Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-10

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for a few months, and in toe meantime sepa-
ration could be arranged between himself and
his wife; that presumed the affair was known
only to one or two persons beyond mere sur
mise, and that, for the honor Of his little daugh-
ter, and his wife, friends, this course should be
pursued.
10 this Mr.. SickIes replied "My friend, |
would gladly pursue this course, but 81 abtn-
doned, SO reckless have Key and my wife been,
that all the negroes in that ntigibJrhood, and
| dare not say how many other persons know all
about the circumstances
then left Mr. S. in his bedroom and Oh go
ing down stairs Lmet In the library Mr.. George
b. Woodbrile, Clerk Of the House OF Rel re-
santatyes | said to him, g This is terrible
affair lie then hand me the written state.
mcnt made by Mrs Sickles of her guilt, which
was written and signed, as was then informed,
by Mrs. 5. in the presence Of two females, and
witnessed by them. read the statement, laid
1t down on thetaLle, and said, :" will go down
town ior awhile and return here again" re-
quested Mr.. Woodbridge to say 50 to Mr.. 5. If
he should inquire for me. | Immediately left
the house and walked to the Club House on Six
teenth street, drank glass of ale with friend
and slowly returned to the house of MIR. Sicklas
On entering the library again, Mr. Woodbridge
informed me that Mr.. Key had twice passed the
house during the morning, and had short
time since waved his handkerchief three tunes
as signal. Whilst conversng with him Mr..
Sickles came into the library, and said that he
had /" seen the scoundrel making signals = and
the added, /" My God this is horribIes | said .
|n Mr.. Sickes, you must be calm, and look this
matter square in the tece. Ii there Do Il posi-
bility Of keeping certain bnowIedge oT this
crime from tho public.you mpsS 60 ngss.sing to
destroy that possibility you may be mia ss -
in your belief that it is known to the y$ARie
icity,H lie instantly rcplied. No, no. psshtf5y
fl;and, lam not it Il already the town talk. 2
then said 4 If that b SO, there IL but ono
course left fuf you, and as d man Of honor---you
need no advice.
After d few moments silence Mr.. Sickles said
that he was satisfied that Mr.. Key had been in
the habit Of making his signals from the win
dow Of the Club House opposite, and what sur
prised him very much was that his wife strenu-
ously denied this, though freely confessing her
guilt. He then walked into the hall, and said
to me, Come, 20 over with me to Stuart's
room, in the Club House, and he may be able
to inform me whether Key has room there,
and for what purpose he uses it," | assented
and walked out into the street, supposlng that
Mr.. Sickles was following me. | left the house
for this sole purpose. When left Mr.. S. in
the hall ami satisfied he had no weapons on his
person. He was without an overcoat. He said
nothing to me about weapons, or the probabili
ty Of encountering Mr. Key. | walked slowly
down the avenue, on the south side, to the cor
ner, and as I was crossing the street saw Mr..
Key advance few steps towards me. He sa-
luted me, saying. Good morning Mr.. Butter
worth what fine day we have. responded
and said, " Have you come from the Club?"
room? ?" lie answered, eyes, and he is quite
unwell. then said, " am going up to see
him--good morning. and turned to leave him.
As did so, saw Mr.. Sickles for the first time
after leaving his house, coming rapidly down
Sixteenth street, on the side next the square, and
then near the corner.
had walked about thirty feet on my way to
the Club House when heard Mr.. s. exclaim in
a loud voice, Key, yon scoundrel, you have
dishonored my house-you must die" l turn
ed Immediately and saw Mr.. Key thrust his
hand in his vest or side coat pocket, take step
in the direction Of Mr. Sickles, and simultane-
ously heard the discharge of pistol. Mr..
Key then rapidly advanced on Mr.. Sickles,
seized him with his left hand by the collar of
the coat, and seemed to make an effort to strike
with something in bis right hand, which then
supposed to be Il weapon. Mr.. Slckles backed
into the middle of the street, when he succeeded
in extricatlng himself from Mr.. Keys grasp,
drew pistol from his overcoat pocket, and
presented it at Mr.. Key, who retreated back
ward up Sixteenth street, towards the Club
House. and threw something at Mr.. Sickles.
M Sickles followed, and when within ten feet
fired. | saw Mr.. Key was wounded. He stag
gered towards the sidewalk, saying, Don't
shoot me-" lie leaned for moment against a
tree, when Mr., Sckes advanced upon him, ex-
ploded cap, and then fired third time. Az
Mr. Key was falling Mr.. Sic les frequently ex-
claimed, il" You villain, you have dishonored my
house and you must die" He uttered these
words again, while standing over Mr.. Key with
his pistol in his hand.
Immediately after the occurrence, Sckles wal
committed to Jail to await trial.
The New York papers profess no sympathy FOL
Mr. Sickles, but on the other hand show hi
character heretofore to have been rather un
favorable,
The Albany Evening Statesman, says;
The career of the individual who so pomp
ously enacts the character of the injured hus
band in this domestic turmoil is familiar to oul
citizens, as, indeed, it is known to the people o
the entire State. He has a reputation for every
thing but integrity, honor, morality and man
hood. If there is moral vice with which h
is not onversant-practically familar-w'
think it must be indeed modern. Those witt
are familiar with the libertine career which frs
gave him possession of the unfortunate woman
whom he now calls wife, will not he surprised a
} the denoument of his married life. How sh
could so long preserve her purity through Sucl
an example, is u matter of conjecture. In
misfortune which ordinarily commands for
man SO injured the sympathy of every human
creature, he seems less entitled to the consola
ton to be derived from the coincidence of hi
fellow citizens, than any man we ever knew"
The Euening Posi- says:
+" Mrs Sickles was married to her husban
at time when she was not yet out Of her girl
hood, and she is even now but Twenty-Five yeal
3 of age. The character Of the husband too ofte
corrnpts that of the wife, particularly at tn
impossible period Of early youth. Curses,
il said in the old proverb, come home to roost
I land 80, il may be said with equal truth, d
L adultcries. Sickles was excluded from deceI
= society il this city long asoss and ~ would
t almost miracle IT, in the school to which !
took his Young wife, with her character yctti'
3 formed, she should have preserved her inn'
q cence.
/ We do not mean to extenuate tho injury dor
/ BY KEY to the man who so coolly took his Lift
i il is one Of tho greatest that one man can con
4 nit against another. But there are states
!. social existence 10 which mutual liberation
n the rule Of conduct and Sickles. in acquiring
!, perfectly the morals, should also have acquire
4 the philosophy Of the class to which he belong
d 1t i'll became him, who is so careless of his oM
Y conduct to set on foot investigations into IL
Z morals ef others, and to avenge false step wi
u death. No matter how nearly tho often