We learn that the, murderess, who is a woman of dazzling and transcendent beauty and about twenty six or seven, is a niece of Senator Dilworthy at whose house she has been spending the winter.  She belongs to a high Southern family, and has the reputation of being an heiress.  Like some other great beauties and belles in Washington however there have been whispers that she had something to do with the lobby.  If we mistake not we have heard her name mentioned in connection with the sale of the Tennessee Lands to the Knobs University, the bill for which passed the House last night.

Her companion is Mr. Harry Brierly, a New York dandy, who has been in Washington.  His connection with her and with this tragedy is not known, but he was also taken into custody, and will be detained at least as a witness.

P. S. One of the persons present in the parlor says that after Laura Hawkins had fired twice, she turned the pistol towards herself, but that Brierly sprung and caught it from her hand, and that it was he who threw it on the floor.

     Further particulars with full biographies of all the parties in our
     next edition.

Philip hastened at once to the Southern Hotel, where he found still a great state of excitement, and a thousand different and exaggerated stories passing from mouth to mouth.  The witnesses of the event had told it over so many time that they had worked it up into a most dramatic scene, and embellished it with whatever could heighten its awfulness.  Outsiders had taken up invention also.  The Colonel’s wife had gone insane, they said.  The children had rushed into the parlor and rolled themselves in their father’s blood.  The hotel clerk said that he noticed there was murder in the woman’s eye when he saw her.  A person who had met the woman on the stairs felt a creeping sensation.  Some thought Brierly was an accomplice, and that he had set the woman on to kill his rival.  Some said the woman showed the calmness and indifference of insanity.

Philip learned that Harry and Laura had both been taken to the city prison, and he went there; but he was not admitted.  Not being a newspaper reporter, he could not see either of them that night; but the officer questioned him suspiciously and asked him who he was.  He might perhaps see Brierly in the morning.

The latest editions of the evening papers had the result of the inquest.  It was a plain enough case for the jury, but they sat over it a long time, listening to the wrangling of the physicians.  Dr. Puffer insisted that the man died from the effects of the wound in the chest.  Dr. Dobb as strongly insisted that the wound in the abdomen caused death.  Dr. Golightly suggested that in his opinion death ensued from a complication of the two wounds and perhaps other causes.  He examined the table waiter, as to whether Col.  Selby ate any breakfast, and what he ate, and if he had any appetite.