Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-13

cape Of John Essex, was yesterday sentenced
TO two years imprisonment in the jail and TO
pay fine of twenty dollars.
West Adams, for libel upon James Mocka-
bee, was this morning sentenced to imprison.
ment for three months and to pay fne OF
fifty dollars.
The trial of Bernard Magee, charged with
the murder of James Sims, on the I'D of July,
in Georgetown, was entered upon.
The District Attorney and Darlington ap-
peared on the part of the United States. Brad.
ley and Jones for defence.
A jury was sworn, consisting of the follow
ing gentlemen:
Kennedy, Thos Sylvester, Aaron Devine, Geo.
D. Spencer, Alex. NJ. Smith, Leonidas Bowen,
Geo: Harvey, II. g. Murray, Jno. S. Devlin,
NJ. T. Bradley
Mr.. Darlington opened for the United States,
stating what was expected to be proved on
the part of the prosecution, and proceeded to
read from the lexicon the definition of muir.
der and Of manslaughter
Mr. Charles Lee Jones followed for defence.
he professed to know something of the facts
OF the case and Of the law, and commended
that the prisoner, instead of committing muir.
DER was performing duty in the act for
which he was arraigned.
Mr.. Jones displayed to the jury q plat,
drawn by the surveyor of Georgetown, of the
ground where the killing took place, and
argued that from the position of the pole that,
had it been cut dow n, it must have inevitably
crushed the house Of Magee in its fall. Mr..
Jones proceeded to lay down the law upon
riots. and claimed that Magee would have
been justified in shooting Sims even had the
latter not attempted to enter the prisoners
house. The deceased. he contended, was a
notorious outlaw, and had long been terror
to the neighborhood.
DR.: Charles Cragin was called to the stand,
and described the position of the wounds upon
the body OF the deceased; witness made only
An external examination, and not sufficient to
enable him to judge if the wounds caused
death; thinks they were sufficient to cause
death the indications were hst dece ased had
been struck by two shots
Mr.. Jones exhibited two pieces of board
through which discharges Of shot had been
made by him with the same gun used by Ma
gee, and, pointing out the peculiar effects of
the discharges upon the boards, questioned
the witness closely if it was not possible and
probable that the wounds upon Sims had been
made by one discharge of shot
The witness admitted the probability but
seemed inclined to adhere to his inference tn at
there had been two shots
DR.. j. N. Snyder (who was examined next
thought 1t quite probable that the wounds
upon the body were made by one discharge.
NATIONAL THEArRs.-The Holiday street
company had a fine house last night, and the
performances were received by the assemblage
with relish and zest naturally impaired by
long abstinence from theatrical amusements
The exciting play of Camille" opened the
performances. This is a spasmodic Frenchy
affair, IN which the hero gets Tilted by "nar-
BILE hearted coquette," and goes through the
6rst and second ats NTH lor
upon his stomach in an agonized manner. in.
dicative of either collie or heart brokenness,
and expires in the third act in a collapsed
state The play is not at all to our taste, but
we suppose 1t is calculated to supply the pub.
lie demand, and the company certainly made
the most of it,
Of slighter pretensions, but more to our IL
king, was the farce which followed, of aTurn.
ing the Tables" Clarke, as Jack Hum.
PhrIes, sort of male Darlington or Mala-
prop, was all that could be desired, as were
Perry as Jeremiah Bumps " Mrs Germon.
as Mrs. HUMPHREYS" and Miss Parker az
Patty Larkin In the concluding farce,
Clarke enacted the part of % ToodIes'' in a
manner which threatened the laurels Of Bur-
ton and Owens, and Mrs. Germon made cap
ital Mrs TOodles " Tonight. a most at
tractive bill is offered, and we doubt not
another large assemblage will be in attend
ance.
PAY OF LABORERs.-In the House of Repre-
ssntatives, yesterday, Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia,
from the Committee Of Ways and Means, re-
ported joint resolution giving an increa sed
compensation to all laborers in the employ.
ment of the executive department of the gov
eminent in the city of Washington which
was read twice.
1t provides that, instead of the compensa
ton now allowed to the laborers in the execu.
tive department they should be entitled to an
annual salary of S576 from the 1st of July
1856
Mr.. Jones of Tenn. moved to amend by
striking out "s576" and inserting "s6OO," and
adding after the word executive the word
Legislative -
The amendment was agreed to, and the bill
as amended was read third time and passed
On motion Of Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, the IT,
tie OF the resolution was amended so as to
read Joint resolution giving an increased
compensation to all laborers in the employ
ment CT the executive and legislative depart
ments Of the government in the city Of Wash
ington." -
ISLANDER CASE SETTLED This morning a
large number of persons were gathered at the
once Of Justice Stevens to hear the testimony
in q case of Islander. 1t was one of those
cases tina might always be settled by the in
reference Of friend to the parties. Both
parties are possessed Of little property which
they have accumulated by industry and econ
omy, and they have been regarded as good
citizens. The case grew out Of a msunder-
standing among the females. Mr. Radcliffe,
who appeared in the case as counsel, gave
them some very appropriate advice, warning
them to be careful Of their tongues, to keep
out Of law, to save their money and not to
waste it in law suits that would never termi-
nate in good. The warrants were then with
drawn, and the parties went to their homes.
NOVEL AssoCIATIoy.-A number of col
Ored persons in this city have organized
society for the purpose of assisting each other
In extraordinary circumstances. They con-
tribute small amount monthly, and have
already about fifty dollars in their treasury.
Several Of their members were confined in
the guard house few days since, and they
made demand on their President for assist
ance, but he concluded that the amount in
hand was not sufficient to pay the fines and
costs, and they had to 90 to the farm to work
their way out. This new association, if It
were to assist the members in sickness and
distress. would be praiseworthy; but as it