The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-08
THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT.

present
THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT.
WASHINGTON, April 7, 1859.
TIE trial commenced in today and the interest
IN it is becoming intensified As the doors
opened the filled with throug, pressing
crushing obtain glimpee Of the prisoner who ss
the barbarous looking lngement 10 which he s con-
by the usage Of this Court Though he sits through
out each days proceedings apparently calm aud un-
moved, yet when he gets back 70 his prison apart
he shows signs Of exhaustion and when alone which
is not often he is said TO be prey sorrowful reec
Not that he regrets the act for which he Is now
trial. No compunctious thought Of that visits his mind
but when he thinks upon his blighted home, and
the ruin that has been wrought by the vainy Of false
rend his habtua self possession gives way and nature
asserts her supremacy.
The Washington papers have published statement that
Mrs. Sckles is 10 this CITY, There is no truth what
the statement; the ladys father contradcs 1t in
The most positive manner He says that since she left
her home here she has been residing under his roof in
New York. under the protection Of her mother and hopes
that her viii not be wantony or unnecessarily
dragged before the public de and Mr. Sckles' father
main together in Court all the time.
The counsel for Mr. sckes complains that letters pass
ing between him and Mr.. Sickles have been tampered
with the Post Oce some Of them opened in transu,
and others not reaching their destination.
The Court opened at 1915 A. NJ.
After delay the Of the eleven jurors already
sworn were called and all answered.
The Judge-Aiter the jurors dismissed yesterday,
of the eleven up the bench and asked If he
"could say q word to men told him emo, not about
this case" However, he went to say, 81 answered
the question put me, but have been and
in the jury box, have been rejecting this thing
not quite satisfied with myself" On which said,
canD0t relieve you Turning round he went OF think
it right to mention this publicly, in counsel may
think proper to about it, so little impression did
the appearance make that recognize
him now, but he is one Of the eleven.
Mr.. Moore, the juror, standing up said:-I n,
pressed with tho respons bty taat restei felt
kind Of shrinking from the duty.
Judge--I hope you Warev ,sr-1--. -5-- sr-s-
Juror-It made me feel unpleasant, but this morning
say to the Court that feel perfectly satisfied In my
mind.
Judge-very well. am glad to hear it. It was the
duty Of the Court TO state this.
Juror-I am very glad have this privilege Of making
explanation.
Alpneus g. Wright, the twelfth juror, was then sworn
and took his seat the jury box when the twelve jurors
called and answered.
Clerk to the prisoner-Stand up, Daniel E. Sickles.
Mr.. sckles stood up in the box
Cerk-Daniel Z. Sickes, look on the jurors while the
indictment is being read.
The indictment was read, as follows
THE INDICTMENT.
District of Columbia, county of Washington, toa:-The
jurors OF the United states Tor The county Aforesaid their
Washington aforesaid gentleman having the fear OF Goa
oere LIS eyes Oeiag seduced
year OF Lord eighteen huuared anu typine
ipa s % I'm s oesse o. he Ssa
saes II. and ihsre De feloniously wlfuy and Of his
nauc sntfh fhaf ho
lsri-l n s'ckes pistol the value two dSars
a Ms nne ss, sss sc @ and one 1s4ss % % p &
hand nen ana ~ ere had and held then and 1e,e eonoas
hSO not Oft M to a., Against and the s rlp Basn KY
suspewder siOesad b SAID paI lsl sharsed
ana OF a malice % 1T oi strike penetrate aad sound
m Philip hey e BE- ew the tenth riS d
% Se sa % ss svns 2 n% s ss
IS ;ashaIsed and shot out Of the pistol
key little below the iS' rib Of sas
@ 1 Ess oos o s U n o % The depth OF
wound the said Philip Barton then ustsnty
@ he he pe 90
@ aSS sd Sy f o o
CID iii ana % ssans u, torn q the statute In such
Attorney for the United states
Cerk-Upon this indictment the prisoner has been ar.
raiRned, and on his arragnment has pleaded not guilty
represent, and this indictment you are 10 try.
District Attorney Oud opened the for the prosecu-
ton by making eloquent and effective statement Of the
circumstances Of the affair amid the breathess atten-
tion Of the Judge, jurors and audience. He said
STATEMENT OF THE CASE FOR THE PROSECUTION.
May IL please your Honor and Gentlemen Of the
Jury-The Indictment just read to you charges Daniel
E. s'ckleo, the prisoner at the bar, with tho wiifu
murder OF Philip Barton Key. shall relate to you,
as briefly as can, the chief incidents connected with
this tragedy, 30 far as the evidence will disclose Tie
parties are doubtless well known to you already, Mt
least by reputation one being representative in the
Congress Of the United States from the great commercial
metropolis Of the Unon and the other having long ana
honoraby nled the post Of public prosecutor In this Dis
uc Perhaps some OF you have seen how be discharged
the duties which have fallen 10 my lot The place where
the crime, charged in the Indictment was committed
was in the city Of Washington, the tmo the 9th of Feb
rusry last. Itvas the sabbath--a day which for NOR
than eighteen hundred years been SGT apart in com
memoraton Of the Divine mission which brought
'Peacc earth and good viii to man.n-
In the soft gush OF that Sabbath sunlight at an hour
between the morning and evening Christian sacrifice
at the time almost when the sound of tho church bell
was lingering in the ar-tho deceased all upconscious
Of the tremendous which then stood suspended ovor
his house, met the prisoner at the bar in a public
thoroughfare Of this city He must have seen from the
attitude and movements and other evidences Of delibe-
rate intent which rounded into completeness the scene
Of the hour that the prisoner at the bar contemplated
some bloody deed Unarmed and defencecss deceased
was he used the poor and feeble In his power to
rave bis life. How Intellectual they wcre even in the
delaying Of the terrible fate the evidence in the case
will show The prisoner at the bar had come 10 the
carnival OF blood fully prepared. He was walking
magazine He was not only provided with numoor
OF firearms, but had taken to supply himself
with different varieties each possessed peculiar
excellence for the mnrocrous work. Hc is n Moe and
close cacuaor,who the contingency 70 anticipated
collision might call to bis aii both bcrrngsr ard re.