The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-21
THE SICKLES TRIAL.

WIN ACoiOCo III " WIN M hASNASAI
was an intimate friend of Mrs. Sickles, and
spent much of her time at the house, before
and after the killing of Key. Her testimony,
like that of Governor Walker, which we else
where publish in full, goes to show the extreme
anguish of mind of Mr.. .Sickles. Bridget Duffy,
who lived in Mr.. Sickless house as nurse and
lady's maid, testified, as did Miss Ridgely, that
Mr. Sickles spent the Saturday night before
the homicide in extreme anguish, weeping and
sobbing aloud. The witness also testified that
she saw Key twirling his handkerchief in pc
culiar manner opposite the house on the day Of
his death.
William W. Mann of Buffalo, New York, met
Key in Lafayette square, near the jackson
statue, the same mOrning-spOke to him-ob-
served him twirl his handkerchief A gentle
man with him called his attention to it.
George B. Woodbridge was an assistant to
the Clerk of the House Representatives. Saw
Mr.. Sickles at the Capitol on Saturday, in great
agony of mind. On Sunday, the day of the
homicide, was at Mr. Sickless house. The tes-
timony of this witness is interesting:
Ques. Did you see Mr.. Key that Sunday2
Ans. / did twice.
Ques. Where aud when?
Ans. First between ten and eleven o'clock,
going out of the gate Of Lafayette square, on
the corner Of Seventeenth street and Peunsyl-
vania avenue, near the War Office, ON the
street Mr.. Sickles's house was in
Qaes. In what direction did he go?
Ans. He crossed the street and went up the
avenue, presume; | did not observe in what d.
rection he turned his glance; the second time
l saw him was about quarter to two O'Clock,
directly in front of the library window in Mr..
Sickles's house there was lady and gentle
man with him then ; he was on the side toward
the curbstone; the lady was next the railing
the three were in direct line Mr.. Sickles was
up stairs at that time he had left the library,
and gone up stairs.
Ques. Did you observe Mr.. Key do anything
while passing?
Ans. | saw him take his handkerchief out of
his pocket and wave it three times while do
ing so, his eyes where toward the upper window
of Mr.. Sickles's house; he kept his ewes from
the gentleman, if he did not wish him to see
what he was doing; he parted with the lady
and gentleman at the corner, entered the park,
and proceeded in the direction of Madison
Place; some five minutes before that, Mr.
Slckles had gone up stairs; saw him enter the
library door two minutes after; heard some one
coming down stairs very rapidly, and come
into the library he said "The villain has lust
passed my house."
District AttorHey. Do not state what he said.
Mr. Brady. What did he do?
Witness. He was very excited he talked for
a moment with Mr.. Butterworth, who endeav-
ored to calm him; he appeared to resist these
attempts to calm him, and threw Mr.. Butter
worth off, and turned into the hall he had not
his hat on at that time.
This is the last | saw of him till he came into
the house with the officers
5. s. Parker SacOrH. | have seen Mr.. Kew in
the vicinity of Mr. Sickles's house; the last
time was on the Sunday he was killed, near
half past ten o'clock he passed me near Fif-
teenth street and Pennsylvania avenue, above
Wizards; l slowly passed up Fifteenth street;
he walked very rapidly; when near Nairn's
drug store, he was entering the middle gate of
Lafayette square | lost sight of him as he en-
tered the square; | saw him the Sunday before
the shooting | saw Mrs. Sickles on the plat
form of her residence, her hand over the
shoulder of a little girl, apparently trying to
keep her from falling from the steps; directly
after, saw Mr.. Key at the southwest gate Of
Lafayette square when he came out in full
view, be took out his handkerchief, with his hat
in hand put his hat on his head, bowling to
Mrs. s., and twice waved his handkerchief
Thomas J. BTOlcH, examined 6y NJ. Brddy.
| reside in the city of New York; in pursuance
to instructions from you, Mr.. Brady,) | OBJ
tanned certain lock.
Mr.. Brady hands the witness sealed pack
age, breaks the seal, opens the package, and
produces a common door lock. From whom
did you procure that lock
Mr.. Carlisle did not see the point of examin-
alton.
Mr.. Brady simply wanted to identify an article
which he would offer in evidence hereafter.
The witness identified the lock, and saws he
procured it from Mr. Wagner, Pennsylvania
avenue, opposite the Treasury Department,
who took it from the door No. 383 Fifteenth
street.
Not cross-examined.
Jacob WdgneT, examined 6y NJ, Brady
reside in Washington | am a locksmith
delivered this lock to Mr.. Brown, the last wit
ness took it off the house in Fifteenth street,
No. 1888; John Gray, the colored mans house ;
there were three or four gentlemen there when
took 1t off Mr.. Pendleton was one of them !;
saw him IN the court yesterday; l believe he
was a member Of Congress the colOred boy
came for me this vas about week after Mr..
Keys death have seen some of the gentlemen
In court who were present the colored man
paid me for taking it off.
Ques. What was said on that occasion
Objected to.
Mr.. Stanton proposed to show than the leck
was taken off for the purpose of destroying
evidence.
Mr.. Ould. If that was the view, | have not
the slightest objection TO have the question put.
Mr.. Stanton wanted to know whether it was
the persons engaged in the prosecution who
tried to destroy the evidence There were two
prosecutors here, a public prosecutor and a
private prosecutor.
Mr.. Carlisle wanted to know whether Mr.
Stanton meant to be understood as intimating
that he (Mr. Carlisle) had any knowledge of
this attempt to destroy evidence.
NJ. Stanton. None in the world. God forbid
that should believe you would do it.
John CiWIer aoas s,co1n. Knew the late Mr..
Key for three or four years KNEW where Mr..
Sickles resided; saw Mr.. Key in the vicinity
of the house a week before his death.
AS ] entered the corner gate of Lafayette
square, saw Mr. Key enter the corner gate !;
proceeding to the front of the Jackson statue,
he took seat on an iron bench, rested his
head on his left hand, then pulled out his pocket
handkerchief and waved it / went behind the
statue and watched him; he waved his hand
kerehief this way, illustrating, and then look.
ed at the house of Mr.. Sickles. Laughter |
There was no dog about at the time; this was
between II and l o'clock; left him in the
square as went out of the northeast gate to 90
home left him sitting there when return
ed that way, he was gone; | have often seen
him lettering back and forth in the square for
two months, he had been attracting my atten-
ton; Inever saw him wavinghis handkerchief
but on one occasion.
By Mr., Stanton. Was that the hour when