The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-01-24
THE MANIAC LAWYER.

THE MANIAC LAWYER.
Albert Pixies RemIrIsee Eces Of South
western Life and Men-W0nderTuI
Judge Arlington, ana the
Sill More Wonderful
John Taylor.
A late issue of Forney's Sunday Chron-
icle contained a sketch of court scene in
TexaS, dated as far back as 1841, which,
under different captions and variety of
metamorphoses, has done duty for many
q hard-pressed editor during sll these
years. As the name of Albert Pike was
mixed up in it, and as that historic char
acter is still moving around in our lively
midst, as nimble of brain and feI title OF
execution as the best of us, it occurred to
the Post that the best time TO vindicate
the truth of history was the present. A
reporter of the Post accordingly clipped
from the Chronicle the article as it last
appeared and which we here present:
On the 9th of August, 1841, the court
house at Clarksville, Texas, was crowded
to Overfowing. An exciting case was to
be tried. George Hopkins, a wealthy
planter, offered gIGss insult to Mary
Allison, the young and beautiful wife OF
his Overseer. The husband threatened
to chastise him for the outrage, when
Hopkins went to Allison's house and shot
him in the door. The murderer was ar
rested and hailed to answer the charge.
The occurrence produced great excite
ment, and Mr.. Hopkins, in order to turn
the tide of popular indignation, had cir
culated reports about her character, and
she sued him for slander. Both suits were
penGing--for murder and for slander.
The interest became deeper when il
was known that Ashley and Pike, oil
Arkansas, and S. S. Prentiss, of New
Orleans by enormous fees, had been
retained to defend Hopkins.
Hopkins was acquitted. The Texas
lawyers were overwhelmed by their Oppo
nents. Itwas fight of dwarfs against
giants.
The SANDER suit was ready for trial
and the thrOng of spectators grew ir
number, as in excitement. Public Opin
ion was setting in for Hopkins hi!
money has procured witnesses who served
his powerful advocates. When the
slander case came up, it was left without
an attorney-all had withdrawn.
Have you no counsel?" inquired
Judge Mills kindly of the plaintiff
"NO, sir; they have all deserted me
C1L1A S1L4 lOO pOOI W BlOy any
replied the beautiful Mary, bursting into
tears.
I'm such case, will not some chival
reus member of the profession volun'
teer?" said the judge, glancing around
the bar.
The thirty old lawyers were silent.
81 will, your Honor" said voice
from behind the bar. His clothes looked
30 shabby that the court hesitated to lei
the case proceed under his management
Has your name been entered on the
| rolls of the State ?" demanded the Judge
I" 1t is immeterial," answered the
stranger, his thin, bloodless lips curlini
up with a sneer.
! g Here is my license from the highest
| tribunal in America" and he handed the
| judge broad parchment.
The trial went on. He suffered tht
witnesses to tell their own story, anC
allowed the defense to lead of ASHLEY
hspoke firsg, followed by Pike and Prem
! tis5. The latter brought down the hous,
in cheers, in winch the jury joined.
1t was now the strangers turn. He
rose before the bar, not behind it, and *
near the wondering jury that he coulC
| touch the foreman with his long, bonJ
finger. He proceeded to tear to piece
the argument of Ashley, which melted
away at his touch like frost before a sun
beam. Every one looked surprised
| Anon he came to the dazzling wit of tn,
poet-lawyer, Pike. Then the curl of hi
lip grew sharper, his smooth face began
to kindle up, his eyes to open, dim anC
dreary no longer, but vivid as lightning
red as fire globes, and glowing as twin
meteors. The whole soul was in his eyes
the full heart streamed out of his face
Then, without any allusion to Prentiss
he turned short around upon the peTjureC
witnesses of Hopkins, tore their testi
mony into shreds. and hurled into thei
faces such terrible invectives that al
trembled like asPens, and two of then
fed from tue courthouse.
The excitement of the crowd was be
coming tremendous. Their united life
soul seemed to hang upon the burning
tongue of the stranger, and he inspired
them with the spOwer of passion. III
seemed to have stolen natures long-hid
den secret of attraction. But his creates
triumph was to come.
His eyes began to glance at the assassin
| Hopkins, and his lean, taper fngers as
sumed the same direction. He inclUseC
| the wretch within a wall of strong evi
dence and impregnab.e argument, cuttinl
off all hope of escape. He dug beneatl
the murderer's feet bitches OF diIemn as
ard heId up the slanderer to the scor1
and contempt of the populace. Havini
thus girt him about with circle of fire
he stripped himself to the work o
massacre.
Oh then it was vision both gloriou
and dreadful TO behold the orator. Hi
actions, too. became as impetucus as tn
motions of aH oak in = hurricane. Hi
voice became trumpet filed with whirl
pools, deafening the ears with crashes 0
power, and yet intermingled all tn
while with q sweet unders0ng OF sweetes
cadence. His forehead glowed ike
heated furnace, his countenance wa
haggard like that of maniac, and eve
and anon he flung his long, bony arm
on high, as if grasping after thunder
bolt.
he drew picture of murder in appa
ling colors that ia comparison he'll itsel
might look beautiful he painted III
slaaderer so black that he sua SCENE
dark at monday when shining on such
monster. And then fixing both Dol
traits on the shrinking Hopkins, fastene
them there forever. The agitation {