The Placer herald., 1873-04-05
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.
A TALE OF JOHN TAYLOR.

"i"i vi t"chl -oHc, 10 pracllce at Tue par.
He was poor, but was well educated and
possessed extraordinary genius. The graces
of his person combined with the superiority
of his intellect enabled him to win The hand
of a fashionable beauty Twelve months
aterward the husband was employed by a
wealthy firm of the city to go on mission as
land agent TO the West. As heavy salary
was offered, Taylor babe farewell to his wife
and infant SON. He wrote back every week
but received not line in answer.
Six months elapsed when he received a
letter from his employers that explained all
Shortly after his departure for the West, the
wife and her father removed to Mississippi
There she obtained divorce, by act Of
Leeisl ture married again forthwith, and to
complete the climax of cruelty and wrong
had the name f Taylors child changed to
Marks, that of the second matrimonial part
ner. This perfdy nearly drove Taylor in
sane His career from that period became
eccentric in the first degree
At an early hour on the 9th of April,
1910, the court house in Clarksville, Texas,
was crowded TO overhowing. Save in war
times, there had never been witnessed such
"A gathering in Red River county, while the
strong feeling expressed ON every flushed face
will explain the matter
AT the close of 1899, Geo. Hopkins, one
of the weal'hiest and most influential men OF
North Texas, offered gross insult to Mary
Elliston, the young and beautiful wife of his
chief overseer. The husband threatened to
clastise him for the outrage, whereupon Hop
kins loaded a gun, went to Elliston's house,
and shot him in his own door
The murderer was arrested and bailed to
answer tie charge This occurrence pro-
duced intense excitement, and Hopkins, in
order TO turn the tide of public opinion, or a.
least mitigate the general wrath, at first vio-
lent against him ,circrlated reports infamously
p.ejudiciaI to the character of the won y
who had suffered so cruelty at his ban 3.
She brought her suit for slander, and thus
two cases, one criminal and the other civil
and both out of the same tragedy, were
pending in the April Circuit Court for 1910.
The interest naturally felt 10y the commu-
nifty as to the issues became far deeper when
i was known that Ashley and Pike, of Ar
kansas, aud the celehraicd ). s. Prentiss, of
Mississippi, each with enormous fees, had
been retained by Hopkins for his defense.
The trll for the indictment Of m9rdcr
ended on the Sh of April, with Tie acqaittG
OF Hopkins. Such a result might vel! have
been seen by comp ring the talents of the
counsel engaged on either side The Texas
lawyers were utterly overwhelmed by argu-
mcnts and the eoqucnce or their opponents.
1t was fight of dwarfs against giants.
The SANDER suit was set for the 9Th, and
The throng of spectators grew in number as
well rs in excitement; and what may seem
strange, the current of public sentiment now
ran decidedly for Hopkins His money had
purchased pointed Witnesses, who served
most efficiently his powerful advocates; in
deed SO triumphant had been the success OF
the previous day, that when the slander case
Was called Mary Elliston was left without an
attorney-they had all Withdrawn. The
pigmy pettifoggers dared not brave the sharp
wit OF Pike and the scathing thunder OF
Prentiss
"Have you no counsel?" inquired Judge
Mills, looking quietly at the plaintiff.
"No, sir, they have all deserted me, and
| am too poor TO employ any more replied
the beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
''ln such a case will not some chivalrous
member of the profession volunteer ?" asked
,he Judge of the forty lawyers seated around
the bar.
They were as silent as death.
Judge Mills repeated the question.
81 will, your honor" said voice from
the til ckest part Of the crowd outside the
bar.
AT the tones of that voice many started
From, that, rtI
clear, ringing and mournful.
The first sensation was, however, chang
ing into laughter when tall, spectral figure,
that nobody present remembered ever to
have seen before, elbowed his way through
the crowd and placed himself within the bar
His high, pale brow seemed alive with the
concentrated essence and cream of genius,
with his piercing blue eyes hardly visible
beneath their massive arches, but his clothes
were so shabby that the court hesitated TO
let the case proceed under his management
"Has your name been entered upon the
rolls of the State ?" demanded the Judge,
suspiciousy.
at is immaterial about your rolls, sir,
answered the stranger, his thin, pale lips
curling up in a sneer; 81 may be allowed to
appear once by the courtesy of the court and
and BAR at the same time handing the
Judge "a broad parchment, his license from
the Supreme Court of the United States
Ihe trial proceeded
In the examination of the witnesses the
stranger evinced little concen--each one be-
ing allowed to tell his own story without in
lerruplon, though he mana. ed to make each
one tell it over two or three times. The ex-
animation being ended, as counsel for the
plaintiff he had the right to the opening
speech AS well as to the close, but to the
,sonishment Of every one, he declined the
former. and allowed the defense to lead OF
Then shadow might have been seen to fiji
across the ewes of Pike or dark cloud to
,...,,I ,Lo Lrou, ,f prpntiss Col Ashley |