Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-21

presented themselves in Court this morning
thronging the space outside the bar and the pas
sages on all sides led thither no doubt in antici
patton Of some movement on the part Of the coun-
sci engaged i'm the Sickles case 10 bring that case
up in order the time for the trial. Messrs Brady
and Graham, Of New York city. with Sickles,
MesSrs. Stanton. Childon, Magruder. and Rat.
clffe, were in Court. and host of reporters and
correspondents from abroad, edged themselves i'm
wherever they could find standing room Mr..
Felix ,. Fontaine, of New York, has been en-
gagged, we hoar, by the friends of Sckles tn make
a full Photographic report Of the trial II is re-
ported that numbers Of legal gentlemen from New
York, personnel friends of Mr. Sickles intend tn
be present during the trial
ne counsel for Sickles were present in expec-
tation that an indictment against Mr. s for the
murder OF Mr.. Key would be made this morning,
when they proposed to ask for an immediate trial
But no indictment was brought in. and the cyan
lnaticn of other cases was entered upon
TWO little cases-one Of assault and battery and
.ne otheI OF Pent iarceny-were submitted TO the
David Cowan was placed on trial on charge of
setting IRE To building owned by Messrs VIM
NJ and L. j. Gait, and used as a wood saving and
splitting mill, which building was entirely des-
uOyed.
The evidence disclosed that the prisoner had
been employed by Messrs. Gait d Bro some six
months previous to the time of the arson that a
week or TWO previous to the affair he had been
discharged from their employ for refusing to per-
form portion of the duties which belonged TO his
position. The alarm of the fire was given at a
Late hour of the mig hit, and the first persons who
ran to the scene of the fire COwan Standing
near by, leaning against wall and as soon as he
saw them he moved on to the bridge which crosses
the Canal at that point and lie med over the rail-
ing and looked on ut the fire
IL also appeared in evidence that there had been
a difficulty between Cowan and another land in
the employ of Messrs. Gait, named Heinbrook,
whlch had led TO the disch barge Of the former and
that Cowan had threatened to he even with them
For throwing him out of employment This threat
occurred shortly prior to the arson This circuIn-
stance together with the defendant being seen on
The ground at the time the fire was discovered led
Ito his being charged with the commission Of the
crime.
On the part Of the defence. d number of respect
able gentlemen testified to the uniform good char
acter of the prisoner and also that on the night in
Question, Cowan, who lived in his fathers house.
went To bed at o'clock, in a room adjoining that
occupied by bis father, and was there up to the
time the alarm given when he came down
stairs partially dressed and immediately went TO
his room and dressed himself and went out to the
mill
The jury without leaving the box, returned a
verdict of not guilty.
John Nc Many was placed on trial for stealing
snndry articles of small value from Mr.. Newman
In February last The case was pending when
our report closed.
The DISTRICT PENITENrIARy-Jtapp ears from
the Interesting and carefully prepared last annual
report u Mr.. Thornley,, late Warden of the Dis
nlct Penltentlary, that at the commencement Of
the year there were in confinement IS convicts.
iat during the year there were received, 81; were
discharged by expiration Of sentence. 70 died. 4;
PardOned, |; leaving in prison 1Oo; of which
number there were 81 white males , white fe
males, % cOlored males, and colored females
The cost OF feeding and clothing the prisoners and
Of supplying the institution with fuel hts medi-
cine stationery, and all incidental expenses off,
GERS salaries excepted, during the year. was
So..W AZ which exhibits an average cost Of 81
M RaRh Tnl
The occupations OF the prisoners were as fol-
lows: Shoenlaking, So; laboring, EARNED out
yard hands, &e.,l 30; barberiRg, ]; cooking, ,;
blacksmithing, I; baking I; steward. /: taiIoTin1
?; gardening, /; shoe binding, &C, (women.1 3:
invalids, 1. During the year there were three
deaths among the convicts. to wit: John Rowe of
enlargement Of the heart. expired suddenly; Ham
dy colored man, Of enlargement of the heart and
general droPsy consequent thereon and Vandora
Otis, i Mexican, of general scrofula which finally
attacked both lungs.
In speaking of the condition of the buildinp.
the late Warden says: wv hilst the casual visitor
inexperienced In the mysteries Of prison life NAV
conclude that ii Is impossible for men to eN ape
from within the apparent strong walls and iron
the prison, yet the subtety Of the convict soon eI
poses its weakness and demonstrates that brick
walls eighteen inches thick and freestone siIIs
are insufficient To retain men whose constant study
Is TO escape, without extraordinary vigilance ON
our part. We have had within the pest year sew
eral efforts TO escape. each of which but proved
the Insecurity of the building. Fortunately they
were foiled in their several attempts This hu;I6
ing, too, is insecure from fire. for not only the
galleries, but the posts sustaining them are wood
81 also are the heavy rafters sustaining the roof
We have thus far been fortunate in escaping from
the evils resulting from fire The number of fires
which isd1ily in use during the winter is twenty
The Chaplain, Rev. Geo. w. Dorrancc after
staff .Ig that he had frequently visited the prison
says, that besides regular preaching. he has in
Structed two bible classes. and that some seem to
these very highly, while Others do not
as much as could be desired, though all pay re-
spectful attention.
states that during the past year the conduct Of the
female COnvicts has been, in general good and
that their dispositions have improved
. The inspectors of the Penitentiary, in transmit
nag To the secretary of the Interior the report of
The warden, recommend an increase of the paw of
the chaplain, which is $500 per annun by taking
SJn from the pay Of the clerk which is 81 300 pep
annum, and adding II To that Of the chaplain They
also recommend. on the representation Of the chap
lain, the purchase of new books for the improve
Iiien If the Convicts They also express confident
belief that they have now anized system under
which the maintenance Of the convfcts will no
longer be charge upon the Government.
SHOOTING AND ARREsT.--Last night an affair
occurred at the colored Methodist EpiscopaI
Church, near Capitol Hill, which will probably
result in the death Of colored woman named
Elizabeth Williams. ID appears that Mr.. Will
white folks. started ont upon a Sunday evening
cunning excursion, and firing i'm a crowd assem-
hled at church door, managed to hit a colored
woman as she was entering the church. causing
II Is thought, mortal wound
Officers Harrison aud Gates soon after arrested
colo-ed person named WIN. Taylor aud then went
IN search of Hicks. While they were in quest of
him, Hicks went to the guard-house and in pom
pOns manner demanded to know what the watch
man wished with him. lie Was promptly locked
up.
At the hearing this morning, before Justice
Dom. Robert Ward. (colOred testified that Hicks
and Taylor and some others were at the church
SKY -larking. wrestling, boxing. &c. all in fun.
''Jlst carving on. Hicks pulled out the pistol
and fired u; not at nobody partic but st shot
ut % fun, but il hit the 'oian; he did not shoot at
nobody, but jist out o fun, Squire"
VIM. Taylor. (cOlored,) testified that he 80 was
Standing at the church when Hicks came up; he
come with some ladies; they went in the church.
and Hicks come out and commenced throwing
his water over me and some more gentlemen what
" as standing there. daughter l struck him on
the breast; he left ne and went and hit at Jim
Cireen; don't know he struck him; then he