The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-03

| PuBLio SoHooLs.-An interesting regular meeting
Of the Board Of Directors was held yesterday at.
teruoop; but for want of space we defer till our next
| some remarks suggested by its dongs, and the
| description Of incident connected with these
schools.
MusIcIpAL LAWSON Wednesday, the 25th of
September, eight days ago, at fifteen minutes past
| seven o'clock in the morning, two men met on
Pennsylvania avenue, Of them armed, and full
OF revenge for real fancied grievance the
| other unarned and resstless There were many
persons passing to and fro, and every etore in the
| ncighborhood contained it's occupants. The two
men conversed for few minutes together, when
one of them drew forth revolving pistol and fired
two shots at the other, with ball shooting him
| in the side, (mortally, as we beove,) and with
| the other piercing a store window and coming
| within the eighth Of inch Of shooting the pro-
prietor at his counter The parties then changed
their positions, the wounded man endeavoring to
escape. The eyes of probablya dozen or twenty
persons were directed toward the scene.
Three more shots were fired upon the retreating
man, who had his raised, and was exclaim-
ing, clam shot" The assailant then put his wea-
pom in his pocket, and with firm and deliberate
tread walked to the place in which he had been en-
Ployed, passing number of persons in his way. He
entered the house passed out ut the back door and
departed from the city, secreted himself within il.
In but a lew minutes the avenue was crowded, and
throughout the whole city people talked of the hor
rid Transaction and shuddered Mt the insecurity of
the city Of their abode-or marvelled at the posi-
bility of such deed in their midst The police of
hcers OF Washington came out III numbers, and
showed disposition to perform the duties Of their
calling should the opportunity present itself; bat
did not, as we believe, very zealously pursue the
Id
single individual went out OF the city in pursuit, or
that a single telegraphic dcspatch sent abroad
offering any inducemen for the detection Of the fu
gitive. No reward has, even up to this moment,
been offered for the apprehension Of the man. The
mayor has, perhaps, not felt himself empowered to
make such offer The city councils not,
far as we have been able to learn, called together
for the purpose; and, at their regular meeting on
Monday evening, We have been assured the subject
was not named
Are these things true? If they are, n work is
quired to be done in which every citizen of Wash
ington is deeply interested. What that work is, is
a question to which many and varied replies will,
no doubt be given; but there is little doubt that,
the determination being taken 10 reform the police
system, good and safe precedents can be found to
guide us in its execution. We have own plans,
and will, with Difference, present them at a fitting
time.
In the mean time, however, it will be well enough
to ask whether the existing regulations have been
strictly and faithfully carried outs Have the mayor
the councils, and the police forces of the city
conformcd to the letter and the spirit of the lawsa
1t Is not our desire to impcach the conduct of any
of these 1t il often our agreeable duty to COM
mend them for the able and faithful discharge Of
the duties of their respective offices. But it ia very
certain that the recent events to which have al
luded will be spoken of abroad that our city will
be reproached and that will all feel the re-
proach 1t only remains for to decide whether
the fear Of giving offence should restrain whomever
would urge to the observance of the laws that do
exist, and TO the enactment of such known
to be needed for our welfare.
p. S.-Wc visited Mr.. Skidmore last evening.
He was evidently sinking, and at times exhibited
some indications of a wavering or wandering mind.