Vicksburg weekly herald., 1877-10-05
THE VOLUNTEER COUNCIL.

John Taylor was licensed when q
youth Of twenty.one, to practice at the
Bar. lie was poor, but well educated.
and possessed considerable genius. He
married beauty, who afterwards de-
serted him for another.
On the 9th of April, lS40, the Court
house In Clarksville, Texas, was
crowded to overlooking. An exciting
case was to be tried. George Hopkins,
q wealthy planter, had offered a gross
insult to Mary Ellison, the young and
beautiful wife of his overseer. The
husband threatened 10 caastise him
for the outrage, when Hopkins went
TO Ellison's house and shot him al his
own door, The murderer was bailed
to answer the charge. This occurrence
produced great excitement, aud Hop
klns, in order to turn the tide Of popu-
lar indignation, had circulated reports
against her character, and che had sued
him for SANDER. Both suits were
ponding-for murder and for SANDER.
When 1t was known that Ashley and
Pike, of Arkansas, and S. S. Prentiss,
of New Orleans, had been retained by
enormous fees to defend Hopkins, then
the interest became deeper.
Hopkins was acquitted. The Texas
lawyers were overwhelmed by their
opponents.
1t was fight OF dwarf against gi-
ants.
The slander suit was for the 9th, and
the throng of spectators grew in num-
Der as we'll as in excitement. Public
opinion was settling in for Hopkins
his money had procured witnesses who
served as powerful advocates. When
the slander case was called, Mary Eli
son was left without an alloruey-all
had Withdrawn.
You have no counsel ?" inquired
Judge Mile, looking kindly on the
plaintiff.
mo, sir; they have all deserted me,
and l am too poor 10 employ any
more" said the beautiful Mary, burst
ing into tears.
I'm such q case, will not some chiv.
alrous member OF tho profession vol
unleer?' said the Judge, glancing
around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent.
~ win, your honor" said q voice
from the thickest Of the crowd behind
the bar.
At the sound OF the voice many start
edit was so uneartbly sweet and
mournful.
The first sensation was soon changed
into laughter when tall, gaunt, spec
trail figure elbowed his way through
the crowd aud placed himself within
the bar. His clothes looked 30 shabby,
that the Court hesilated whether to
let the case proceed under his manage
ment.
"Has your name been entered on the
rolls of the Slater" demanded the
Judge.
aft is lmmaterial," answered the
stranger, his thin bloodless lips curling
up with q sneer. "Here is my license
from the highest tribunal In America !"
And he handed the Judge q broad
parchment Tho trial went on.
he suffered the witnesses to tell their
own story, and allowed the defense to
lead of. Ashley spoke frat, followed
by Pike and Prentiss. The latter
brought the house down in cheers, in
which the jury Joined.
It was now the strangers turn. Be-
fore the bar he rose, not behind II, and
go near the wondering jury that he
might touch the foreman with his long,
bony finger. And be proceeded to tear
the arguments OF Ashley TO pieces
they melted away at his touch like frost
before q sunbeam. Everyone looked
surprised. Anon he came TO the dsz.
cling wit of the poet-lawyer, Pike.
Then the curl on his lip grew sharper,
his smooth face began TO kindle up,