New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-28
SUMMARY OF THE FORTNIGHTS NEWS.
From The Daily Atta California, Jan. 5.
THE STATE.

OF LIE rONf NhNC'
From The Daily Aita California; Jam D.
THE STATE.
The main subjects Of public interest just now in
california are such a. are connected with the state
legislation.
The Legislature was TO meet yesterday at Sacra-
mento. Gov. Weller will not deliver his Message in
time to 20 on by this mail, ana are as yet very
much in the dark to what he will say on the ques-
tion Of calling Constitutional Convention the amend
ment Of the Constitution by the Legislature to make
the Legislative session biennial instead Of annual the
TAXATION Of mining claims, the attachment law etc.
The Governor elect has kept his own counsel re-
maj kably we'll 20 far and no ventures to guess
with any confidence as to who will be his appOntees
for the Secretaryship of State and Controlership-
which last office has been rendered vacant by the ac-
cepance OF the office of United States veyOrGen
eral by j. W. Vaudeville, the Controller elect.
Governor Weller will probably recommend the tax
alton Of mining claims and the question will probably
occupy more time than any other and may possibly
lead a serious quarrel in the Democratic party.
The greater part of the town of Downeyille was
destroyed by fire the LIST inst, Total loss $iS9 900.
There was an anti Mormon meeting at Los Angeles
on the 9th Of December, and they addressed q me-
moral to Gen. Clark, i'll command of the Pacific Di-
vision praying him to send 500 soldiers for their pro-
lection.
TIE CITY.
The summary Of city news since the sailing OF the
steamer of the 2lst ult. will contain nothing OF start
ling importance. No fires have occurred; few crimes
have been committed; business is brisk. The city Is
full Of strangers from all parts of the INTERIOR VINO
have come here to spend the Christmas holidays.
The weather is delightful, and everything looks
cheerful and lively The New Year has commenced
apparently under the most HateTng auspices. The
custom OF making New-Years calls was not so gener-
ally observed az on frrmer occasions IN tins city, ,
A horrible murder and suicide occurred at the Red
House, opposite the Pioneer Race Course about four
miles distance from this city, on Tuesday night, Dec
-. The proprietor named Sylvester Murphy, AGED
"a q native OF Pittsburgh, Pa murdered a servant IN
the house named Mary Ann McGynn, aged -, native
Of Ireland, by shooting her in the head with pistol
ard han NTH b.r thrnat aft
own life by inf citing with "a small knife eight staDs
npon his left breast, and also by cutting his own t
throat, The whole affair is wrapped IN mystery The
woman had lived in the house rs housekeeper Tor
two years. II il believed that an improper intimacy
existed between them They had frequently quarreled
when under the influence of liquor. On the night OF
tired at 10 O'Clock. About two hours otter
ward the hoster who was sleeping IN tue
stable near by, was aroused by hearing the woman
screaming. He came out and saw her standing on
the balcony of the house. She told him that Muir
ply had tried to kill her, and was now killing him
self" The woman then went into the house. The
hostler was afraid to go in until mornng, when he
called q neighbor and they entered Marphys bed
room, where they found the woman lying dead upon
the hoor, with her throat cut from ear to and
pistol wound under her right ear. Murphy was lying
the bed almost senseess from the loss of blood He
revived sufficiently ~ tell the Coroner that the woman
had done the deed. His story is that she came To bis
room in her night dress about III o'clock at night aud
Sat the edge of his bed. She then made lungo at
him with large carving knife; he seized his pistol
and fired twice, but did not know that either ball
took effect. He then struck her on the head with his
pistol, and broke it into pieces He says she then
stabbed him and cut his throat after which she cut
her own throat as he supPose for he was too faint to
know what was done further. There are several cir
cumstances to throw discredt upon his statements.
The appearance OF the roOm the walls, the door floor
and bed clothesal were bathed in blood, the furni-
ture was all scattered around and everything indi-
Gated that struggle had taken place between
the parties. Murphy died on the same day.
On the morning of the 9th inst. slight shock of ali
earthquake was experienced in this city.
The annual statistics have been made up a. usual
and present many interesting results The tot
Der Of school children in the State between the ages Of
and Ia is ~. The total export of gold during
1857 was $i9,2 1S2. The total amount of quick
silver exported during the year was n 265 TASKS.
The total value Of merchandise exported from San
Francisco during the year was -, 4ij1J9. The total
value Of dutiable imports q, i0,26j. The total
3l,T5,3s9.
During the year there have been l25 applications
a0 me dement, OF the nsolvent law in San Francisco.
and the assets to SSH, Az.
bighty-two divorce suits We're brought in this city
during the year, and twenty-five were before the
Courts which were com nenced in 1856 OF the M
bands. " A'
The total number Of claims for land under Mexican
titles in the Northern District of California is 40 0f
these, 2ll are finally settled in favor OF the claimants
These clsims cover in all 2,i69 KS, or upward of
II 600 acres each on average. Of the remainder
- have been finally rejected or dismissed; about 20
are yet undecided and the remainder have been an.
pealed 10 the Unted States Supreme Court.
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
The Legislature organized on the 9Th ult. with C.
&. Psgett as President of the Council and j. 5. NJ.
Van Cleave Speaker Of the House.
Gov. AcMuin sent in a message Directing psrticu-
larry 10 the impudence OF the Oregonans in trying 10
take part OF Washington Territory TO set ny su estsb.
hshulept IS State.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
We have dates from Honolulu To the 10th ut.
The Assessor returns l6s1 taxable polls for 1857
adecrease of $50 since 1855 There 6}9 foreign
ers IN Honolulu, and "a 400 horses in all the Islands.
Az American whaling captain had lately tried TO
run on nom Honolulu without paying his debts. The
authorities sent after him, caught him within league
OF The coast, and made him psyup. The American
Commissioned d. L. Gregg, says the seizure was
lawful
The whole number of whaling vessel which have
arrived at the Sandwich Islands daring the mast sea-
son ia les; iI9 American, French, Hawaiian, and
Bremen. OF these l5l have been rgh,-whaers
ard traders.
The amount Of o1 ard bOne taken the pat sea- On