Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-09-09
THE VOLUNTEER COUNSEL.
A TALE OF JOHN TAYLOR

John Taylor was licensed, when a
youth Of twenty-one, to practice law,
He was poor, but well educated, and
possessed extraordinary genius. The
graces of his person, combined with
the superiority of his intellect, enabled
him to win the hand Of fashionable
beauty. Twelve months afterwards he
was employed by wealthy firm to go
on a mission as a land agent in the
west. AS heavy salary was offered,
Taylor bid farewell to his wife and in
fant son. He wrote back every week
but received not line in answer. Six
months elapsed when he received a
letter from his employers that ex-
planned all. Shortly after his depart
ure for the west his wife and her faith
er went to Mississippi. There she i'm
mediately obtained a divorce by an
act of the legislature, married again
forthwith, and to complete the climax
of cruelty and wrong, had the name of
Taylor's son changed to that Of MARKS,
that Of her second matrimonial part
nor. This perfdy nearly drove Tay-
lor insane. His career from that pc
riod became eccentric in the first de-
gree. At last fever carried him oft
at a comparatively early age.
Atan early hour on the 9th Of April,
1910, the courthouse at Clarksville,
Texas, was crowded to overhowing.
Save in the wartime past there had
never been witnessed such gathering
in the Red River country, while the
strong feeling apparent on every flush
ed face will sufficiently explain the
matter.
At the close of 1889, George Hop
kins, one of the wealthiest and most
influential men in Northern Texas, Of
fered a gross insult to Mary Elhston,
the young and beautiful wife of bis
chief overseer. The husband threat
ened to chastise him for the outrage,
whereupon Hopkins loaded his gun,
went to Ellistons house and shot him
in his own door. The murderer was
arrested and bailed to answer the
charge. The occurrence produced IN
tense excitement, and Hopkins, to turn
the general wrath, which was at first
violent against him, circulated reports
UNANIMOUSLY prejudicial to the woman
who had suffered such cruel wrongs at
his hands. She brought her suit for
SANDER. And thus, two cases, one
criminal and the other civil, and both
of the same tragedy, were pending in
the April circuit court for 1910.
The interest naturally felt by the
community to the issues became far
deeper when it was known that Ash
ley and Pike, of Arkansas, and the
celebrated S. S. Prentiss, Of New Or
leans, each with enormous fees, had
been retained by Hopkins for his de-
fense.
The trial on the Indictment for mur-
der ended on the 8th of April with
the acquittal of Hopkins. Such a re-
suit might have been foreseen by COM
pairing the talents of the counsel on
either side. The Texas lawyers were
utterly overwhelmed by the argument
and eloquence Of their opponents. 1t
was fight of dwarf against giants.
The slander suit was set for the 9th,
and the throng OF spectators grew in
numbers as well as excitement, and
what may seem strange, the current Of
public excitement ran decidedly for
Hopkins His money had purchased
pointed witnesses who served most ef-
fciently his powerful advocates. In
deed, so triumphant had been the sue
cess of the previous day, that when
the slander case was called, Mary Ellis
ton was left without an attorney
they had all withdrawn. The pigmy
pettifoggers dared not brave again the
sharp wit of Pike and the scathing
thunder of Prentiss.
"Have you no cOunsel?" inquired
Judge Mills, looking kindly at the
plaintiff.
"No, sir, they have all deserted me
and 1 am too poor to employ any more,
replied the beautiful Mary, bursting
into tears.
"In such case will not some chiv-
alrous member of the profession vol
unteer?" asked the judge, glancing
around the bar
The thirty lawyers were as still as