The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-07
LATEST NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.


special Dispatch 10 the N. rlmea
WAsnSaYoS, March "a.
This morning the counsel OF Mr.. Sickle
appeared in Court. and Mr.. Chiffon request
cd to know whether any action would be
taken by the Court in the case Of Mr.
Siek!es, who Was extremely anxious that
his trial should be proceeded, with at the
earliest possible moment. On behalf Of
Mr.. Sickles he desired TO say that the
Grand Jury had made prescntment in the
case some eight days since aud that al
though he had expected TO hear from day Ia
day that an indictment had been found by
the Grand Jury and presented, he regretted
TO say that no action had 80 far been taken
and he desired to know Gu behalf OF Mr.
Sickles, at what time the indictment would
be presented to the Grand Jury
The Court intimated that il had no con
troll In the case. as the accused had not been
indicted, aud the whole matter therefore
was with the Grand Jury and the District
Attorney. The Court therefore declined
any further hearing in the matter.
Subsequently the District Attorney
agreed with the counsel Of the accused that
he would send in the indictment TO the
Grand Jury during the morning, and tina,
the same should be returned ia due form;
that the counsel could attend at 2 O'Clock l.
NJ, and the indictment would be filed at
that time with the Clerk.
Az two O'Clock the several counsel were
in attendance, and Mr.. STATION, on behalf
OF the accused, stated the facts of tho case
the imprisonment of Mr. Sickles the dan,
ger to him that unless the Court would or
der a speedy trial he would lose part Of
his witnesses, who were now here and ready;
and, finally that one OF the counsel had bu.
siness engagements In an adjoining county,
which would require his attendance, and de-
prive the accused Of his services aud advice.
He called upon the Court to fix the time Of
the commencement of the trial for Monday,
the 2Sth inst.
The District Attorney answered that
while he was DESTROYS Of disclairning any
intention to procrastinate the trial Of Mr..
Sickes, he was not willing TO I've compelled
to go 10 trial unprepared. and that he could
not be ready before next Monday week
that although the accused was in prison,
and counsel had urged that Mr. Sickles was
entitled to speedy trial, he believed that
the United States were not 10 be forced
into trial without due preparation, and he
did not recognize the right Of counsel to ex-
anime him az to why he was unwilling to
proceed a, an earlier day than he (the Dis.
trici.Attorncy) had named.
The Court declined to interfere in any way,
saying that the Court did not interfere with
the District Attorney except IN extreme
Cases, aud that he did not sec any fact In the
case which would induce him TO order the
case to proceed until the District Attorney
thought proper to take II up
The Counsel and the District. attorney
dnally agreed upon Monday week rs the
time fer the comm ,oemcnt OF the trial.
The counsel for the defence oil remarked
that they were ready now, but il they would
not proceed on Monday next they would
submit to Monday week, to which Judge
Crawford consented, and the cas- was ac-
eordingly set down for that day.
Mr.. Sickes' health Is very good, be hav-
ing suffered much less from his confinement
than his friends would suppose from bis
known active habits.