The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-28
SICKLES TRIAL.

l reside i'll the city of Washington; | am a con-
tractor; l knew the late Mr.. Key; was ac-
quainted with him from January or February,
1883; was tolerably intimate with him | was
a member of the Club up to the time of its dis
solution, and met Mr.. Key there
"Ques. Did you at any time have a con-
versation with Mr.. Key in reference to Mrs
Sickles?
witness. / did.
Mr.. Carlisle. Stop moment.
Mr.. Brady. We don't ask the witness to
state the conversation. When did the CONVEX
sation take place?
Witness. In June, 1858; | had a subse-
quent conversation on that subject the day or
two Immediately preceding the Napier ball.
which was on the 18th of February recollect
it from something that occurred at the ball be-
tween Mr.. Key and myself; never had regu-
lar set conversation with him about the matter
but these two but l have referred to it three
or four times when | met him.
Mr. Brady. | desire you to state this CONVEX
sation.
District Attorney. We object.
" Mr.. Brady We propose to prove by this
witness
p" FIRST. That shortly before the decease of
Mr.. Key, the witness had noticed certain
conduct on his part towards Mrs. Sickles, which
led him to suggest to Mr.. Key that the latter
was observed to be over-attentiye to her, in an
swer to which Mr. Key remarked that he had a
great friendship for her, that he considered her
a child, and had paternal feelings towards her,
and he repealed Indignantly the idea Of having
any but kind and fatherly feeling towards her.
Second. That at a subsequent conversation
in relation to the same subject, the witness sug-
gested to Mr.. Key that he might get into dan
Al ~ nh ba atf
laid his hand on the left breast of his coat, and
said, am prepared for any emergency.
Mr.. Ould argued that evidence Of these
conversations was inadmissible.
/ 1.-The Court did not perceive how this evidence
tended to the establishment sof any point in
volyed in the controversy in, this case. 1t
seemed that some Of the declarations of the
deceased were made in last Juae, and that the
last were made on the l7th OF February last
How that tended TO prove that the deceased
was armed on the 9th Of February, some ten
days later, did not strike the court. Another
ground on which it was not admissible was,
that it was offered to excuse the conduct of the
accused, on the ground that he. had right to
suppose the deceased was armed. The Court
did not think the question of his being armed
on the particular day when this witness con-
versed with him had anything to do with that
either, as it was not proposed 20 show, nor was
there any evidence to show, that the converse
ton between this witness and fr. Key had ever
been communicated TO Mr.. Sislles by this wit
ness or any other party.
" The Court could not look upon this evidence
as admissible.
:" John Mcdonald was called, and answered
substantially as follows: / was 4ootman for Mr..
Sickles. On the Thursday preceding Mr.
Keys death, while Mrs. Sickle was driving in
the carriage, we met Mr.. Key q the houses of
Secretary Brown and Secretary Thompson, and
at the flower house on the avenue. At the lat
ter place, Mr.. Key leaned INFO the carriage
and, looking into Mrs. Sckes' s,face, asked her
if she was going to the hop at Wizards. Mrs
Sickles said am going if Ian will let me-
He got in, and we rode rounG awhile. | let
Mr.. Key out in Fifteenth street / then drove
Mrs. Sickles home.
"To Mr.. Ould. 1t was on Thursday at about
four o'clock, that | let Mr.. Key out at the cor
ner Of Fifteenth street.
This closed the evidence on the part Of the
defence.
Mr.. Ould, the District Attorney said, that
inasmuch the evidence of adulterous inter
course has been admitted, he was prepared to
admit the truth otthe confession Of Mrs Sicklcs,
and allow 1t to go before the jury as evidence.
Considerable discussion here ensued be-
tween counsel for the prosecution, disc!aiming
that they had anything to do with the publica-
ton of the confession, and Mr. Brady regretting
that it had been published.
" Hon. George II. Peudle,5n, member of
Congress from Ohio, was calledby the prosecu-
ton in rebuttal. He testified 1,lat he, in COM
pany with Charles Jones, had Visited the house
in Fifteenth street after the death of Key, but
he had never had any participation in the re-
mOval of the lock from the house.
" Several cards, letters, &C., were produced,
and identified, but, at the request of the prison
er, the names of the persons on the cards were
not made PUBLIC
Before leaving the stand Mr. Pendleton
addressed the Court, and said that any state
ment that had been made, of his having at
tempted to defeat the ends of justice, in this
case, was UNANIMOUSLY false.
"Charles Lee Jones, ESQ., testified to accom-
panying Mr.. Pendleton to the house, but he
knew nothing at all of the lock having been
taken off. The witness was cross-eXamined by
Mr.. Brady and an exciting scene enSued on his
being asked if he had not been assisting the
prosecution. He said Mr.. Key was one of his
dearest friends and he should always revere his
memory
Thursday, Mr.. Doyle and other witnesses
testified as to the disposition Of the papers
found on the person of Mr. Key at the time of
his death, and particularly as to letter writ
ten in cipher. The evidence seemed not to be
very material, and we shall therefore pass it
over.
The defence complained that these papers
had been in possession of Mr.. Carlisle, who as
sisted the prosecution, when they should have
been furnished the prisoners counsel
Several witnesses testified as to the condition
Of Mr., Sickles at the time of and Immediately
subsequent to the homicide. They differed
among themselves; but, for the most part, their
evidence tended to show that Mr.. S. was per-
fectly cool and selfpossessed. This account
differed entirely from that of Governor Walker
Bridget Duffy, Woodbridge, and others, called by
the defence.
Mayor Berret was at Sickles's Immediately
after the homicide. He testifes that Sickles
and Walker went into the parlor, and witness
followed, thinking it proper to be present. They
remained there some five or ten minutes, and
then returned to the library, and, after some
conversation, left for the Jail. While in the
paror, Sickles discovered Walker, and said, A
thousand thanks to you, my friend, for calling"
and spoke Of his child and his house being dis
honored.. He then sat on the sofa, and wept
heartily; witness recommended to him to COM
pose himself and he did so, and we soon after
left. This burst of grief lasted four or five min
utes-perhaps more. He made a noise indica-
tive of deep grief; can best describe it as
hearty cry, accompanied by sobbing, which
could have been heard all over this room. There
were no other Indications tLop +b0so +bo+ orJ;