The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-21
\ DISTINGUISHED WITNESS.

1t is impossible to give in weekly newspa-
per the whole of the proceedings in the trial of
Mr.. Sickles, and, indeed we have no disposition
to fill our columns with such matter. But
some of the evidence is quite interesting and
our readers will be pleased to read the testi
.mony of so distinguished witness as Governor
r. j. Walker. He was examined on Tuesday,
of last week
TESTIMONY OF R. J. WALKER Z
Robert J. Walker examined. have resided
in this District many years | was in the city
on Sunday the 9th Of February had known
Mr.. Sickles several years, but had not seen him
for six or eight months prior to that date it
was either three or twenty minutes after three
o'clock / saw him in his own house on the
afternoon of that day, in the back room of the
first story as he came in, his manner appeared
excited !; there was something strange and un.
usual about it; his voice was somewhat differ
ent from the manner in which / had usually
heard him speak he advanced and took me
by the hand | think he then said a thousand
thanks for coming to see me under these cir
cumstances; he had scarcely repeated these
words, when l saw great change in his APP
pearance; he became very much convulsed in.
deed he threw himself upon the sofa and
covered his face with his hands; he then broke
into an agony of unnatural and unearthly
sounds, the most remarkable | ever heard
something like a scream interrupted by violent
sobbing. From his cOnvulsed appearance, he
was in the act of writhing. His condition APP
peared to me very frightful, appalling me so
much that | thought that if it lasted much
longer he must become insane. He was in
dulging in EXPLANATIONS about dishonor having
been brought on his house, his wife, and child.
He seemed particularly to dwell on the disgrace
brought upon his child Should think this con-
tinued ten minutes; endeavored to pacify him.
l turned from him to go for physician myself
but he seemed to stop little these violent ex-
carnations, and finally they broke down. The
spasms became more violent till they ceased.
| think must have been there something over
half an hour l accom- panied him from there
to Jail. Mayor Berret, Capt. Goddard, and
perhaps Mr.. Butterworth, were there. | was
still alarmed at his condition, not knowing
when the commissions would recur. | believe
/ drove with him in Dr. OWNS carriage, with
whom game to Mr.. Sickles's.
CROSS EXAMINATION.
At first, do not think any person was present
but Mr. Butterworth | was very much excited
myself but | will not be certain; think Mr.
Butterworth aud Goddard came in when these
terrible commissions occurred, | think no one was
present but Butterworth besides myself; | re-
NAMED talking with Butterworth four or five
minutes, when Sickles came alone and stayed
with us some little time; was from variety of
causes, much excited l never was more so
than on that occasion when the commissions
came on, thought would 60 for physician
THE PRISONERS EMOTION.
A this point, Mr.. Stanton, who was near the
prisoner, asked that the cross-examination be
discontinued for the present, in order that the
accused might retire for few moments. Mr.
Sckles, during the statement of this witness,
was violently affected, breaking out into sobs
and profusely shedding tears. E. B. Hart and
senior, together with others, accompanied him
from the court.
The witness particularly, and many of the
spectators were moved to tears. The scene
was one of deep interest, In some few minutes
Mr.. Sickles was brought back into court, his
countenance still indicating extreme mental
suffering, and the desolateness of his whole APP
pearance awakening strong sympathy in the
breasts of all who saw him. His father was
much affected by his condition.
CROSS EXAMINATION RESUMED.
The crosS-examination of Mr.. Walker was
resumed by the District Attorney | do not
know who sent for Goddard, the Chief of Police :;
my impression was that it was Sickles, or some
of his friends after time, Sickles became
calnner, but did not resume his natural appear
ance; he Quilted sobbing and crying for some
time.
To Mr.. Carlisle Could compare Sickles's con-
dition to nothing but an agony of despair; it
was the most terrible thing l ever saw in my
life he was in state of frenzy at the time,
and / feared if it continued be would become
permanently insane his screams were of the
most frightful character, they were unearthly
and appalling, and were interrupted by some
thing between a sob and moan ; sometimes
he would start and scream in very high KEY ::
he appeared in state of perfect frenzy.
Ques. What do you mean by that Do you
mean passion Of grief?
Ans. 1t was much stronger than grief: it
exhibited more alarming symptoms than any
grief had ever witnessed before; had seen
a man a long time ago, under similar circum-
stances, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but his
grief was not so strong as this. Mr.. Sickles's
EXPLANATIONS of grief were more about his
child than anything else. l remained there
for about half an hour; had moved to the door
to go for physician, but there was some ces-
sation in these paroxysms, and did not 60 ;
he gradually grew calmer. My impression is,
magistrate.
Dues. Do YOU recollect that Sickles grew
calm, and said he was ready to go with the
magistrate?
Ans. do; when say calm, l mean COM
paratively calm. / went with him to the jail,
because | feared recurrence of his paroxysms
of grief and despair; | remained at the jail
from one to two hours no physicians saw him
during that time, to my knowledge; there were
few persons at the jail; none but the magis-
trate, Mr.. Goddard, Mr.. Butterworth, and one
or two others it could not have been more
than four or five minutes between those parox
ysms and the coming i'll of the magistrate; the
first part of this scene was witnessed only by
Butterworth and myself.
DIRECT TESTIMONY OF WALKER, CONTINUED.
The first part of this scene was witnessed
only by Butterworth and myself / never was
so much excited as / was on that occasion
Should think that about ten minutes trans
pired, during which Butterworth, Sickles, and
myself, were in the room together. / first went
into the front room, and afterwards into the
back room. There were several persons in the
front room, but could not name one of them.
The rooms communicated by folding doors,
and l think they were closed. / went through
these doors into the back room. The persons
in The front room could not witness this scene
as the doors were closed, at least during part
of the time. My impression is, that the next
person l saw in the back room was Mr.. Berret,
the Mayor.
Dues. Where is Mr.. Butterworth now?
Aus. / do not know.
Ques. When did you see him last?
Ans. Some day towards the close of last week.
Ques In this city?
Ans. Yes.
THE MIsERIEs OF GREATNEss.-No condition
of life seems to be exempt from its peculiar ills.