The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-03-09

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Mr.. Sickles received from some enemy o
mankind an anonymous letter, stating with
precision so minute as TO make suspicion
imperative, that Mr.. Key had rented house
on Fifteenth street above X street, from &
negro woman, and that he was in the habi
of meeting Mrs. Sickes there two or three
times a week, or oftener. The person and
dress OF Mrs. Sickes were accurately de.
scribed, ard the usual time of the interview
| specified. Accompanied by friend, MIR.
Sickles vert 10 the house designated and
found every statement of the anonymous
writer corroborated. Mr. Key had taken The
house and he had constantly met there a
lady answ wering very closely in description
10 Mrs. Slckles.
Mr.. Sickles still clung TO the hope that the
person who had stopped 10 the baseness OF
making such charges under the veil of se-
cresy might have thoroughly deceived him,
and that Mrs. Sickles was not the lady in
question. He accordingly requested his
friend MIR George Woodbridge, of New York,
to watch the place from the window o. a
house just opposite.
On Saturday, no meeting took place, and
the woman in charge seems 10 have stated
that none had entered since Wednesday.
On Saturday evening, Mr.. Sickels, resolv-
ed no longer to play the spy upon his honor,
determined TO confront his wife directly with
his terrible suspicious. AT first Mrs Sickles
strongly denied her guilt but on her hus-
dands asking her whether, on Wednesday
previous, she hand not entered the house
on Fifteenth street, in a certain particular
dress, and concealed by hood, she cried
out ~ am betrayed and ioSti' and swooned
away. On recovering her senses, she adj
mitted hei guilt and besought mercy and
pardon. Mr. Sickles calmly said he would
not iniure her, since he believed her 10 be
the victim of a scoundrel, but that he had a
right 20 full confession. Two ladies in the
house were sent for as witnesses, and in
their presence, Mrs Sickles nude a full con-
fession in 'vriting, stating that her connection
with Mr.. Key had commenced in April last
under Mr.. Sickles' roof, but that Mr.. Key
had since hired the house in Fifteenth street,
in which they had constantly met. Mrs.
Sickles' confession was made in the midst
of the biterest contrtion and misery
Her husband simply asked her 10 give him
back her wedding ring, and desired her 10
write 10 her mother TO come and take her
from his house forever. Mrs. Sickles made
no objections, admitting the justice Of her
punishment in the most affecting LANGUAGE.
Her mother will arrive 20 morrow TO remove
her from The fearful scene of guilt, remorse
and blood.
Once having quilted the presence of his
wife, MIR. Sickles gave away to the most
terrible emotion, and passed the night in a
state bordering on distraction-a feeling
which was worked into madness this morn
ing on seeing the cause of his misery, Mr..
Key, with gay audacily pass opposite the
window of his wife's room and waved his
handkerchief-th usual signal for assigna-
| tion.
Asking MIR. Butterworth, who was al his
house, TO follow Key and engage him in
conversation so that he would not get out oi
sight, he rushed up stairs for his pistols, and
quickly following, found Butterwonh and
Key together, at the corner OF Sixteenth
street, when thetragedy took place.
On coming up, SickIes walked directly to
r.. a,,I ,,;J lINou b.,pa Il l;eb ~ Z,
bed and my family, you scoundrel-prepare
| 10 die pat the same time drawing his pis'
tol. Almost simultaneously Key placed his
hand inside his vest and drawing what ap
peared 10 be a pistol, but what was really
an opera.glass, said, "You had better no
| shootm
Sickles at once fired, Key at the same time
throwing his glass at him. This shot only
grazed Key, slightly raising the skin of hi:
side, and he Immediately leaped behind {
tree TO avoid another shot. Sickes follow
ed, and Key, catching his arm, endeavorec
10 prevent him from firing, but Sickles dis
engaged himself and firing again, shot Key
in the upper part of the right thigh, close
to the main artery.
Falling on his hip, and supporting him
self with his hand, he cried. "Murder! dom
shoot !" Sickles still following, firing again
with his pistol close to Key, the ball pass
ing through the body below the breast.
In the meantime the report of the pisto
and Keys cries startled those in the neigh
borhood. MIR. Thomas Martin, clerk il
the Treasury Department, who happened
at the moment 10 be leaving the Club, rush
ed back, and calling out. "Key is murdered!'
MIR. Doyle, Mr.. Upshur and Mr. Tidball, witt
were in the Club at the time, proceeded
hastily TO the spot, when they found Sickle
standing over the body of Key, with hi
pistol presented at his head, and which h
tried twice TO discharge, but which snappe
both times-and Mr.. Butterworth siandin
by composedly.
On Mr.. Doyle's touching Sickles on tn
shoulder, the latter at once desisted, an
turning around, said "Gentlemen, this mar
has dishonored my bed p Upon this h
took Bu,terworth's arm, and walking lror
the spot with the most perfect self-posse'
} sion, proceeded TO Attorney General Black
and delivered himself into custody.
On Mr.. Sickles' leaving, Messrs. Doyle