Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-04-18
MONDAY MORNING. APRIL Is. 1859
9ailg a'irgiuiau.
From the Washington States.
Trial of Hon. Daniel E. Sicklos


1t is stated that the prosecution was prepared if
Mrs. SIS confession had bccn admitted. To give in
evidence the fact. that in january last, Sekles
and lady. not his wife, remained during night
in Barunm's Hotel, Baltimore. The register of
the hotel was IN court for TINT purpose. II mp
pears however, from this register that there is
first the entry Of Mr. Sicklcs' name in his own
writing. then ii the names of several other per-
sons. and about ten lines below the name of Mrs.
Daniel 4, SIckles' in II different handwriting
from either hers or his. This preparation shows
TINT if Judge Crawford had let in the confession,
II vast amount of scandal On both sides would
have been brought out on the trial involving per-
sons not yet mentioned in the affair,
Geo i. Woodbridge called reside in MagoG
Valley, Sullivan county, n. Y. On the 9th Of
February last, resided at No. 5H 18th street,
Washington Came hero in thu lntter part Of No
yemhcr to hc here Mt the organization Of tho
House ot Representatives.. Was II clerk under
the clerk oi the House. Knew Key ut that time.
Never spoke 10 him but or twice. Saturday,
the Goth Of February. was in 10Th street from
very close 10 lo o'clock until 3o'ciock. Saw Sick
les tha, Afternoon between 1 and 3 o'clock at tho
Capitol.
Q-What was his appearance and condition?
R,swmt3 " hen | went first to him, ho ar-
penrcd different from whit he was the day before.
lie appeared more like himself llc was in the
hall OF the taritolnt tho renr Of tho Speakers
chair. We had conversation. got him TO 60
into refining room. and thero parted with him.
after cnacayuring to pnciiy him. He was very
much affected aud distressed. There was no one
with him in that room when left him. Saw him
twice more thn, day. The time | left him
about 3 o'clock. Saw him neAi morning nhou, 10
oe.ock in the library of his own house. His eyes
were hl,odsho aud red lie approached me and
told me lac had sent for me to com" thcrr.
Wturss was here interrupted by Mr.. nn,l.
His face denoted that he had been weeping.
remained in IT," house until nll the strangers had
left it, In the attcrnoon--
Q--Wha, was his condition during the day?
I--llr acted like II man III great sorrow and
distress . . much 50. tina, watched for his COM
ing and going constantly
By Caplslr--That is not material
JHHcsg. -fhore was strange manner about
him. lie would 20 up stairs and thea come down
stairs ngan Then he would talk nbaut mnttcrs
and then 90 up stairs again. E,erytlme he came
into the room where was he pressed his hands
to his tcultlr~ and would 20 over 10 tho secretary
and sob lie appeared ms il he was in crcnt dis
tfcss. Eyrry time there fits came upon Inn he
would Irte, his temple, and lean over this way,
Ms showing the manner, lie would sob "a
much thai 'old him To give ,cat 10 his tears.
they would relieve him. lie would rnisehIs hands
cxciaming Sometimes these fits would nho him
before he would ret TO the secretary. where he
wen, ms il t. hide himself, aud then he would bow
down his bead as il his stomach was giving away.
Odd you SOC Key that Sunday
Al did twice.
Q-Whorc mud when?
A-finst lc'wrrn 10 and | o'clock, going out
of the gate If Lafayette Square. an the corner of
l7th street and Pennsylvania Avenue, near the
War Office an the street where MIR. "a house. Is.
On which direction did he -?
A-lIccrusscl the street, and went up the Ave
nue.. presume; did not observe i'll what dircc-
ton he turned To cross. The second time saw
him was about quarter of o'clock. directly in
front of the library window OF SIS house; there
lady aud gentleman with him: he wns on
the side towards the curb stone: the three were
in direct line: the lady was next to the railing
Sickcs was Nh stairs nt the time; lc had left the
library and gone there saw Key, while passing.
take his handtcrchci from his pocket md wave it
three tim,' w,iic doing No, his eyes were towards
the upper window of SIS house; he kept his eyes
from tho ccntlrman as if he did not wish linn to
see what he WIS doing; be parted with the lady
aud gentleman al the corner, entered the park
patc and proceeded in the direction of Madison
Place: semc five minutes before that Sick'cs had
gone up stairs: saw him enter the library two min
utcs after the waving: henrd snme one coming
down stairs very rapidly. and turn in into the Ii
hrary he aid "that william has passed my
honsc."
Mr. oull-Do not state what he said.
Mr. Brady--What did he do
Uihest--lt lie was very much excited. lie talk
cd for Il moment with l5utterworth, who cndcavored
to calm INN. lie appeared to resist these Mt
tcmpts IT, calm him and threw Buterworih oil.
turning into the hall ut the time: did not have
has lia, ot that is the last | saw Of him until he
came into the house with the officers; Mayor Bcr-
rctt was there and Captain God lard. Mr.. Walker,
Mr. McBair Mr. Cluskey and some ohcrgontle-
men; was there, sitting on nm easy ehaIr hear
the library window: Sickles came to the library,
turned around and then went out, ns it to go up
stairs; knew lac was in the parlor; alter that saw
But Butterworth and Walker e, into that room;
the door between the room was closed; renal ned
in library.
Q.-Dd YOU hear his sobbing, &c?
Mr. Carslo-That is u leadingqueston.
Mr. Brady did not know that they would be held
down so closely. 1t was u mere matter of form. To
witnrss-Did you hear anything of Mr.. 5. while
in the parlor?
Wi,ness-No, sir. My attention was directed to
the persons in the room with me: was very much
excited never want to sec such another day as
that.
Mr.. Brady proposed to prove what produced the
state of mind in which Sckles was, when the wit
ness saw him ut the Capitol on Saturday. and ask
ed witness whether he made any communication to
him at that time.
Mr.. Oud objected, saying that he prepared
not only to prove the nature of the commnuica-
tiop. but the entire subject matter should be given
as evidence to the jury, and it's connection with
the excited state of the prisoners mind. Insanity
is fact distinctly capable ofproof. lfthis COM
| municaton is offered as evidence to show tho in
sanity of the prisoner, it is uncertain and unrea
| ble and leads to no fixed conclusion Whatever
the nature Of the communication, it does not fol-
low as ii matter of course that insanity necessarily
or probably take place. 1t does not rise to tho
dignity of secondary evidence. The only proper
evidence wuod be a manifestation of mental dis
ease given by the prisoner either Mt the time the
communication was made, or subsequently, up tG
| the commission Of tho homicide. The question
was whether the evidence could he given for any