The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-04-14

The Washington Tragedy.
TRIAL OF DANIEL E. SICKLES,
(Nicmber of Congress from New York;
CHARGED WITH THE
Murder OF Philip Barton Key,
Omitted states District Attorney
The Interest BecOmin z
Intense.
WASHINGTON IN TEARS FOR THE
wICKEDNEss OF THE PEOPLE.
Carlisle's Closing Argument.
MRS. SICKLES' CONFESSION
RULED OUT.
Carlisle's Closing Argument
MRS. SICKLEs' CONFESSION
RULED OUT.
TESTIMONY OF MISS RLDGELEY, ONE
or THE SIGNERS TO THE
BLACK CONFESSION.
sICKLEs IN DEEP DESPAIR-HIs WIFE OVER
wHELMED WITH GRIEF
Bridget Duffy RecnIIed-The Handkerchief
Signals that Led 10 DishOnOr and Death.

WASHINGTON, April 13th.-The interest in |
the Sckles tragedy seems to be as deep and |
intense in this community as il was the day of |
the homicide, at Madison place.
1t is the sole topic of conversation wherever |
men meet or women either. The thrilling |
scene which transpired yesterday in the Court |
room, when the wounds of the unhappy priso-
ner were opened afresh by the touching evil
dencc of Robert j. Walker, and when his emo
tions so completely overpowered him as to rem
der his removal necessary, appealed in the most
pathetic and eloquent manner to the hearts of
all present.
There was hardly n dry eye in Court, and
certainly not heart remained unaffected
by it.
This scene, the confession of the faithless
wife, and the descriptions given of the agonies
which Mr. Sic1les suffered when the appalling
truth forced itself upon his mind, have won for
him the sympathies of the whole community,
and his counsel might, with the utmost conf
dence, submit the case to the jury without
another word Of testimony or a word of sum-
ming up.
| The moment the doors were opened this
morning the crowd poured in and filled up the
space for the audience.
Judge Crawford took his seat, and the Court
was duly opened. Shortly afterward, Mr..
| Sickles was conducted to his seat.
He appears to have recovered his wonted
composure, though his face was marked with
| the lines of recent sorrow and suffering.
His counsel, Messrs. Brady and Staunton,
occupied chairs in front of the dock, and con-
ferred with him occasionally.
Mr.. Carlisle proceeded to argue against the
sdmissibility of the wife's confession. He pre-
| sumed that the Judge had already consulted
the authorities, and had made up his mind on
this point, but still he would not have dis
charged his duty fully did he not oppose the
offer.
Mr.. Carlisle, in closing his argument, said
that there were two classes of the community
in whom he submitted it would have no such
effect. One class, said he, is that Of the body
of lowly and humble men, who, with fear and
trembling, walk after the footsteps of their as
cended Lord; who have listened to the precepts
of the blessed Gospel, and who, with all the
infrmities of human nature about them, with
prayer and watching, seek, at least, to walk in
the path which the Gospel has marked out for
them.
In the vigils of the night the smitten hear
of the good man hears that ''still small voice
in his atfliction. His first movement is to &c
. into the secrecy of his closet, and on his kneei
pour out his heart to Him who only can binG
up the broken heart.
Insanity? Why, sir, rather is it the bright
ening of the mind, the quickening of the sigh
which pierces through all the gloomy shadow
. of this world. He sees the reward of the goot
y man, the comfort of the afflicted man waiting
o for him that is one class.
= There is yet another class safe, quite safe
i from insanity. From such blow as that, i
9 the confirmed adulterer, the shameless profit
y gate, excluded.
t The Court here took few minutes recess.
}. After recess the Judge delivered his decision
: The Judge has ruled that the statement @
Mrs. Sickles is not evidence, as it would vic
late the well-established principles and rules.
Exception was taken by the defense, and tn
testimony for the defense was resumed.
y Miss G. M. Ridgeley was called and testi6e
I as follows:
have known Mr.. and Mrs. Sickles wei
since January last; l have often visited Mrs
a Sickles at her house; there at her reception
If every Tuesday, and was very intimate with heI
| was there on the Saturday preceding tn
IS death of Mr. Key; Mr.. Sickles came hom
+ about half past five o'clock, the dinner hour
IS but did not eat any thing. I had noticed
:, change in his manner since the hop that wa
e given at Wizards on the previous Thursda.
evening; l was at the hop; SAW Mr.. Ke.
!. there.
" He conversed for time with Mrs. Sickles il
the early part of the evening; noticed a grea
change in Mr.. Sickles' manner on Friday an
Saturday--he had wild, distracted look; MI
Sickles' manner had the most marked appear
|. ance on Saturday; after eating dinner, l rea
l5 for a time, and then went to Mrs. Sickles' bed
= room; she was writing, and Mr.. Sickles wa
n walking violently up and down the room, evi
70 IDENTIFY very much excited; she asked me
n sign the paper she had written, which l did
% at night went into Mrs. Sickles' room by my
y: self; found her lying on the floor, with he
I. head resting on chair; next saw Mr.. Sickle
J. on Sunday; have no words that can expre
ttss the grief that he exhibted; his sobbing coul
n be heard all over the house; the sounds were
fearful and unearthly character, and SCENE
y as if they might have come from his very foe
W last saw him on Sunday, before the killing
A. Mr.. Key; he was lying on the bed and groanir
p, awfully; Mr. Butterworth was with him.
10 Bridget Duffy was recalled, and testified
y seeing Key waving his handkerchief Opposi
ry Sickles' house. E..
"a e Mr.. W. Mann also testified to the san
IN thing. Adjourned.
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