Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-04-15
Tn. sickIes Trial.

prove and why he looked for verdict against the prison
er. He expected to show that several shots were
fred by Sicklcs at intervals of time between them
that the circumstances we're such to prove not hasty
nassion but deliberate resove-not the excitement OF
temporary insanity, but of premedhated revenge MIR.
OuId spoke fory-yc inmates The counsel for the de-
fence waived their privilege OF opening until after the
evidence for the prosecution had closed
The witnesses for the prosecution, thlrty-one IN num-
her, were then called eighteen of whom answered to
their names as follows:
DIR. Coolidge. Dr. Stone Richard n Downer, Fran
els Dovle Thomas E. Martin, P. Y. r. Van Wyck.
Joseph Dudrow Abel Upshur, Edward NJ Tidball, Z.
McCormicK, John NJ. Seely Jr, Jonah D. Hoover, r.
7. Dillon. of New York, Thomas Woodward, Reuben
Worthngton, James n. Reed, Henry Hepburn.
The following thirteen failed to answer to their names:
Eugene B. Pendeton, Hon. Richard Brodhead OF
Pa, Hon. Geo. Enstis, Daniel Dougherty OF Pa, Bar
ry Hayes, of Pa, Ed. G. West, of n. Y, Hon. Hiram
Walbridge, of n. Y, E. W. Cone, of n: Y Welcome
Reebe of n Y. G. K. Aburtus, of n. Y, Hon. j. b.
Haskin, of n. Y, Ambrose G. Kingsland, of n ~
and JAMES Pumphrey of Washington City.
EVIDENCE OF j. H. REED.-James IL. Reed was the
first witness placed upon the stand present at
death of Mr. Key. AS he was passing up that part OF
PENNSYLVANIA avenue near Madison PLACE heard loud
talking Ills eye fell upon two gentlemen near Gun
ners house They were from four to SIX feet apart
and soon one Of the raised his arm gradually and
steadily and witness pistol. At first 1t appeared
to have direct aim at the of the house, but in
an instant witness saw it aimed at the other man,
who was trying to avoid the aim. He hred and the
parties moved forward twenty feet. When they
got twenty feet from the first position the man shot and
retreaed, the other following him, and the former run
ming round tree crying murder, murder, Z" muir
dern and don't shoot me-. The with the pistol
then snapped the pistol and it did not 60 OIL When IN
the middle OF the street the fired the second time
Just before the second fire. witness saw the man shot at
throw something at the man with the pistol which pass
ed through the air slowly and hit the with the PTS
toll falling at his feet. Just at that moment the second
shot was fired he shot at cried something, which
witness did not distinctly hear but the words shoot
me-" or something like it occurred The third shot was
then fired, and the man shot at twisted round on the
pavement and FELL The other then went up to him and
snapped several times within two or three lce' OF his
head.
After the first shot the man with pistol went back,
some twenty feet followed by the other Then the man
shot at ctrcac and got behind the tree where the 9th
er followed him, Swapping his pistol The Court here
allowed the jury TO take Il recess, Mr.. Key left the
tree after the second shot gathering himself up and ex
claiming be was shot. lis face then toward the
pavement. After deceased reached the patcnent the
third shot WAS fired. Witness was on the south side OF
the avenue, 80 TT So PAGES from the parties Mr. hey
fell about - cct from the lamppost.
I CroSS-eIdmiHed.- Witness dealt III coal and wood
Had seen Mr. Key before Did not recognise either CT
the gentlemen, however After first shot saw parties
.
loud talking which first attracted his attention. Key
! did not touch Scles. The thing thrown by Key came
slowly and passed at right ang lcs from where witness
stood The second shot simultaneous with the throw
ing. The ilS parties who approached after key lell
were those WHO bore his body away. Key and SckCs
were at no time nearer together than four feet. Key
| fell on his elbow
". r. Van Wyck Edward pclaicld, ,r.. Joseph
Dudrow, Richard n. Downcr C. ". Mccormick, L.
E. Martin Francis Doyle, Abel Up~lur Edward NJ.
Tidba were examined on Thursday.
| Van Wyck's testimony adds little to that Of Reed
Heard three pistol shots but not in very rapid success
sion. They all might have occupied about two minutes
EVIDENCE OF EDWARD DELAFIELD, JR.~Edward
Delaed testified that about two o'clock he going
west, on the south side OF the avenue. Saw Daniel
Sickcs coming down Sixteenth street, the cast side
he spoke TO man the corner. Heard pistol re-
port, and Key cxclaming liont shoot me, don't muir
der me- Key then came up to Sicklcs and took him
by inc hand thinks the right hand and Slckies threw
| him off, and fired again Then persons ran up from
| Clubhouse. A man placed his hand Sickles. and
Sckles threw him off and fired again, placing his pistol
at Keys breast. People then came and bore Key OFT,
and Sickles went up Madison place with another man.
Joseph Dudrows testimony differs little from that OF
the preceding witnesses Richard n. DoWner says that
when Key had fallen Sickles asked, rs the damned
scoundrel dead us the damned rascal dead?' T. E..
Martins testimony had nothing additional. save that
Sickes said, when swapping his pistol at Keys head,
" He has violated my he'd
Doyle, UpsLur and 1idball mainly confirmed what
had been testified by the balance of the witnesses
1t will be seen by our DESPATCH that the testimony
for the prosecution closed yesterday.
On Friday the fifth day the examination of tue witness
es for the prosecution continued. Thomas Wood
ward, Coroner, Eugene Pendeton, DR.. Coolidge, Dr.
Stone and Oh, rles Wnder being sworn and Reed and
Van Wyck recalled.
The Coroner's evidence simply states how he lourd
the body of Key at the Clubhouse, what was in the
pockets etc, the only matter of any apparent impor
lance being the TACT that there were 10 weapons found
upon the body.
The evidence Of Pendleton presents little nothing
new He saw and details the facts of the shooting of
Key pretty much as the other witnesses has done.
Dr. Coolidge testfies to having made an examination
Of the body of Key at the Clubhouse the Sunday Of
the shooting DR.. Coolidge describes the different
wounds One, which he says mortal was made by
ball entering the left side between the tenth and eleventh
ribs breaking the eleventh rib cutting the under edge
of the spleen, making deep groove through the upper
end Of the kidney, and entering the large lobe of the
liver within half inch from the great vein of the liy
er. 1t then went through the diaphram and passing
through broke the eighth rib the right side and lodged
under the skin. Found that another ball had passed
through the right thigh just where the bullock joins it.
In answer question: Dr. Coolidge said that he thought
Mr.. Key must have been i'll semrecumbcnt position,
his right side with his shoulders higher than his birs
aLl inclined to>bc right whcr the fatal wound was
given.