin
HOPKINS, as his lean taper fingers as
eumed the same direction. He hem
med the wretch with a wall of strong
evidence and impregnable argument
emitting off all hope of escape. Id
dup beneath the murderer's feet
!, S;tebes of dilemma, and held th'
Il slsnderer up to the scorn and con
tempt of the populace.
Having thus girt him about with
n circle of fire, he stripped himself 10
the massacre. =,
OH then it was vision bot
Glorious and dreadful to behold tn
y lorator.
n His actions became as impetuou
III Al ,nnfinn of on oak IN q lurrl