The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-11
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.
4 TALE OF JOHN TAYLOR.

John Taylor was licensed When Jou'u y. a,
twenty-one, to practice at the bar. he was Il
moor but we'll edu Gated, and possessed extra -
ordinary genius. The graces of his person h
enahIed him to win tho hand of fashionable
beauty Twelve months afterward the mus
band was employed by wealthy hrm OF the
city to 90 on mission as land agent TO the !
Wost ks q heavy salary offered, Taylor
bade farewell to his wife and infant SON. he
wrote back every week, but received NOT iine
in answer. Six months elapsed, when ne re-
ceiyed a letter from his employers that e4-
planned all. Shortly after his departure for
the West, the wife and her ias9er nbteineS
q divorce by an act of the Legislature, married
again forthwith and to complete the climax
son changed to Marks. that Of the second mat
rimonial partner. Thia perfdy nearly drove
Taylor insane: His career car from that pef l"st
a fever carried him oil at comparatively
oA AZ an hearly hour on tho 9th of April, 1910,
tho Courthouse in Clarksville, Texas, was
crowded to OVERLOOKING Save in the war times
mast, there had never been witnessed such
Gathering in Red River country, while tine
Strong feeling apparent on every flushed face
will sufficiently explain the matter ;.; -
At the close of 1889, George Hopkins; one OF
the wealthiest planters and most influential
men of Northern Texas, offered a gross insult
to Mary Elliston, the Young and peautlfni wie
of his chief oyerseer me hnspana 1n 1hers-
upon Hopkins loaded gan, went to Elilstons
house. and shot him in his own door,
The murderer was arrested Auu Dalico W
answer the charge. This occurrence produced
intense excitement, aud Hopkins, in order to
turn the tide of public opinon or at least TO
mitigate the general wrath which at hrst vas
violent against him, circulated reports lnta-
mously prejudcial to the character oil the
woman who had suffered such cruel wrongs NJ
his hands. She brought her suit for SANDER
and tins two cases. one criminal and the other
civil and both out of the same tragedy, We're
pending in the April Circuit Court tor ioao:
as to the issues became far deeper when it was
known that Ashley aud Pike of Arkansas, and
the celebrate ed S. S. Prentiss, of New Orleans,
rocf, with enormous fees had been retained by
HOPKINS for his defense.
The trial for the indictment of murder ended
on the Sth of April with the acqulttal OF HOP
kins Such O result might we'll have been for
seen by comparing the talents of the counse
on either side. The Texas lawyers were ere o Ie
ouence of their opponents. Ii was hght o.
dwarfs against giants. . 49,, =,
The Islander suit was set for the 9th, and thu
tbrong of spectators grew in number as wei
as in excitement: and what may seem strangs
the current of public sentiment now ran dc
cidedly for Hopkins. His money had pur
Chased pointed witnesses, who served mos
efficiently his powerful advocates. Indeed, 81
triumphant had been the success OF tho pre-
vious day that when the SANDER CASE wa
called Mary Elliston was left without an OF
tornoy-they had all withdrawn. The pigm
pettifoggers dared not again brave inc % s pna
wit of Pike and the scathlng thunoer Oh fFen
Have You no counsel :" inquired Judg
Mills looking kindly NJ tuo pluluIih'
"No, sir, they have all deserted me, and
am too poor to employ any more," replied th
beautiful Mary, bursting into tears.
In such q case, will not some chivalrou
member of the profession volunteer II aske
he of the LAWYERS seated around the bar. ,,
The thirty lawyers were as silent us oca'i
Judge Mills repeated tho question. ,
IL will, your honor" said II voice from 10
thickest part of the crowd, situated behind u
bar. ..., H.
from their seats; and perhaps there was not
heart in the immense throng which did nc
beat somewhat quicker--it was so unearthl!
sweet, clear, ringing, and mourntui.
The first sensation, however, was chanGlh
into n general laughter, when tall, spectr'
figure that no body present ever remehoere
Shave seen before, ebowed his way throuG
the crowd, and placed himself within the "a
His appearance was u problem 10 PuzE'e "
small, nervously twitching face seemed ail7
with the concentrated essence and cream
genius; but then his infantile blue eye
Hardly visible beneath their massive archie
looked dim, dreary, almost unconscious, an
his clothing was 30 shabby that the court he
Has YOUR name been entered on tho rol
of the State 7" demanded the Judge suspicion
'"It is INN ateral abont my name being .
vonr rolls" answered the stranger his thi
Il9odless lips . G%T1eS t appear once by
courtesy of the court and bar. here rs u
license from the highest tribunal IN Amerc,
and he handed Judge Mills broad parchme'
The trial Immediately went on.
In the examination of witnesses the strans
eyinced but little ingenuity. as was common
Thought He suffered each one to tell ms oN
story without interruption, though he &C
trived to make each tell it over two or IIt
times. He put a few cross cross sq. TSs to CORE
mistakes and he made no notes, which, IN
mighty memories, always tend to emOarra
The examination being ended, as counsel
the nIaintiff he had the right to the openi
As Veil as the closing speech; but to the asto
ishment of every one he declined the T TORN
and allowed the defense to lead of. Then
shadow might have been observed to MT aero
the eyes ofPike, and to darken even the brig
eyes of Prentiss. They saw that tnty IL u
Caught a Tartar" who 1T was or no" IL ID
pened. was impossible to gness. ,,.
Colonel Ashley spoke first. lie de 9. u
= = dish of That close dry logic, whlch yei