Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-02-24
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL

RecOlIectIOns of a Scene fn a Texas
Court.
The following sketch of Il scene
in Texas court was written many
years ago by Judge Arlington, of
that then republic, under the nom
de plume of "Charles Summerfield." /"
He wrote many sketches of incl
dents, which attracted much atten-
tion at the time; but none of them
have been more admired or Oftener
republished than this one. The
volunteer counsel, John Taylor, was
SO full of eccentricities that he was
sometimes called Cracked" He
was born in New York, highly ed
ucated, studied law and was adj
mitted to the bar at twenty-one
He soon after married a belle of the
best society. A year or SO after
wards he suddenly left New York
for Texas, his wife obtained a di-
yorce, and changed the name of
their only child to that of another
whom she married. Taylor re-
manned until his death in Texas.
At the time of his appearance in
this case he was devoting most of
his time to preaching. In after
years he seldom preached, but de-
fn Inn f.f
which he was attentive but not
brilliant. 1t is related of him, that
after the Hopkins trial, he an
nounced his desire to build a church
in a certain locality, and to obtain
funds for the purpose, would wager
81, 500 that his mare could beat any
animal in the country any distance
not over mile. The wager was
taken, the race run, he riding for
himself, and he won the stake, and
with it built the church. The fol-
lowing is ''Summerfeld's" sketch
of the trial:
AT an early nour on the 9th of
April, 1910, the courthouse in
Clarksville, Texas, was crowded to
overlooking. Save in the war times
past, there had never been witness
ed such a gathering in Red River
county, while the strong feeling ap-
parent on every flushed face will
sufficiently explain the matter.
At the close of 1889 George Hop
kins, one of the wealthiest planters
and most influential men in North
ern Texas, offered a gross insult to
Mary Ellison, the young and beau
tiful wife of his chief overseer. The
husband threatened to chastise him
for the outrage; whereupon Hop
aims loaded his gun, went to Eli
sons house and shot him in his own
door. The murderer was arrested
and bailed to answer the charge.
The occurrence produced intense
excitement, and Hopkins, in order
to turn the tide of public opinion,
or at least to mitigate the general
wrath, which was at first violent
against him, circulated reports in
famOusly prejudicial to the charac-
ter of the woman who had suffered
such cruel wrong at his hands. She
brought her suit for slander. And
thus two cases, one criminal and
the other civil, and both out of the
same tragedy, were pending in the
April Circuit Court for 1910. The
interest naturally felt by the COM
munity as to the issue became far
deeper when it was know that
Ashley and Pike, of Arkansw, and
the celebrated Prentiss, of New Or
leans, each with enormous fees, had
been retained by Hopkins for his
defense. i
The trial for the indictment of
ended ON the 8th of April |
with the acquittal of Hopkins.
Such result might have been fore
seen by comparing the talents of
counsel engaged on either side. |
The Texas lawyers were utterly
by the arguments
and eloquence of their opponents.
1t was a fight of dwarf against gil
ants.
This slander suit was set for the |
9th, and the throng of spectators
grew in number as well as excite |
ment and what may seem strange,
lIIO CuIICHA VI puplAS lASoNALIACuL Wco /
decidedly for Hopkins. His money
had procured pointed witnesses
who served most efficiently his
powerful advocates. Indeed, so
had been the success of
the previous day, that when the
case was called Mary Eli |
son was left without a lawyer
they had all withdrawn. The pig
my pettifoggers dared not brave
against the sharp wit of Pike and
the scathing thunder of Prentiss.
"Have you no cOunsel?" inquired
Judge Mills, looking kindly at the
plaintiff.
mo, sir, they have all deserted
me, and 1 am too poor TO employ
any more," replied the beautiful
Mary, blushing even to tears.
"In such a case will not a ehival-
rous member of the profession vol
unteer ?" askedrthe Judge, glancing
around the bar. i: Z,
The thirty lawyers were Silent as