The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-26
BY TELEGRAPH.
MIDNIGHT REPORT.
GENERAL NEWS SUMMARY.

INV oRk. May 20.
Venice letter dated Nav Sd. states that
Austria has been making extensive prepare
tons for war, both with Italy and Prussia.
since the inception of the German difficulty,
and that she was AT the lates, moment we'll
prepared for bloody defence of her position
on the frontiers of both countries The wri
ter says that the Italians in an around Venice
are not particularly excited. They looked
for sharp and decisive struggle, and
curlousv enough expected re adjustment of
the Austria Italian question as a result
News from Honduras, of Nav 4th. is TO
the effect that bands of Indians from Yucatan
had made raid on the mahogany cutters on
the Rlo Bralr1e. and plundered every one they
could find. Considerable excitement was
manifested on the occasion of the raid, as it
was feared that other gangs would make a
similar movement.
The Heraids Washington special says the
trial of JEFF. Davis under the Norfolk indict
ment will doubtless be postponed until August
or September next, in consequence Of the
strong feeling prevailing in Richmond on the
subject. Much animosity prevails toward
the jury who returned the verdict; and until
this subsidies the Attorney General thinks it
best to delay the trial. The counsel for the
government will consist of Attorney General
Speed, John II. Clifford, Wm H. Everett,
and Maj. Gen. l.. II. Rosseau, the latter rep
resenting the army in the prosecution.
AT an early hour this morning fire broke
out in the freight depot belonging to the
Hudson River Railroad on l1th avenue and
32d street. The fire spread rapidly and in
less than an hour one large building was de-
stroyed together with two freight sheds,
eighteen or twenty loaded freight cars and
about one thousand bales of hay and two
horses. The loss could not be correctly esti-
mated but will probably amount to sixty or
seventy thousand dollars.
Wall street was excited Yesterday with a
report Of an embezzlement in the Irving
Bank. The first story was that the amount
involved was over S3O0,OOO but subsequent
Investigations reduce it to about S45, 200. A
young man, son OF q clergyman, whose name
Is withheld, book keeper in the bank, is the
guilty party. tie was arrested and admitted
his guilt, and has returned part of the
money. The standing of the bank will not
be affected.
The Washington specials of this mornings
papers contain the following: A case involy.
ing the constitutionality of the Civil Rights
Bill has just been decided adversely by Judge
Thomas of the circuit court of Virginia sit
ting in Alexandria, in civil action between
white men. One of the parties offered to
produce negro evidence. The Judge decided
that inasmuch as the State laws Of Virginia
forbade the introduction of negro testimony
in civil suits, to which white men alone are
parties, the evidence of negroes was inadmis-
sible and that no Congressional legislation
could impair her rights to decide what peo-
pie or classes of persons were competent to
testify in her courts. The decision will no
doubt lead to much discussion and create no
little excitement before its final settlement by
civil authorities.
Col. De Vidal Y. Roas and the other mem,
bers of Gen. Santa Annals staff, constituting
the commission at present in Washington,
had long interview to day with Senior Row
ero, the Mexican Minister, but nothing has
beenallowed to transpire concerning it. The
commission were intending TO cali upon the
President, but were compelled to defer their
visit until Mr.. Seward returned to formally
present them.
Maj. Gilbreths, sent by General Howard to
investigate the Memphis riots, has made
partial report on the subject. He says the
civil authorities have not taken the slightest
notice of these terrible riots, and seem TO re-
gard them as simply skirmish between the
police and the negroes. Il was certainly
very one sided skirmish, = from tie testina-
~ no resistance was made ~ the neeroes
alter the first night The ciiseus haze beea