Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-09
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

The Killing Of Keating.-The reader will
find in the Star, to-day, full report of the
testimony taken yesterday in this case. 1t
shows great confusion in the minds of the wit
nesses for the prosecution-servants of the
house-as to many of the details of the dread
full affair.
Thus they disagree as to the number of shots
fred, AMI as to whether the friend Of the &C
cused who took part in the ARRAY went to his
assistance before or after Patrick Heating
went to his brothers assistance. The weight
of the testimony for the prosecution is, GER
tainly, that he took part in the fray only after
the accused was fighting the two brothers.
The testimony for the defence contradicts
that Of the prosecution palpably and directly
on nearly every point on which it bears; and
though it does not seem to touch the origin of
the afray, it represents The accused borne
down by a number of assailants, and in i'm
minent danger of his life at their hands when
he fred.
The witnesses called by the accused were
all men of education, and as far as their testi-
mony goes it is clear and uncontradictory,
and will therefore have greater weight on the
public mind than tho testimony of the prose
cution, e natural, and under the circum.
stances legitimate result. 1t is evident that
upon the minds of the witnesses for the &C.
cused one and all, there rests the conviction
that the shot was fired wholly in self defence.
III. Henri Du Bots, the new minister to the
Netherlands, was the only educated man OF
collected mind who saw the whole affair from
beginning to end, Of whom We have heard
IT said that be awaits a request from the Sec.
rotary Of State tha. he shall obey the summons
to appear and testify in this examination.
As his evidence is of more Importance ION &C
count Of the fact stated above) than that Of
any one so far examined, we presume that the
District Attorney has asked the Secretary to
make the necessary request.
The Philadelphia Election has already
been prolific subject of conversation among
tie members of Congress .snd other gen.
tlemen in Washington particularly inter
ested in public affairs. As a matter of
course, tie Democrats are in ecstasies over
1t, regarding the result as an earnest OF
what the D-slaveholding States are tc
do for their cause in the fall The practi.
cal coalition there between the straight
Wings and Democrats was simply in accord.
ance with an understanding that has prevailed
here Tor months past, viz That what remains
of the Wing party is hereafter to become iden-
tilted with the Democracy. It's working is
seen IN the present attitude of Senators Pratt
OF Maryland, Jones of Tennessee, and Bsnia.
min Of Louisiana, Mr.. Watkins of Tennessee,
Mr. Hammond Of Virginia, Mr. George Ash
nun OF Massachusetts, and many other dis
tlnguished public men, all of whom, whether
admitting their Identification with the Demo
Gratis or not, being regarded in political circles
OF the Federal Metropolis as ardent sympa.
thlsers with that party in the present anoma-
Ious condition of national politics.
The election 10 which We refer above will
by no means havo the effect Of inducing tie
friends OF any aspirant for the Cincinnati nom
ination to cease their efforts to make capital
for their respective fsvorite for it is b allied
as an indication that triumph in June ir
Cincinnati, win surely be equivalent to g
more important triumph in November.
Monsieur Nal Appropos Three -fourthl
ef all the existing difficulties between thi,
country and England, has grown out Of act
OF the British Consul at New York, Mr. Bar
cay. Not not long since, we had occasion t.
publish an account of foolish attempt Of Thu
Driusn Admiral on the Brazil coast, to over
maui the American steamer Aner;ca TIL,
following extract from the Providence you,
nal, in furnishing the key to that act show
that the interminsble Mr.. Barclay was at tb,
bottom Of it:
The ALLEGED RUSSIAN PRIvArEER.- f.,
weeks since the papers teemed with an az
count of m outrage committed by British me n
of-war upon the stea mer America, in the harbo
Of Rio Janeiro. She was charged with bein,
Russian privsteer, and the captain oxpe
rienced great difficulty in preventing his yes
sci from being detained, and having her carg
olscnarSed TO find the cannon and ammuni
tion, said to be going out to the Rus slams il
the racine. The cause for suspecting tn
America has just leaked out. 1t seems tina
Mr.. Barclay, the British Consul ut New York
WA led TO suspect this vessel as being intend
ed for a privateer, and at once sent circular
to all the British consuls and ships of.war o,
the South American coast TO overhaul An,
make prize Of her. There now appears 3
nave been no cause for the oonsul's suspicion