The daily republic., 1853-08-25
LOCAL n MATT = Re.

II ~
DANIEL +. WoopwAap.-A week ago Messfs
M. Thompson and Darlington, the counsel for
Daniel T. Woodward, who is awaiting death
for the murder of his wife. placed in the hands
of the United States Attorney General the peti-
ton to the President, signed by upwards Of a
Thousand citizens of Washington and Georgetown,
asking that Woodward be either banished from
tho country or his sentence commuted to imprison-
ment for life in the penitentinry His counsel
| likewise presented copy of the evidence at the
trial, the instructions to the jury, and the speech
Of the prisoner just before the judge pronounced
the sentence of death upon him. The assurance
of close examination of these papers was given.
But on Tuesday the particular friends of the pri-
soner learned that the President Of the United
States has clearly intimated that he will not in
terfere with the course Of Justice If this state
ment is true and we have reason to believe that
it is, the unhappy man will be hanged tomorrow
week. He has been told that there is now no
hope for Executive clemency; and he Processes
to be fully prepared for the awful event, and to be
anxious for the moment which will remove his
undying spirit hence. ~
| A Look AT THE CoMEr.-The comet, visible in
the west about an hour after sunset, attracts much
attention, and various are the surmises respecting
it, On Monday evening entire family emerged
from their humble tenement to have good, gra-
tuitous look at the distinguished stranger. The
party consisted of venerable couple and their
three children, who, Judging from their remarks,
were more utilitarian than philosophical. The
old folks had wiped their spectacles and placed
themselves in the most favorable position for the
qualification of their own curiosity, and for the
instruction of their offspring. "Father" inquired
the younger boy, "where's the co,nic'" s'Right
up there, my child; you see its tail shooting up,
like the handle of dipper." "La me!'' ejacu-
lated the matron, show strange!" The eldest
child innocently asked, eWhat makes the comic?''
''The Almighty, my son." replied the father,
with great soemnity, Sand they say that it shoots
through the heavings quicker nor ightnin'. "
''That can't be 50, husband" interposed his
amiable spouse, sfor ham we abin watchin' of it,,
and it amt moved from the spot ssBut wise
men say it does,' replied the old gentleman, sand
they ought to know" "Why, husband, how
does they know better nor we, they han t been
up thar"
| The family having stretched their necks in
looking until they were fatgued, started for home;
but before they had proceeded far encountered a
philosopher, who was looking at the comet through
something like pocket spy-glass. The old
lady took the liberty of asking him question
or two about comets, being desirous to sslarn
something about 'em." The astronomer gravely,
and with assurance, informed her that they usu-
ally move quicker than thought in very eccentric
orbits, having the in the focus, approaching
very near to the sun in their perihelion, and re-
ceding to very great distance from it at their
aphelion." And to throw further light upon the
subject, he began to speak Of the comets seen in
former times, (being honored with an attentive
audience.) He spoke of the comet of 1880,
/ 'swhich had tail of the enormous length of more
than ninety-six millions of miles, and its greatest
distance from the sun thirteen millions Of miles, -
1t will be recollected that according to the rev.
cries Of DR.. Whsten and others, this is the comet
which deluged the world in the time of Noah.
| 3 The family, instead Of being enlightened, were
more confounded. They thought that the philo-
sopher was quizzing them. Having returned
thanks for his kindness they departed to their
home, congratulating themselves that, though
4 they were not SO much "book larnt,' they were
not ssich big fools as to believe such stories as
that,
/ A FALSE ALARM.-On Tuesday night the cry
of sshelp' and "murder!' from an upper cham
Der window quickly drew to the house whence the
sounds proceeded large number of persons. From
certain circumstances, it was conjectured that the
head of the family had been beating the servant
numerically, although the gentleman was at the
time absent from the city. The true story is rep
sented to be this: sick black boy was comforta-
bly, put to bed in furniture apartment, but at
about ten o'clock cat stealthily entered the room
and, by leapng upon the invalid, SO alarmed him
that he jumped out of the bed, knocking over sun
dry tables and chairs, and uttering strange cries
which frightened lady in the third story to sucl
degree that she imagined impending danger
land therefore called for assistance. Her nervous
system was affected that she uttered loud sobs,
and this, aided by the imagination of the outside
listeners, induced the belief that some poor NOR
tai was severely suffering from the effects of a
heartless castigation.
WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT Recent
ly, a check for five hundred dollars has been re-
ceived at the Office in this city, from the agent in
New York, that amount having been contributed
at the Crystal Palace, in addition to the thousand
dollars heretofore received from that source.
Within the present month, up to this date, three
hundred and forty dollars have been subscribed at
Monument Place, which is the largest sum that
has ever been contributed on the grounds during
! any previous month since the commencement Of
the Monument, which has now attained a height
of one hundred and forty feet
ANOTHER SwNDLE ExPLopED.-A concern