The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-22 00:00:00

THE FATAL AFFRAY AT WASHINGTON.

Much space is occupied in the American journals
brought by the Africa with the reports of and comments
on the shooting to death of Mr. P. it. Key, United
States' Attorney for the district of Columbia, by the
11011. D. E. Sickles, a senator, on the 27th ult. The
New York Times gives the following account of the
tragedy :
"Pitilifi Barton Key, the United States' Attorney for
the district of Columbia, was talking with Mr. Butter.
worth, of New York, at the corner of Pennsylvania-
avenue and Sixteenth-street, near the south entrance to
the Executive Mansion, and some 20 yards from the ('lub-
house on President's-equare, when he was accosted by
the Hon. 1). E. Sickles, of New York. Mr. Sickles
charge! Mr. Key with destroying the honoured his wife,
and his own happinete, and, drawing a revolver, in-
'tautly shot him down. One ball entering in at the
left aide passed completely through the body of Mr.
Key, a second was lodged in his thigh, and a third,
glancing, inflicted a slight bruise. Mr. Key fell, implo-
ring Mr Sickle; not to kill him. and died in a very few
minutes. Mr. Sickles and Mr. Key hail been very inti-
mate, but circumstances led him to muspeet an improper
intimacy. Mr. Sickles received (rule some enemy of
mankind an anonyinoue letter, stating, with precision so
minute as to make suspicion imperative, that Mr. Key
had rented • louse in Fifteentlostreet, above K-street,
from a negro woman, and that he was in the habit of
meeting Mrs. Sickles there two or three times a week,
or oftener. The penion and dress of Mrs. Sickles were
accurately described, and the ueual time of the interview
specified. Accompanied by a friend, Mr. Sickles went
to the house designated, and found every stateineut of
the a ttttt iymoui writer corroborated. Mr. Key had
taken the house, and he had conetently met them • lady
answering very closely in deecription to Mrs. Sickles.
A watch was het, and on Saturday evening, the 27th,
Mr. Sickles resolved no longer to play the spy upon Isis
honour, determined to confront Ide wife directly with
his terrible sir-pickets. At firet Mrs. Sicklee etrungly
denied tier guilt ; but iii her bueband's asking her
whether. on the Wetnewlay previous. she hail not
entered the house in Fifteenth-etreet in a certain parti-
cular dress, and concealed by R heel, she cried out,
'I am betrayed and 10-it,' and swooned away. On re-
covering her senses she admitted her guilt, and besought
mercy and pardon. Mr. Sickle, calmly said lie would
not injure tor, since lie believed her the victim of •
scoundrel, but that he had a right to a full confeesion. ,
Twii ladies in the house were sent for as witnesses, and
in their presence Mr.. Sickles made • full confeeeion in
writing, stating that her connexion with Mr. Key had l'A RLI AMENTARY PAPERS.
commenced in April last, under Mr. Sickle:n roof, but
that Mr. Key hail since hired the house in Fifteenth- Tits: OeDE PuochstiarioN.—On Tuesday last ap-
street, in which they hail constantly met. Mrs. Sickles's peered, by order of the HOllllO of COMMODS. OD ODA
confeedon was made in the midst of the hittereet contri- mot of Mr. Card. ell, 51.1'., a copy of the answer of
tion and cry. Her husband simply asked her to give the I;ovenior-Getieral of India, to the secret despatch of
lion back her wedding-ring. and desired her to write to the 19th of April. Irate with reply Irwin the Secretary
her mother to come and Like her from his house for of State, and eulieequent correspondence on the subject ;
ever. Mrs. Sickles made no objecti tttt s, admitting the also of Her Majesty's giacious proclamation to the
justice of her punishment in the most 'Meeting language. princes, chiefs, anil people of India. The " answer" of
tier titer will arrive tomiurrow toremove her from this imount Canning to the secret despatch is dated Inaba-
fearful em ne of guilt, remorse, and blood. Once having bad. the 17th of June. NO. 21;4, Of MIS. He naturally
quitted the presence of his wife. Mr. Sickles gave way to complains that the publication of the (famous Ellen-
the t terrible emotion, and linseed the night in a state berough) letter ilbeepproving the policy of the Oude pr./-
bordering on distract' —a feeling which was worked I claination is calculated greatly to increase the difficulties
into madness this morning on 'seeing the cause of his or the Government in hubs, not wily by weakening the
inieery, Mr. Key, with gay audacity pass opposite the Governor-General's authority, but by encouraging re-
window of his wife's room and his handkerchief— sietance and delusive hopes among the population of
the usual signal for imeignation. Asking Mr. Butterworth, Oude. After declaring with much dignity, that "no
who was at hi, hem., to follow Key ~iid engage him in taunts or sarcasms, come from what quarter they may,
converaation, so that he should not get out of sight, he will turn him front the path,
_which lie believes to be
rushed up stairs for ilk pistols, and quickly following, that of his public duty," Lord Canning elaborately de-
found Butterworth and Key togetlwr, at the corner of fends his policy towards the Oude rebels, as being user-
sixteentlestreet, when the tragedy took piece. On coin- ciful without weakness, and indulgent without compro-
ing up Sickles walked directly to Key, and said, "You nosing the dignity of the Government. He says that
have disholiourel illy bed and family, you scoundrel ; he will not in a time of so much difficulty and danger
, prepare to die !"—at the same time drawing his pistol. lay down of his own accord the high office which he Las
I Almost simultaneouely Key placed his hand inside his the honour to hold ; but lie requests at the same time
vest, and drawing what appeared to boa Mete!, but what to be relieved front that office without delay, suppoeing
was really an opera glass said, ' You lad better not his policy shall It.. deemed to be either erroneous or
' shoot Sickles at once tired, Key at the UMW time feebly carried out. His Lordship says that he arrived,
throwing his glass at him. 'this shot only grazed Key, I 'mood Ouile, at the following conclusions :-1. That
slightly raising the skin of his aide, and he immediately all queetion of punishing with death, banishment., or
leaped behind a tree to avoid another eleit. Sickles fol. imprisonnient rebels who, whatever their other crimes,
, lowed, and Key, catching his arm, endeavoured to pre- were free from the stain of actual murder should be set
vent him (non firing, but Sickles disengaged hinnielf, seele. 2. That the one declared punislinient for re-
and bring again, shot Key in the upper part of the right hellion should be the confiscation of propriety rights in
thigh, cleat to tbe main artery. Falling on hie hip and the soil for the benefit of the State; 3, and lastly, that
supporting I self with his hand, he cried, ' Murder ! if a proclamation were issued on the capture of Luck-
don't shoot!' Sickles still following, fired again, with now, it should be one not threatening confiscation as a
his pistol clime to Key, the ball passing through hie body possible contingency, but declaring it; pointing out,
below the breast. In the ineaiitisne the report of the however, the means by which relaxation and indulgence
pistol and Key's cries startled those in the neigh. would lie obtainable ; and further, that no attempt
bourhood. Mr. Motu is Martin, a clerk in the Treasury should be made to indicate the measure of relaxation and.
Departnient, who happened at the moment to be leer. iudulgence which might be conceded in particular cases.
inc the club, rushed back, and calling out, ' Key is Major General Ontram's suggestion, that the temis of
murdered !' Mr. Doyle, Mr. Upshur, and Mr. TiilLeell, the proclamation should be re-considered, is cursorily
who were in the club at the time proceeded hastily to noticed, but Lord Canning would not trouble the Secret
the spot, where they found Sickles standing over the •C. 'ttee with a recapitulation of his reasons for for'
body of Key, with his pistol presented at his head, and I bidding its adoption. In • second despatch dated the
which be tried twice to discharge, but which snapped 4th of July, 1858, Lord Canning, in thanking the late
both times, and Mr. Butterworth *binding by composedly. Court of Directors for their centinued confidence in him
On Mr. Doyle's tuuching Sickles on the shoulder the lat. briefly defends the peculiar wording of his (hide prude-
ter at once desisted, and turning round said, ' Gentle- 'nation. On the 9th of I>ecember last the new *ere-
men, this moan has dishonoured my bed !' Upon this he tary of State for India, Lord Stanley, addressed 'iii'
took Butterworth's arm, and walking Dom the spot with count Canning, the representative of the defunct
the most perfect self-pasecesion. proceeded to .Ittomey- Directors of tlw "as Company," and his despatch appears
General Black's, and delivered hunted( into custody. On quite equivalent to • censure on the policy of the (over'
Mr. Sickles leaving, Messrs. Ibiyle, Tishial, Upehur, and tior•General. Lord Stanley declines to follow in detail
Martin conveyed the body, which still held faint gasps the elaborate arguments of his Excellency in defence of
of breathing, to the parlour of the club house, when the Oude proclamation. He observes that, although
the Assistant-Surgeon-Geueral was at once in attend- anxious to support Lord Canning's authority, Her
ranee, but Key was beyond all medical skill, lie breathed Majesty's Government cannot alter their previously ex-
but twice after being laid upon the floor. The parties ' pressed opinion with regard to the policy pursued by
involved in this sail story all lived within the • eli I . " They cannot think it wise for a Governments
ate circle of our daily Washington ; two, at lewd, of either in Asia or in Europe, to utter threats on which
them being also as well known in New York as in the it is nit meant to act ; and they apprehend that the
federal metropolis. Key was about 42 years of age, tall tendency of such threats, when addressed to insurgents
in stature, about six feet, with an easy and fashionable in arms, is to drive into desperate and hopeless resist'
air, but by nOlll.llOl prepossessing appearance otherwise. auce, some, at least, of thew who might be induced to
Hisface had a sickly line. and lie had been for bOllll3 time submit by an invitation couched in more lenient tent's,"
suffering 'non heart (Bream, or imagined lie was, which Lord Stanley goes on to intimate that the Government
gave 1 a our enil ilimontented look. otherwise be are wel eati•fied to hear that the policy indicated in the
was extremely popular. and thew who knew him best proclamation as re,earda the claims of the talookdars, Lc.,
said his eccentricities of manner covered R 1.217 kind and in thole, has wit been adopted in practice, and that the
generous heart. Ilk father, Francis S. Key. WAS the practical effect produced by it on the minds of the
author of the national sung, the 'Star-spangled people hie been "but small." The GOVRIIIIIIeDt at
nor.' Ile was • widower, with four children. On his I ein short, regarding the document as • mere try
marriage he narrowly escaped a duel with Colonel May, tom f Omen, condemn it precisely 011 that ground. in the
who conceived that he lied unfairly onetel I from the terms already cited. Lord Stanley, declining to coin-
affect. of the lady who hicaisee his wife, and who was silent further en a proclamation " practically cancelled "
A beautiful end cl g w ttttt AD. by the author himself, concludes his despatch with an
" Mr. Sickle's, the member for the Third District of i intimation that while the Government at h regret
New York, is a native of this city, and was originally a that they cannot lint coneider the document already Si
printer by occupation. lie is A man of nearly 40 yeicris often alluded to as" a inietaken act "on the part of the
of age, of good presence and graceful manners. As a Governor-(howral of hui,hua. "they desire publicly to es-
member of the State Senate, as well as in the I knee of pre.* their full approbation of hie (Lord Canning el gene'
Retresentatives, he had made himeelf remarked by a ral policy." A copy of the Quesll.ll gracious proclaims-
quite unusual coolness and eelf-pueeeseion,
him greet advanters in debate, awl had acquired for the correepondence.
which gave tion to the princes and people of India is appended to
luiiui a well-deserved reputation as A rising young leader THE Pie iii-Lews is Sciereeen.—The thirteenth
of the Ihenoeratie party. In 1853 Mr. Sickles was mete annual report of the Board of Supervision for the Relief
ried to his wife, DOW mined and heart-broken, then a of the Poor in Scotland, just Wined in the form of •
young girl fresh from her echool-life, and remarkable neat bluebook, shows that the sum expended for the
then as now for something especially soft, lovely, and relief and nianagement of the poor in the year ended
youthful in the type of her very peculiar beauty. edie 14th of Mey, lte-oe was e 1140,700, against 036,3;2 is
is of Italian origin, and possesses all the Italian lustre the pnreding year. This was at the rate of 45. :el
and depth of eye. united with a singular candour and per head of population—the number of registered l'°"
delicacy of feature. un the 14th of May, 1858, was 79.199. The nueiber
"The effect of thic melencholy affair upon the publics of casual or unregistered poor was 44,847. The number
life of the survivor will be temporarily dieestroue. The of adult casual poor relieved on the hut of January,
people of New York, whatever may he said to the con- 18.41, was 4.832. The whole number of registered ana
trery, luive a deep seated respect for the law, and under casual poor relieved during the year. WAS 144•4"
any cireninetancee, will view its abrogation with riper. sidering the difference between the Irish and Scotch
DAUM, 11IeY Mai OSADSO time act, but will hesitate to iiyaetii of poor relief, the Board are not of opon
reward the author. But the eervices of a brilliant 1/1.11 the introduction of the former into any part of Scotland
like Mr. Sickle, will not be altogether lost to the would be found necessary or practicable, but they
country, which is wide enough for all. In come of the cannot doubt that the extension to all parts of the
border territories. where, from the laxity of society and Ilighlande, of the legitimate check afforded by the
the weakness of infant government', the theory of vio- proper application of the poor-house test, as used in
lent remedies for violent social evils is necessarily recog- Scotland, has become necessary to correct the existing
nized, he may commence a new career. unstained by evil". It is shown in fact, that in 18A7 Ireland en'
social Dan. We hope and trust he will do so. Few limited in provisions, clothing, neceari eaes. and out-
young men in public life bad more promise than Mr. relief, for the poor of • population of 6,552,385, no !°°"
Sickles previous to this affair, He was the recognized than 1:295,096, while in the year ended the 14th of Sal
leader, as he was the cleverest man, in the delegation 1e57. Scotland, with far less than one moiety
m e!lteli.
fro the commercial metropolis of the country. An population, expended for the same purposes I'sl-.1".
eloquent orator, a kn dan eeebater, d a hard-working The inspectors of poor aperga re to be very negligent ot
man in emulate°, mind, withal, not losing eight of throe their duty in Scotland ; c we adduced 'P ipet
social amenitiesad which adorn the life of the m public an, 21 of them, and six were dionimed by the Board for
he had all the pre-requisites for a first-class statesman. neglect or failure to peilona their duties. that