The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-01
TgE WASHINGTON TRAGEny

OF New 4 city. from tne prominence OF the
parties concerned the greatest excitement was
created by the affair, and the streets in the vicinity
OF the club house. to which the body of the deceased
was taken, and of Mr.. Sickes' residence the
opposite side of Lafayette Square, was instantly
filled by throngs of people. Many of Mr. Keys
warm personal friends, who were on the ground,
seemed quite overcome by the affair." some exhibit
ing their feelings in passionate exclamatons of
Sickes.
From the testimony before the Coroner's Jurv.as
reported in the Star, the following extracts are
taken:
Joseph L. Dudrow, sworn.-I was WALKING on
the opposite side of the avenue; had got rather op
posite the corner and heard the report Of pistol
| turned round quick to where it come from
and saw this gentleman, now lying here Jump
aside and say something, but could not hear
what it was, after he jumped aside, Mr.. Sickles
raised his pistol to fire the second times they were
on this corner and | on the opposite side; after
after they tussled awhile they got in the street,
Mr.. Key followed him up apiece apparently
for the purpose of keeping Siekles from firing the
second time at him, but he (SickIes) got away
from him and fired at him the second time; before
he fired the second time Mr.. Kew exclaimed two
three times "don't shoot me-" they were
about fifteen feet apart when the second fire was
given; after he received the second fire, Mr.. Key
ran to tree and got behind it, when Mr.. Sickles
followed him up and fired the third shot; Mr. Kew
then fell, when Mr.. Sickes stepped on the pave
ment and put the muzze of the pistol to his fore
head and snapped the cap; the pistol looked like
Colts revolver; l saw no weapon in the hands of
Mr.. Key; did not see the position of the parties
prior to the first shot, after the attempt to fire the
fourth time, Mr. Sickles said something to him
what it was do not know-after which he was
led off by some friend, and went to the place
where he was subsequently arrested; he was ar
rested and taken from Judge Blacks residence on
street.
Richard II. Downer, sworn-I was standing on
Fifteenth street, and heard the pistol shot; ran
from Fifteenth to Sixteenth street, and heard
another shot; saw man run around the corner,
and after got to the corner | heard third shot,
L know Mr.. Key; when l got to the place Mr. Key
was down and apparently dead; Mr.. Sickles was
about turning away when l got there; he had a
Colts revolver in his hant; think he said 'is the
id rascal dead" he said something and | be-
lieve that that expression was made use of; never
knew Mr.. Sickes prior TO this; | saw no pistol in
the hands of Mr.. Key; picked pistol up from the
pavement, it is Derringer pistol, (the pistol was
here shown;) it was unloaded, and the cap was ex-
ploded; picked it up on the of Sixteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue, but do not know to
whom it belonged. [Note.-The Derrnger pistol
referred to had evidently been very recently fred
Rep.]
Samuel F. Bu,terworth, sworn.-T was present
when this firing took place; was standing at
Maynard's corner, talking to Mr.. Key, when Mr..
Sickles approached and called Mr.. Key by name;
1t was about o'clock in the day; Mr.. Key was
standing facing Mr.. Sickes when Mr.. Sickles
said, you scoundrel, you have dishouored me,''
or "my family" | do not know precisely which;
time: desire not to go into minute examination
at this time; state that Mr.. Sickles fired and Mr.
Key fell; Mr.. Key, simultaneously with the first
firing, drew something, which | supposed was
pistol and threw it at Mr.. Sckles-which after
wards picked up and found to be an opera-glass-
Mr.. Sickles fired three times; stood by the side of
Mr.. Key; Mr. Sickles did not put the pistol to Mr..
Keys forehead.
In answer to question as to whether he ex-
pected an attack would be made, the witness re-
fused to answer, stating that he had been summon
ed to attend at an examination on Monday.]
Edward Delafeld Jr., sworn.-I had lust left
Judge Carrofs, and was going to the avenue, and
whennear the small gate in front of the Presidents
House saw Mr. Sickles coming down this street;
saw Mr.. Key at the corner of Sixteenth street and
the avenue; he alone; when thev met l sup
| posed that they friends; they appeared so;
| there was person with Mr.. Sckles at the time;
| heard the report of pistol then Mr.. Key and Mr..
Sickles were in the middle of the street; the first
| shot appeared to have no effect upon Mr.. Key;
| Mr.. Key threw up his arms and begged that he
would not shoot; he also cried ''you murder me;''
| Mr. hey then got away from Mr.. Sckles and got
| behind tree; Mr.. Sickles followed him up,
and was aiming the pistol at him when Mr..
| Key caught his arm, attempting to prevent
! him from shooting, exclaming gain "don't shoot;'
Mr.. Sckles threw him off and fired a second time,
the ball taking effect in the groin; he fell his
knees and exclaimed 81 am murdered" Mr. Sickles
then took the pistol and pointed it at his heart or
in that direction touching with it his clohing, and
fired; Mr.. Key fell as if dead; Mr.. Sckles then
leupteu W IRE again, Out tne cap exploded; some
one then came from the Club House and caug hit
hold of Mr.. Sickes, when he again attempted to
| fire; he thrust this gentleman away and turned to
| Mr.. Key, who apparently dead, and presenting
the pistol to his heart fired again. the pistol touch
ing his clothing; he took the exploded cap off; Mr.
Key looked as if he then dead; Mr.. Sickles
then walked off with some one, when several people
up and took Mr.. Kew in the Club House; 7 saw
nothing in Mr.. Keys hands: he did nothing but
attempt to keep Mr.. Sickles from him; he appeared
as if taken by surprise.
Francis Doyle, sworn.-About two O'Clock to-day
was sitting in the back room of this building with
Mr. Tidbal and Mr.. Upshur Mr. Martin ran in
from the street and said that Dan Sickles was
shooting Mr.. Key; heard the report of the pistol
as left the passage; when L arrived at the front
door looked over to the avenue, and saw Mr.
| Sickles standing over Mr.. Key, who was living on
the sidewalk of this street. about ten or fifteen feet
! from the avenue; he then reclining on his ell
bow; ran up with several gentlemen; Mr. Sickps
was then pointing his pistol at Mr.. Keys head; his
| pistol snapped probably twice; Mr.. Kew was look
| ing up at Mr.. Sickles and exclaming 'sDon't
shoot" as soon as [ reached Mr.. Sickles, placed
my hand on his arm and begged him for Gods sake
| not TO shoot; almost simultaneously some other
| person placed his hand on him; Mr.. Sickles turned
around, apparently desisng in his efforts to shoot
| any more, and said, "He has dishonored me,' or
| "dehled my bed;" he may have said both; as soon
| as MIR. Sickles had made this remark Mr.. Butter
worth, who was then standing near stepped for
ward and joined Mr.. Sickes, and taking his arm,
the two passed up the street, arm in arm; knew
| them both.
| Mr.. Sickes was arrested at Judge Blacks resi-
dence. At the JAIL in reply to an expression of re-
gret at the occurrence, Mr. Sickles said that one
could regret the occurrence more than himself but
| that after learning what he had learned the course
| he had taken was the only one he could take and
! that Mr.. Key and himself could not both live in
| the same world.
| Mrs. Sckles is the daughter of an Italian music
master in New York city, named Badjao She
| was married when not more than sixteen, under
circumstances which subsequently commented
upon invdiously by the press In this city her ca
reer was that of an intensely fashionable soOurner.
Mrs. Sckles, in appearance, resembles Piccolomini
so closely as that one might easily mistake them
| for each other.
According to accounts emanating from the friends
| OF MIR. Sickles through the exertion of party
whom be devolved the duty of watching he learned
that Mrs. Sickles was in the habit of meeting the
deceased at small twostery frame house on Fif-
teenth-and- ahaf street, between and l., the pro-
perty of negro man named John Gray of whom
the deceased is alleged to have rented it, and where
ne Kept servant woman to attend to it; that
Thursday evening last woman dressed like Mrs
Sickles was seen by the watcher to 90 to and re-
main in the house for or two hours, and on
leaving 1T to go to the residence of Mr. Sckles and
tnat Saturday morning parties acting for Mr..
Sckles carried Mrs. Sickes' clothing to the neigh
borhood, where the articles were identified by fe-
males living near as baving been by the wo-
man who was in the habit of visiting that house.
According to the most reliable accounts we can
obtain, third party and friend was consulted by
Sckles some days ago to the course he had best
pursue, who advised him to do nothing until OBJ
tanning positive proof of the criminal connection
OF Mrs. Sickes and the deceased; that on the night
before last, Mr.. Sickles charged the woman with
the criminaity. with such specifications caused
her to faint. Yesterday, she induced to sign
or write paper purporting to be full acknowl-
edgment of her infidelity with the deceased. That
in 1t she admitted that the deceased and herself had
signals by which she could let him know whether
she could meet him, and explained those Signals
That shortly after she explained the signals, the de-
ceased came over from about the club house. where
he had been using lorgnette to see whether a
signal was out, into Lafayette square, and in sight
OF those in the house. he waved his handkerchief at
the house; that Mr. Butterworth left the house two
or three minutes before Sickles, and went over to
where, according to his testimony, he (B.,) was en-
gagged in conversation with the deceased when Mr..
Slckles came up from another direction and COM
menced firing at him-Butterwnrth, according to
the testimony of one of the witnesses, standing lean
ing his arm against the fence of Mr. Maynards yard,
and not interfering to prevent the homicide.
A meeting of the Washington Bar was held YES
terday in the Circuit Court room. Mr.. Carlisle
announced the death of Mr.. Key, and said that in
doing so, all that good, all that attractive
IN his character came forcibly before him. that
he could not do justice TO the subject. To all who
had ever been associated with the deceased, his
teous. In that aspect all present had known him;
in that aspect all present desired to cherish his
memory.
Chief Justice Dunlop spoke of the deceased in
terms of affection and respect.
resolution, expressing regret, of the menbers
of the Bar was passed. and they resolved to attend
the funeral.