The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-13
At'heelin0 Gcglster.
A MANIAC LAWYER.
ALBERT Pike REuINISGESCE
OFARkANsas LIFE AND MIN.
a characteristic Scene Ia a Texas
Law COurI-Che Wonderful Judge
Arlington and the SIM More
Wonderful John Tay Tor
An Interesting Sketch
by the wizard OF
the west.
Washington Post.

A l4le ISSUE OF rOTUeN cWfuuy C"I Ot
icle contained sketch of Court scene
in Texas dated as far back rs lS4l, which
under different captions and variety o.
metamorphoses has done duty tor many
hard pressed editor during all thes
wears. As the name of Albert Pike wa.
mixed up in it, and as that historic char
acter is still moving around in our lively
midst, as nimble of brain and fertile OF
execution as the best of US, it occurred
to the Post that the bCs. time to vlndI'
cate the truth OF history was the present.
A reporter of the Post accordingly chpp-
ed from the Chronicls the article rs It
last appeared, an / which we here present;
On the 9th of August, 1871, the Court
House at Clsrksville, Texas, was
crowded TO overlooking. An exciting
case WAS to be tried. George Hopkins,
a wealthy planter, offered d gross insult
to Mary Allison, the young and beauti-
full wife Of his overseer. The husband
threatened to chasLise him for the out.
rage, when Hopkins went to Allison 1
house and shot him in the door The
murderer was arrested and balled TO an
swer the charge. The occurrence pro-
duced great excitement, and Mr.. Hop
kins, in order to turn the tide OF popular
lldigna alton, had circulated reports about
her character and she sued him for SIAN
der. Both suits were pending for muir
der and SANDER.
The interest became deeper when 1t
was known that Ashley and Pike OF Ar
kansas, ard S S. Prentiss, OF New Or
leans, by enormous fees, had been retain
ed to defend Hopkins.
Hopkins WAS acquitted. The Texas
lawyers were overwhelmed by their op,
ponents. 1t was fight of dwarts
against giants.
The SANDER suit was ready for trial,
and the throng of spectators grew II
number as in excitement. Public opin-
ion was setting in for Hopkins; his
money had procured witnesses who
served his powerful advocates. When
the SANDER case came up, 1t was lett
without sn attorney-all had Withdrawn.
"Have you no councIl2' inquired
Judge Mills, kindly, of the plaintiff.
mo, sir; they have all deserted me,
and l am too poor to employ any more,
replied the beautiful Mary, bursting into
tears.
In such case will not some chlval.
rous member ofthe profession volunteer
said the Judge, glsncing around the bar.
The thirty old lawyers were silent.
al will, yer honor" said q voice from
behind the bar. His clothes looked 50
shabby that the Court hesitated to let
the case proceed under his management.
"Has your name been entered on the
rolls OF the State2" demanded the Judge.
alt is immaterisl," answered the stran-
ger, his thin, bloodshot lips curling up
with sheer. "Here is my license from
the highest tribunal in America" and he
handed the Judge broad parchment.
The trial went on. He suffered the
WITNESSES to tell their own story, and
allowed the defense to lead Oft. Ashley
spoke first, followed by Pike and Prem
tiss. The latter brought down the house
in cheers, in which the jury Joined.
1t WAS now the strangar's turn. He
rose before the bar, not behind 1t, and so
near the wondering jury that he could
touch the foreman with his long, bony
finger. lie proceeded to tear 70 pieces
the arguments Of Aehley, which melted
away at his touch like frost before sun
beam. Every one looked surprised.
Anon he came to the dazzling wit Of the
poet-lswyer. Pike. Then the curl OF
his lip grew sharper, his smooth face
began to kindle up, his eyes to open,
dim and dreary no longer, bat vivid rs
Ii .htning, red as fire globes, and gIaring
as twin meteors. The whole soul was III
mis- eyes the full heart screamed out OF
his face. Then, without any allusion to
Prentiss, he turned short round on the
periured witnesses of Hopkins, tore their
testimony into shreds, ard hurled into
their faces such terrible invectives that
al trembled like sspens, and two Of
them fed from the Court House.
The excitement OF the crowd was be-
coming tremendous. Their united life
seemed to hang upon the burning tongue
of the stranger, and he inspired them
with the power of passion. He seemed
to have stolen natures long-hidden Sc
cret of attraction. But his greatest
triumph WAS to come.
His eyes began to glance at the as
sissin, Hopkins, and his lean, taper mn
gers assumed the came direction. lie
enclosed the wretch within wall OF
strong evidence and impregnable srgu-
ments, cutting of all hope OF escape.
he dug beneath the murderer's feet
dilemmss, snd held up the slsnderer to
the scorn and contempt OF the popu-
lace. Having thus grit him about with
a circle of fire, he stripped himself to the
work of massacre.
Obi then it was vision both glorious
and dreadful TO bthold the orator. HIS
actions, too became as impetuous as the
motions of an oakin q hurricane. HIS
voice became trumpet filed with whirl-
pools. desiening the ears with crashes OF
power, and yet Intermingled with q
sweet undersOng of sweetest cadence.
His forehead glowed like a heated fur
mace, his countenanCe was hsggard Ike
that of q maniac, and ever and anon he
flung his long, oony arms on high, as u
graspjns after thunderbolt.
He drew picture Of murder in sp.
psllinC colors that IN comparison nell
Itself might look beautiful, he painted
the slanderer so black that the sun
seemed dark at monday when shining
on such a monster. And then, fixing
both portraits on the shrinking Hopkins,
fastened them there forever. The sgi-
tstlon of the audience amounted almost
to madness.
All at once the speaker descended
from his lofty height. His voice walled
out to the murdered dead, and living
the beautiful Mary, more beautiful every
moment as her tears flowed faster and
faster-till men wept and sobbed like
children.
He closed by strong eXhortstion to
the Jury, and through them to the by
ISLANDERS; the panel, after they should
bring verdict for the plsintif, not to
offer violence to the deter dsnt, however
richly he might deserve tin other
words not to lynch the villain, but to
leave his punishment to God. This was
the most arttul trick of all, and was cal
culsted to insure vengeance.