The Nevada Democrat., 1859-03-30
Tragedy In Washington city.

| Tragedy I'm Washington CITY,
A terrible tragedy occurred in Washingt on
city, on Sunday morning, Feb. 9th. Daniel E.
Sickles, member Of Congress from New York
city, having become satisfied that q criminal
intimacy existed between his wife and one
Phillip Barton Key, the U. S. Attorney for the
District Of Columbia, promptly avenged bis
wrongs. From the letters of Washington cor
respondents, we make up the following partic-
uIars of the affair
On Friday, Mr.. Sickles received an anony-
nous letter, stating with precision so minute as
TO make suspicion imperative, that Mr.. Key had
rented house on Fifteenth street, above K
street, from a negro woman, and that he was
in the habit of meeting Mrs. Sickles there, two
or three times week or oftener. The person
and dress of Mrs. Sickles was accurately de-
scribed and the usual time Of the interview
specified. Accompanied by friend Mr.. Sckles
went to the house design ated, and found every
statement Of the writer corroborated. Mr.. Key
had taken the house, and he had constantly
met there o lady resembling very closely in
description Mrs. Sickles. Mr.. S:ckles still clung
to che hope that the person who had stopped to
the business of making such charges under the
vail of secrecy might have thoroughly deceived
him. and that Mrs. Sickles was not the lady in
question.
He accordingly requested bis friend. Mr.. Geo.
Woodbridge, Of New York, to watch the place
from the window Of house just opposite. On
Saturday no meeting took place, and the wo-
man in charge seems to have stated that none
had occurred since Wednesday.
On Saturday evening Mr.. Sickles resolved no
longer to play the spy and determined to con-
front his wife directly with his terrible suspi-
cions. At first Mrs. Sickles strongly denied
her guilt, but on her husband asking her wheth-
er on the Wednesday previous she had not en-
tered tie house on Fifteenth street in a certain
particular dress and concealed by hood, she
cried out
II am betrayed and lost" and swooned away.
On recovering her senses, she admitted her
guilt, and besought mercy and pardon.
Mr.. Sickes calmly said that he would not in
jure her, since be believed her the victim of a
scoundrel, but that he had right to full con-
fession.
Two ladies in the house were sent for as wit
nesses, and in their presence Mrs. Sickles made
full statement in writing, stating that her
connection with Mr.. Key had commenced in
April last, under Mr.. Sickles' own roof but
that Mr.. Key had since hired tae house in Ff-
teeDth street, in which they constantly met
| Mrs. Sickles' confession was made in the
midst of the bitterest contrition and misery.
Her husband simply asked her to give him
back her wedding ring, and desired her to
write to her mother to come and take her from
his house for ever.
Mrs. Sickles made no objections, admitting
the justice of her punishment in the most affect
ing language.
Once having quilted the presence of his wife,
Mr.. Sickles gave way to the most terrible emo
tion, and passed the night in a state bordering
on distractiOn-a feeling which was worked in
to madness this morning on seeing the cause of
his misery, Mr.. Key, with gay audacity pass
opposite the window of his wifc's room and
wave his handkerchef-the usual signal for as
signaion.
Asking Mr.. ButterwOrth, who was at his
house, to follow Key an1 engage him in con-
versatioE, so that he would not get out of sight
he rushed up stairs for his pistols, and quickly
following, found Butterworth and Key togeth-
er, at the corner of 10th street, when the trag-
edy took place.
On coming up, Sckles walked directly to
Key, and said, "You have dishonored my bed
and family, you scOundrel-prepare to die -
at the same time drawing his pistol. Almost
simultaneously Key placed his hand inside his
vest, and drawing what appeared to be pistol,
but what was really an opera-glass, said, "You
had better not shootp'
Sickles at once fired, Key at the same time
throwing his glass at him. This shot only
grazed Key, slightly raising the skin of his side,
and he Immediately lcaped behind o tree to
avoid another shot. Sickles followed, and Key,
ca tching his arm, endeavored to prevent him
from firing; but Sickles dsengaged himself, and
firing again, shot Key in the upper part of the
right thigh, close to the main artery.
Falling on his hip aud supporting himself
with his hand, he cried Murder! don't shoot ~
Sckles, still following, fred again with his pis
tol close to Key, the ball passing through hi,
body below the breast.
In the meantime, the report of the pistol, and
Keys cries, startled those in the neighborhood
Mr.. Thomas Martini clerk in the Treasury De
partment, who happened at the moment to be
leaving the Club. rushed back, and called "Key
is murdered' Mr.. Doyle, Mr.. Upshur and Mr.
Tidball. who were in the Club at the time. pro-
eeeded hastily to the spot, where they found
Sickles standing over the body Of Key. with hi
pistol presented at his head, and which he tried
twice to discharge, but which snapped botl
times-and Mr.. Butterworth standing by CON
posedly.
On Mr.. Doyle's touching Sickes on the shou
der, the latter ut once desisted, and turning
around, said, "Gentlemen, this man has dishon
ored my bed ~ Upon this, he took Butter
worths arm, and walking from the spot will
the most perfect self possession, proceeded t.
Attorney General Blacks and delivered him
self into custody.
Robert J. Walker, David Paul Brown ant
Clinton Ratclife had been employed to defen,
Sickles but his examination had not takeI
place at latest accounts.
|
DESPERATE SHOOTING AFFRAY. The Sal
Joaquin Republican gives the particulars of
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