The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-11-11
THE VOLUNTEER COUN.
Sci.
A Thrilling Story.

q youth OF twenty-one, to practice
at the bar. He was poor, but well
educated, and possessed extraor-
dinary genius. He married a
beauty who afterwards deserted
him for another.
On tho 9th of April, 1910, the
court house in Clarksville, Texas,
was crowded TO overfowing. An
exciting case was TO be tried
George Hopkins, u wealthy plaut-
er, had offered a gross insult to
Mary Ellison, the young and beau
tiful wife of his overseer. The
husband threatened 10 chastise
him for the outrage when Hopkins
went to Ellison's house and shot
him in his own door. The mur.
derer was arrested and bailed to
answer the charge. The occur.
renee produced great excitement,
and Hopkins in order TO turn the
lido of popular Indignation, had
circulated reports against her
character, and she had sued him
for SANDER. Both suits were pend
ing for murder and sIander.
The interest became deeper
when it was known that Ashley
and Pike, of Arkansas, and S S.
Prentiss of New Orleans, by enor.
nous fees, had been retained 10 &c.
fend Hopkins.
Hopkins was acquitted. Tho
Texas lawyers were overwhelmed
by their opponents. 1t was a fight
of dwarf against giants.
The slander suit was set for the
9th, and the throng of spectators
grew in numbers as in excitement.
Public opinion was setting in for
Hopkins, his money had procured
witnesses who served his powerful
advocates. When the slander case
was called, Mary Ellison was left
without an attorney-all had with.
drawn.
"Have you no counsel |" inqnir.
cd Judge Mills, looking kindly on
the plaintiff.
mo sir; they have deserted me,
and | am too poor to employ any
MORE" replied the beautiful Mary,
bursting into tears.
ain such a case, will not some
chivalrous member of the profes
sion volunteer" said the Judge
glancing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent.
II will, your honor" said q
voice from the thickesL part of the
crowd behind the bar.
At the sound of the voice many
started. it was 80 unearthIy, sweet
and mournful.
The first sensation was changed
into laughter, when q tall spectra
figure elbowod his way through tht
crowd, and placed himself within
tho bar. His clothes looked sc
shabby that the court hesi,atcd tC
let the case proceed under his man
agement.
HAS your name been entered OF
the rolls Of the State?' demanded
the Judge.
at is immaterial,' answered th,
stranger, his thin, bIoodless lip
curling up with sncer.
"Here is my license from tn,
highest tribunal in America7" ant
he handed tho Judge broac
parchment.
The trial went on.
Ho suffered the witnesses to tel
their own story, and he allowed
the defense to lead off. Ashle.
spoke first, followed by Pike an
Prentiss. The latter brought th
house down in cheers in which tn
. jury joined.
1t was now the strangers turn
He rose before the bar, not benin,
it, and so near the wondering jur.
that he might touch the foreman
with his long bony finger. Ii
proceeds to tear to pieces the argu
ments of Ashley which was melte
away at his touch like frost befor
a sunbeam. Every one locke
surprised. Anon he camc to tn
dazzling wit of the poet lawye
Pike. Then the curl on his lip
{, grew sharper, his smooth face be
,, gan to kindle up and his eyes t
: open, dim and drcary no longer
! but vivid as lightning, rcd az fire
globes, and glaring as twin nete
ors. Tho whole soul was in hi
) eye; the full heart streamcd out Q
his face. Then without bestowini
an allusion to Prentiss, he turno'
short.around on the peJured wit