The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-02-22
ID EN- @ c. Rat,
A 'la4RILLING STORY.

D. 1917 7eaSf W tHseSsASS ~ Wv
bar BE was poor but well educated,
and possessed extraordinary genius. He
married beauty, who afterwards desert
cd him for another. On the oh ofApril,
ls40, tho Court house in Clarksville,
Texas. was crowded to overaowing, An
exciting case was about be tried. Gen
Hopkins, wealthy planter, had offered
gross insult to Mary Ellison, the young
and beautiful wife Of his overseer, The
husband threatened t. cla.tise him for
the outrage, when Hopkins went to Eli
sons household and shot him in his own
door. The murderer was arrested and
bailed to answer the charge. This oc-
.currence produced great excitement, and
Hopkins, in order to turn the tide Of pop
ular indignation, had circulated reports
against her character, and She had sued
g him for SANDER. Both suits were pend
ng-for murder and Islander.
The interest became deeper when it was
known that Ashley and Pike. of Arkan-
sas, and S. S. Prsnts, of New Orleans,
by enormous fees, had been retained to
defend Hopkins. s.s
q.aa Hopkins was acquitted. The Texas
Lawyers were overwhelmed by their op-
ponents; it was fight Of dwu.ls against
giants. .J ~
The slandor suit was for the 9th, and
Z the throng grew in number as well rs ex-
element; public opinion, was setting in
for Hopkins; his money had procured
witnesses who served az powerful advo.
10 Gates. When tho SANDER case was call
ed, Mary Ellison was left without an at
torney-all had withdrawn. ta,9i q
~" Have you no couuscl?" inquired
Judge Nlillst, looking kindly at Tie plain
tiff. Il
"No sir, they have deserted me and l
p am to poor to employ any more" replied
the beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
"1n such case, will not some clival-
rous member of the bar volunteer ~ said
tho Judge. 'glancing around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent. ~.
II will, your, honor" said voice from
4, the sthickcst part Of the crowd behind the
'qHbar. '4rr fa@I,! go =. 7i1t' 'ni'a ''i7' =.
o e At the sound Of that voice many start
a edit was SO unearthly, sweet aud mourn
& full q sN ~ ratr II" sF7
~ The FIRST sensation vas changed into
laughter, when a tall gaunt, spectral fig
ID ure elbowcd bis way through the crowd,
u and placed himself within the bar. j
His clothes LOOKED SO shabby that tic
Court hcsitated 10 let the case proceed
under his management. D % I,
-.sa 'Has your name been entered on the
rolls Of the State!'' demanded the Judge.
1T is impaterial,," answered the stran-
ger, his thin 5bloodlcss lips curling up
with 6cndish sneer, ;'Herc1 is my IL
ems. from the highest tribunal in Amer
iica 2 and handed the Judge broad
parchment. 9'3.
The trial went on ,,a.Tont '
He suffered the witnesses to tell their
own. story. and he allowed the defense to
lead of. Ashley spske first, followed BY
! Pike and Prentn. The latter brought
.althe house down with cheers, in which the
Jury joined, H. aa, ~ %
i5i It was nov tie strangers turn; he
y yises-before the bar, not behind it-and
!. 50 near the wondering jury, that he might
touch the foreman with his long bony fin
], gers. Heproceeded to tear Il, pieces the
argumentsof Ashley, which melted away
+ at his touch like frost before sunbeam.
Il Every one looked surprised. Anon he
j came to tho dazzling wit Of the lawyer
Pike-tho curl Of bis lip grew sharper,
bis thin face began to kindlc up, and his
eyesto open, dim and dreary no longer,
but vivid as Lightning, red rs fire globes,
and glariag as. mctcors, the whole soul
was in the eye the full heart was III the
face. Then without bcstowing an allu.
sion to Preniis, he turned short arohnd
on the perjured witnesses Of Hopkins,
tore their testimony into shreds, aud Lurl-
ed into their faces such terrible invectivcs
! that all trcmbled like aspens, and two Of
them fled from the Court house. The OK.
element Of the crowd was becoming tre-
meudous. Their united life and soul
neeWeu W uauS vi tuc puIutus tongue Oh
the stranger; he, inspired them with the
power ofhis INT lignant passion he seem.
cd to have stolen a natures long hidden
secret Of attraction.
y But his greatest triumph was to come.
pl He begsn 70 glance at the assassin
Hopkins. as his leah, taper fingers assn.
med the same direction. IIa htlnmcd the
wretch with a wall Of strong evidence and
impregnable argument, cutting Off all
hope Of escape. Tie du. beneath the
murderer's feet, bitches Of dilemma, and
held the slandercr up to the scorn aud
contempt Of the populacs. ,s., .s
Having thus grit him about with cir.
ole q FIRE, he stripped himself for the
massacre. ,.. ..'..7 45'..
Oh then it was vision both glorious
md dreadful 10 behold the orator. '.a'F
20 Ills actions became as inn etuous as the
melton Of an oak in hurricane. I'd w..
sti Ills voice became trumpet filled with