Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-03-04
PAINFUL DEVELOPMENTS.

PAINFUL DEVELOPMENTS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.-For more than
year there have been floating rumors
OF improper intimacy between Mr.. KEY
and Mrs. Sickles. They have from time
to time attended parties to the opera.
and rode out together. Mr.. Sickles has
heard of these reports, but would never
credit them until Thursday evening last
On that evening, just as a party was
about breaking up at his house, Mr..
Sickles received among his papers an
anonymous letter, which informed him of
the infidelity of his wife, of her intimacy
with Mr.. Key, stating all the details of
the manner of their meetings, and nam
ing the place Of rendezvous. The letter
was so plausible in its statements, and
gave such precise directions for the de-
lection of the parties in their clandestine
meetings, that Mr.. Sickles decided to in
vestlgate the facts. Accordingly he
placed the letter in the hands of his most
intimate friends, who last evening DOS
sessed themselves of evidence satisfacto-
ry to Mr.. Sickles that Mr. Key had rent
ed a house of negro in 18th street,which
he used as n place of rendezvous with
Mrs. Sickles.
On Sunday morning, being in great
agony of mind, Mr.. Sickles, in the pres
ence of two witnesses, charged his wife
with having had illicit intercourse with
Mr. Key. AT first Mrs. Sickles declar-
ed her innocence. Mr.. Sickles then
paraded before her the evidence of her
guilt. She became overwhelmed with
the sudden arrangement, tainted, and fin
ally confessed her guilt. Mr.. Sickles was
not satisfied with this verbal confession.
but desired Mrs. Sickles to make confess
sion in writing. She complied. She also
informed him how often Mr.. Key had
been in the habit of seeing her, and his
mode OF telegraphing TO her by wave
OF his handkerchief when he wanted her
to come out.
Mr. Sickles' residence is No. z Pres
ident's square,. in view of Jackson's
Statue, which is opposite the White
House. In full view of Mr.. Sickles' re-
sldence, on the other side of the square
IN 10 IL street, is the Washington Club
House, where MIR. Key frequented, and
from the windows of which Mrs. Sickles
says he was in the habit of telegraphing
her with his white handkerchief IfMr
Slckles was absent, she was in the habit
OF returning the signal.
About two o'clock Sunday Mr.. SickIes
saw Mr.. Key come out of the Club House
and go round the square and walk mast
his (Slckles) house two or three times
lie made the signal for Mrs. Sickles once
or twice, when Mr.. SickIes armed him.
self with a fve-bore six-inch revolver
and two single barrel Derringers, which
carry each ball double the size of the
revolVers; went out of his house and
walked down past the Presidents and
met Mr.. Key. The latter greeted the
former and was about offering him his
hand, when Mr. Sickles, refusing to take
MI Keys hand, said: /" Sir, you have
aishonored me-prepare to die!
Mr.. Key started back few feet ex-
" What for? what for don'f
don't and made movement as if seek
ing for weapon in bis left breast. but
which proved to be an opera glass, which
ne threw at Sickles.
Mr.. Sickles then drew one of his De,-
ringers and shot Mr.. Key, who stagger-.
ed some. Mr.. SickIes shot at Mr. Kew
again, with his second Derringer. which
sent Key Keeling against tree. He cried
out murder" when Mr.. Sickles fired a
third time, from his revolver, and Mr..
Key fell.
hr. Sickles, believing him dying, de-
sisted, and did not fire AGAIN
Mr. Samuel F. Butterwortb, Super-
lntendent Of the Assay Office, New York.
was conversing with Mr.. Key, when Mr..
pickles came Up and witnessed the affair
ana then went with Dir. Sickles to the
once OF United States Attorney Gener-
al Black He expressed desire TO sur
render himself and accordingly sent
Tor the Mayor, the Marshal Of the
District being absent, and, in company