Richland beacon., 1874-06-13
I..c iU!uEtecf (CGnsci.

the lar. lie Was poor, but well cdu-
Gated, and possessed Of extraordinary
genius, lie married beauty who
aferward, deserted him for another.
On the 9.h Of '"r1. Isi2, the
courthouse in Claskyillc, ",zaS, wa>
crowded to overhoWiuG. IN cXc;t-
ing case was TO be tried Gorge
Hopkins. a wealthy planter, hal offer
cd 4 gross insult 10 Mary Ellison. tie
young and beautiful wife Of his over
seer. The husband threatened to
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 bai!cd TO an
swer tie charge. This occurrence
produced excitement, and Hopkins, in
order TO turn the tide of popular in
dignation, had circulated reports
against her character, and she had
sued him for slandcr. Both suits
were pending-tor murder aud SLAM
der.
Tho interest became deeper when
it was know II that Ashley and Pike,
Of Arkansas, and :. :. Prcnti,s, of
New Orleans, by enormous fees had
been retained to defend Hopkins.
Hopkins was acquitted. The Texas
lawyers were overwhelmed by their
opponents. 1t was a fight of Il dwarf
against giants.
The slander suit was 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 SANDER case was called,
Mary Ellison was left without all at
torney-all had withdrawn.
"Have YOU no counsel :" inquired
Judge Mills, looking kindly on the
plaintiff.
"No, sir ; they have all deserted me,
and | am too poor to employ any
one" replied the beautiful Mary,
bursting into tears.
In such a case, will not some cbiv-
a,rous member of the profession vol
unteer:" said the Judge. elancing
around the bar
The thirty lawyers were silent.
"i VIII. your honor" said a voice
from The thjckcot part Of the crowd,
behind the bar.
At the sound Of the voice many
started--it was SO unearthly, sweet
and mournful.
The first sensation was changed
into laughter W hen a tall, gaunt, spec
;ra' cure eihowed his way through
The croW d. and placed himself within
tie bar. His clothes looked so shah
bv that the court hCsitatcd to let the
case proceed under his management.
Has your name been entered on
the rolls of the State - demanded
the Judge.
at is immatcrial," answered the
stranger, his thin, bloodlcss lips curl
ing up with succr.
Here is ny license from the high
est tfibunal in America :" and lie hand
ed the Judge a broad parchment.
The trial went on.
lie suffered the witness to tell their
own story, and he allowed the defense
to lead oil. Ashley spoke first, fol
lowed by Pike and Prentiss. The
latter brought the house down in
cheers, in which the jury joined.
1t was now the strangers turn
lie rose before the bar, and not be-
hind it, and so near the wondering ju
ry that he might touch the foreman
with bis long bony fingers. lie pro-
ceedcd to tear to pieces the argumen
Of Ashley, which melted away at BIZ
touch like frost before a sunbeam
Every one looked surprised. Amor
he came to the dazzling wit of tb,
poet lawyer Pike. Then the curl 0
lis lip grew sharper, his smooth fac'
began TO kindle up and his eyes, t.
open, dim, and dreary no longer, bu
vivid as lightning, red as fire globes
and glaring as twin meteors Th
whole soul was in the eye; the fuI
heart streamed out of his face. The
without bestowing an allusion t
Prentiss, lie turned short around o
the perjured witnesses of Hopkins
tore their testimony into threads, an
hurled in their faces such terrible IL
vectivos that all trembled like aspen!
and two of them fed from the cOul
housc.-The excitement Of the crow
was becoming tremendous. The
united life and soul seemed to han
upon The burning tongne Of the stral
ger. and he Inspired them with IL