The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-03-09
The Tragedy at Washington.
PAINFUL DEVELOPMENTS.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-For more than
a year there have been floating rumos Of
improper intimacy between MIR. Key and
Mrs. Sickles. They havo from time to
time attended parties TO tho opera, and
rode out tooetAcf. ir. Sicklos has heard
Of the reports, but would never credit
them until Thursday evening last. On
that evening. Just as % party was about
I breaking up at hi3 house, Mr., Sicklos re.
ceived among his papers an anonymous
letter, which informed him OF the infdel-
ity Of his wife, Of her intimacy with Nr.
Key, stating all he details Of the manner
Of their meetings, and naming the place
of rendezvous. TIL letter was so plau.
bic in its statements, and gave such pre-,
else directions for the detection Of the
parties in their clandestine meetings, that
Mr. Sickles decided to investigate the
facts. Accordingly he placed the letter in
the hands of his most intimate friends,
who last evening possessed themselves Of
evidence satisfactory to Mr.. sickes that
Mr.. Key had rented house of a negro
in 18th street, which be used as q place
Of rendezvous with Mrs. Sickle..
On Sunday morning, being in great
agony Of mind, Mr.. eiokle,, in the pres.
ence Of two witnesses, charged his wife
with having had illicit intercourse with
Mr.. Key. At first Mrs. sickles declared
her innocence. Mr.. Sickles then paraded
before her the evidence Of her guilt She
became o7erwhelmel with the sudden ar.
iaignment, tainted, and finally confessed
her guilt M Sickles was not satisfied
with this verbal confession, but desired
Mrs Sicklea 10 mako confession in vri.
ting, She complied. She also informed
him how often Nr. Key bad been in the
habit Of seeing her, and his mode Of tsl.
egropbing to her by wave Of his hand
karchief when he wanted her to come out.
Mr.. Eickes' residence is No. 7 Presi.
dents Square, in view Of Jaol,sons stat.
ue, which Is opposite The White House.
Tn full view Of Nr. Sickles' residence, on
the other side Of the 'quore, in 1912
street. is the Washington Club House,
whero MIR, Key freQuonted, and from the
windows Of which Mrs. 5ickes ,ays ne
was ia the habit Of telcqraphinq her with
his white handkerchief IF Mr.. sickles
was absent, she was in the habit Of re-
turning the signal.
About . oclocr- Sunday Mr.. Sickle,
saw Mr.. Kev come Ont Of the Climb Houas
md 10 round .hs .,u,ro and walk mast
Lis lSiklo,Y house two OF three times.
He made the siu4l for Mrs. Sickles once
or twice. when '.r sielles armed himself
with a fv..bo,e .iv.ir-h revolver md two
.no'a barrel -riu-e,z.ob;ob c,rrv each
bail double the .i.e of the revolvers
went out of his house and walked DOWN
mast the Presidents and met Mr. Kew
Tie latte, erected ths former. and xss
about oifering him bis hqul, when Mr.
Sickles. refus'ns l, +ass t-r. Kew hauI
slii; Sir. YOU have d'shoaoral me
prepare to diet"
MIR. Key started blck - few ieet ez-
claiming: WHAT or2 what for ? don't!
don't - aud made a movement as ii seek
ing for a weapon in his left breast, but
which proved to be ou opera glass, which
he threw at Sckles.
Mr.. Sickles then drew one Of his Der.
ringers and shot Mr. Z, y, who staggered
some. Mr.. Sickles shot at Mr.. Key a.
gain. with his second Deuinger, which
sent Kew reeiing against tree. Hs
cried out "murdcr," when Mr.. Sickles
.ureu u third time, from his revolver, and
Mr. Key fell
Mr.. Sickles, believing him dying, de.
| sisted. and did not fire again