The national Republican., 1861-03-15


something connected with the ground wheresbe
stood, after his retiring from IT, the ocerstook an
opportunity to examine it, and found concealed
there stout "iimmy," and vcrnl skeleton
keys, newly filed, and in order for special opera.
tions. The tools were taken in charge by Mr..
Allen.
CRIMINAL CoURT.-At the opening of the
Court, yesterday morning, the sealed verdict of
the jury, in the case of the Wigwam rioters,
was opened. Messrs. R. Cleary, J. Z Johnson,
and Joseph Creager, were found guilty of an
atfray, and the other parties not guilty.
Thomas M"Mahon. indicted for an assault
and battery on J. G. Naylor, submitted his case
to the court, and was sentenced to imprison.
ment in the Jail for two months, and to pay
fine of six dollars.
The case of John Star, alias John Figg,
charged with setting FIRE to the store Of John
Walsh, on Twelfth street, in December last, was
then taken up.
John Walsh, sworn: On the night Of the sec.
ond Friday of last December a neighbor, Mr..
Henry Wheat saw the light, and sent his SER
want over to awake witness. When he got up,
he found that the bow window was on FIRE, and
the roof was in blaze. After the fire had
been put out, young man, who had assisted to
put the fire out, asked companion if he had
any cigars. Witness said he had plenty in the
store, but on looking for them discovered that
i eight or ten boxes of cigars had been taken,
and that there were only two cigars left. A
showcase, filled with light articles, such as
stockings, cotton, and needles, was also taken
out, and the contents carried off. Witness had
had no fire in the store, and never put light
| in the bow window.
Joseph johnson testified, that the morning after
the fire, he went into Stars house, and saw Star
there smoking cigar. Star told witness that
he had set Walshs store on FIRE, and got some
cigars.
Matthias Hdgerty testified that, about week
after the fire, Star told him that he had set FIRE
to the place.
William Sulliuan testified that he has known
Star since last fall, and was in Jail when the
store was set on FIRE. Heard the statement
made by Star to Captain Goddard, and told 5.
that it was lie. Star afterwards sent note
to witness, asking him to get his brother George,
or his wife, to swear that he was at their house
on the night of the fire, and he would not "let
up" on witness. Star had nck owledged to
witness that he told Captain Goddard lie.
The prosecution closed here, and the defence
called to the stand
M J. Laughl,n, who testified that he would
not believe johnson on his oath.
The jury then took the case, and in q few
minutes returned with Q verdict of guilty, as
indicted. He was sentenced by the court to
Rve years imprisonment in the Penitentary.
On receiving his sentence, he INDUCED himself
in very violent and protane language, and re.
marked that be was very much obliged to his
honor.
Thomas Humphreys, coored, was then tried
for stealing marketing, and found guilty. He
was sentenced to nine months Imprisonment in
| iail and to nav a fine of one dollar.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
SIR: Through your journal, will, by your
courtesy, refute an absurd and malicious f;lbri
cation. Day before yesterday, the States and
Union, of this city, republished the following
slsnderous item from one Of its unprincpled
contemporaries:
"Hi ton Rowan Helper, whose Infamous
book has done more mischief than any other
publication, proposed to lecture at Dayton,
Ohio on Monday last. He had an audience Of
twenty.three persons, and he left town forgetting
to pay for the use Of the hail. or his printing
bill. So says the Dayton Daily Emporium
What has become of his endorsers ?"
In reply to which, | addressed the editor as
follows:
To the Editor of the States and Union:
SIR: In your paper Of this afternoon, have
| Ttdu Wudt W W du cAtTuCt ITUH u
Western newspaper, stating that was recently
in Dayton, Ohio; that l was advertised to lee
ture there, and that left the place without pay
ing my bills every word of which is as abso
lutely and cruelty false, in every particular, al
if it had been written in reference to yourself
So far from having ever visited any place what
ever in Ohio, have never, in the whole course
of my life been within two hundred miles o
the State line. Until l came here, on Frda,
last, more than six months had elapsed since
had passed beyond the suburbs Of New Yorl
city, shall expect you to retract at once, b.
publishing this note, the unmitigated libel t.
which you have given currency.
Fl. R. HELPER.
Washington, D. c., March u, 1861.
Yesterday, placed the above note in tb
hands of the editor of the States and Union
f requesting him to publish it, but he perempto
rily refused to do so. Whether his refusal il
; this case should not be regarded as an evidenc
/ of the worthless character of his paper, sub
! nit for the decision Of an intelligent, righ,
. thinking public. Fl. R. II.
March IA, 1861.