The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-10
The Key-Sickles Affair
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
STATEMENT OF Mr.. BUTTERWORTH.
Correspondence sf the New York Times.

Noffop"ouehco ~ "e WV t"k
WASHINGTON, Sunday, Feb. 77-P.M.
The vulgar monotony Of partisan passions
and political squabbles has been terribly
broken in upon today by an outbunt Of
personal revenge, which has filed the city
with horror and CONSERVATION cannot,
unfortunately, add, with absolute surprise.
At ga o'clock to-day, Mr.. Philip Bar.
ton Key, the United States Attorney for
the District OF Columbia, was talking with
Mr.. Butterworth, Of New York, at the
corner OF Pennsylvania Avenue and Six
teenth street, near the south entrance to the
Executive Mansion, and some twenty yards
from the Club house on Presidents square,
when he was accosted by the Hon. Daniel
Il. Sickles, Of New York. Mr.. Sickles
charged Mr.. Key with destroying the honor
Of his wife and his own happiness, and,
drawing a revolver, instantly shot him
down. One ball, entering in at the left side,
passed completely through the body Of Mr..
Key a second was lodged 10 his thigh, and
third, glancing, inflicted slight bruise.
Mr.. Key fell, imploring Mr. Sickles not to
kill him, and died in very few minutes.
For months past the social world Of
Washington, always as quick to relish the
details OF private scandal as il is lax in its
judgments Of those y whom such scandal
may he caused, has been busy with the
names Of Mrs. SickIes and OF Mr. Key.
Their intimacy was Of that marked and pc
culiar kind which may perfectly well consist
in the innocence Of any absolute guit-since
while it wss open to public observation, il
was hardly concealed from Mr.. Sickles him.
self, who, having married bis wife, Miss
Bagioli, OF New York, in her early youth,
had always treated her with extreme kind
ness and tenderness, and doubtless looked
upon her relations with Mr.. Key o. the
mere expression Of girlish love Of adrnira-
ton, and Of q vanity deighting 10 the sense
Of power ovy q man Of fine presence, grace
ful address, and a certain local renOwn in
the District, for high spirit, resolution and
gallanty.
During the whole Of the last session OF
Congress the tall figure of Mr.. Key was COZ
stsnuy TO be seen 10 Presidents square, op-
posite Mr.. Sick.es' Washington residence
and Mrs~Sickles Was "a constantly In his
company at all places Of public entertain
ment 10 the interval Of the Congressional
recess, Mr.. Key made short visit to New
York, still without exciting any absolute
suspicion Of positive impropriety in the
mind Of Mr.. Sickls; although other friends
OF tbe unhappy lady, and among then ber
mother. repeatedly warned her o! the fatal
precipioe, on the brink of which she was
permitting herself TO trife IL was hoped
that the affair would come TO an end Of it
sslt and that one or both Of the parties
most nearly implicated, would perceive the
real driit Of their coodact in time 10 avoid
ia almost inevitable eo1sequeDo,s.
Bot on the reassembling Of Congress, and
the return OF Mr.. SickIes 10 Washington.
Mr.. Keys attentions, and the SCANDAL con.
seqaent upon them we're revived With great
er Ar'ios than before. Mr. hey wa a Pc
euliarly noticeable man IN pom, Of personal
APPEARANCE tall, well.fofmed, much more
athletic man than Mr. -ickies and especially
fond of exercise % b~shaek lie rode an
iron grry borSe ard scarcely . day la.
passed since tbc return Of Mr.. -leklss to
The capita, co which bis tall hygr', has
white riding cap, vel trimmed rsouriAche
and Hos grey bor~ nigh, no, have b~en