The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-25

DAY FIXED FoR INA TRiAL-It was very evident yesterday
morning that the friends Of Mr.. Si0kles were growing
impatient of the unusual delay of the District Attorney
In sending the Indictment to the Grand Jury for their
final action, especially as the counsel for the defence
have given notice from day TO day of their readiness to
proceed. During an interval in the proceedings OF the
criminal court yesterday morning, Messrs. Stanton, Chill
ton, Magruder, and RalcliHs, accompanied by Mr..
sckes's father, appeared in the courtroom, and Mcssrs.
Chiffon and Stanton asked leave to inquire through the
court, of the District Attorney rs 10 when a bill of indict-
ment would be returned by the Grand Jury In their case,
ia order that counsel, some of whom resided out of this
city, might be enabled to be present when il should DO
returned, in order 10 arrange the time for the commence
ment OF the trial.
Judge Crawford stated in reply that the whole matter
was In the hands Of the District Attorney, who had the
right to exercise his discretion rs TO the proper time for
sending the indictment up to the Grand Jury. II was
his privilege also 10 decide The day for trial but any
motion at all in the matter before the bill of indictment
should be returned was informal. The court rarely, If
ever, interfered with the action OF the District Attorney
in such matters.
Mr.. onld stated that he could not see the ~propriety of
counsel making such motion. He had ALREADY informed
several of MI, Sickless counsel when he intended to send
up the Indictment, aud was perfectly wiling to state pi-
vately to them now whom lac should do SO.
The Judge remarked that he did not think the District
Attothcy a az VI bohHu to ora ouHsc Wne no ia
teuded to do a particular thing. lie had the right TO do
80 il he thought proper, as a matter of courtesy, but this
whole inquiry way informal, and tho court could not in
any way respond to it.
Nothing further was said Of the case until noon, when
the Grand Jury came into court and announced a true bill
of indictment against Daniel i. Sickles for the murder Of
Philip Barton Key.
After the conclusion of the arguments in a larceny case
then before the court, the counsel of Mr.. Sickles again
rose. Mr.. Stanton stated that it was important that the
trial should begin as carly rs possible, and asked that the
case should be set for next Monday.
Judge Crawford replied that the court never intericred
in such cases unless the District Attorney was unreasona-
bly, slow in bringing up the trials. MIR. Stanton ia n
appealed TO the District Attorney QMr. Ouldl to fix on
Monday next for this case. Mr.. Ould replied that IL was
impossible for him to be ready to try the case at SO carly
u day. Mr.. Stanton faid that witnesses and counsel for
the defence from another State had to be sent for, and
inquired whether he was 10 understand the District At
torney AZ saying that he ladd not begin the case on Mon
day next. Mr.. Quld answered that, while he wished TO
be courteous TO counsel, lac could not arrange to take up
the case before Monday week, Mr.. Stanton thought
the tense used to be quite immaterisI. He merely wished
to ascertain the final determination of the District Attor-
ney In regard to the time of the trial, NJ. Guild was
willing, in order to show his disposition to accommodate
the counsel for the defence, that they should select any
subsequent day of the term that might suit them better
than Monday week, and he would postpone the case till then.
Mr.. Stanton. "No, sir; we will not postpone it for an hour
Mr.. Magruder inquired whether Mr.. Ould would consent
to fix upon any intermediate day between this and Mon
day week. Mr.. Guild again declined. Mr.. Stanton
then formally signifed his acceptance, on the part Of tho
counsel for the defence, of Monday week, the day fixed
by the District Attorney, and the court announced that
the case would be taken up on Monday, April 4th. Du-
ring this colloqHy the court room was densely filled with
anxions spectators, to whom it was, doubtless, a great re-
lief 10 hear at last o day set for the opening of this trial.
Correspondents for New York papers, in their anxiety to
furnish late news concerning the conduct of the case,
have repeatedly autographed the iilest rumors as positive
information. Among other statements, 1t has been al
legged that Ex Senator Badger, of North Carolina, would
assist in the prosecution. This is without foundation.
SO far from having any connection with the sicklcs case,
we learn that Mr.. Bldgcr will leave Washington this
morning, not to return until May. We believe that it
has not yet been settled whether counsel will be retained
to assist the District Attorney in the prosecution.
TIE SEVENTH WARD MArKEr.-Very general dissatis.
faction is evinced by the citizens of the Seventh ward at
the action of the Board of Aldermen in selecting square
498, which is situated between III and l streets south,
Immediately west of Four-and-a-h half street, as a site for
the new market, which, it is now conceded, must be
erected to meet the growing necessities Of the people Of
that section Of the city. This square is far south of tho
real centre of business and population Of the 'Island,
and, on far as the vast majority OF its inhabitants are
concerned, Is more remote than the Centre Market. We
have heard u number of available locations mentioned 10
more central, aud In every respect more suitable for a
market than the one which the aldermen have
chosen. But among those who are most interested
in the welfare of the ward, the public reservation
formed by the intersection of Virginia avenue with south
ID street, between Four-and IA half and Sixth streets, is
generally selected us the most eligible spot. 1t is be-
lieved that the power to erect the market here could be
obtained without serious difficulty and the success of
such an application would of course obviate the necessity
for The expenditure of the large sum proposed in the al
dermen's bill. We commend this subject 30 the sober
consideration of the Board Of Common Council, hoping
that they may act with due regard to the economy OF
the city's funds aud the convenience of the people of the
ward.
Tux poToAAC WATER is now available along the ave
nue. in case of fire. A connection has been made be-
tween the aqueduct mains and the old line of pipe be-
tween the Capitol and the Treasury, and stopcocks have
been attached. Heretofore the supply of water from tho
avenue fire plugs has been quite limited so that when
one Of these was called into use the water was cut OFF
from all those more remote from the Capitol. Now
however, abundant streams will issue, when needed,
from any number Of them simultaneously. -"
THgkrRIcAL Mr.. Murdoch Is at our the atre. Last
night Ire appeared before a good audience as Charles Gar
fscey i'm the 'Sebool' for s~cansal!'' Tonight he will
bersonate Hamlet, Weimagite Mrs. Allen, all bedockcd
with flowers, will make an Ophclia lovely enough to-
I tp,n tba had AVIAN nf tho aonibr. princn of Denn,arl,