Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-05-15
FATAL SHOOTING ARRAY IN WASH
lNGTON

FATAL SHOOTING ARRAY IN WASH.
lNGTON.
Washington, May s, p. M.-The exam
nation into the matter of the shooting of
the waiter at Wizards Hotel by Mr. Her
bert, took place this evening at the jail
The name Of the deceased is Thomas Keat-
ing native of Ireland
The district attorney, Mr.. Key, appeared
for the United States, and Senator Weller,
Mr.. Phillips, of Alabama, and Messrs.
Bradley and Ratclife, appeared for the pris-
oner, before Justices Smith and Birch who
conducted the investigation.
There was an immense crowd in and a.
bout the Jail, and much excitement was
manifested. Many members Of Congress
were present A number of servants be-
longing to the hotel were first examined
The testimony was somewhat contradictory,
but their evidence was mainly to the effect
that Mr.. Herbert came into the dining room
at half past II o'clock, accompanied by a
friend, and called for breakfast, but being
past the usual hour, he was informed by the
servant that he could not have his meal
without an order from the office. Herbert
directed several servants who spoke to him
on the subject to retire, calling them harsh
names. The deceased made a reply, when
Herbert struck him with his fist or napkin.
The deceased picked up plate or tray,
making movement as if to throw it, when
! Herbert threw his chair at the deceased, the
latter returning the assault with the plate.
During the melee, Patrick brother of
the deceased, entered, having heard Of the
proceedings, when Herbert seized him, and
the two brothers closed on Herbert
The struggle now became intensely ex-
citing, and as it proceeded croekery and
chairs were broken profusely by the parties
to the contest. The Austrian minister was
present as a spectator quietly beholding
what was occurring, and did not move till
he went up to the man whom Herbert shot,
to ascertain whether he was dead.
COL Mckay testified that he saw, when
he entered the dining room, six or seven
persons in a scuffie and thought it was a
general fight among the stewards of the ho-
tel but he beheld one Of the servants knock
down Mr.. Gardiner with a chair. He saw
three servants striking Mr.. Herbert and
holding him by the wrists. One of them
struck him with chair when witness seized
chair to defend Herbert who was sinking
under the weight Of those upon him. Gar
diner was beating them promiscuously.-
After Herbert fired his pistol the other two
servants still clinched him. Mr.. Smith
rushed forward with a cane, saying, eff
you don't release him I'll kill you p Mr..
Herbert was injured, and the witness plac-
ed patch on his nose. Herbert's pistol
was a single barrel.
Capt j. Smith confirmed Col. McKay's
statement, saying, crowd of servants had
Mr.. Herbert in their power, striking him
on the head with plates, &c.
Mr. Bishop, member of Congress, tes-
tilted that he was positively certain that the
pistol was disc barged while the struggle was
going on. Three or four persons were hold
ing him, and he appeared to be much ex-
hausted.
Capt. Blanding corroborated the fact that
several servants were pressing a man down
(whom he afterwards ascertained to be Mr..
HERBERT previous to and at the time of the
firing of the pistol.
Capt Dupont's testimony was also conGr-
matory Of the above.
The examination was continued for five
hours.
The case having been taken before Judge
Crawford, Of the Washington District Court,
under writ of hobeas corpus, Mr.. Herbert
was released from Jail upon giving bail for
$4,000.
MAKING LETTER ENvELopEs-Tonso of
paper and barrels of mucilage are used up
in New York city every month in the manu-
facture of an article SO insignificant and I'M
pretending as letter envelopes. Four firms
are engaged in the business on a large scale,