New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-01
F,ou Tn, Pb,Iadeiphia Bulletin.

Ff0W Inc ihiddtJ1h bM'Il
session Of Congress without murder, or some
thing approaching IT, would be auamoly. The mur
der Of Philip Barton Key, L. s Attorney for the Di'.
tilct Of Columbia, by DANIEL T.. Sckles, Member Of
Congress from the Hid District of Newlork, occurs
lust in time TO sustain tie character Of the session
1859 which naIroely escaped from being blOdles-
one. The particulars OF the crime that startled the
metropolis IN the stu hours oi the sabbath are spread
before our readers today. Doubtless rumOr snf gOs-
sp have embelshed and colOred them. Bat the
story in its unadOncd state. Is of sin ana horror.
ddy Of obstruction for beauty and Accomplishments,
whO has Ott figured in the letters Of the ashng'on
Jsukipses, the wife of a prominent member OF Con
gress who IL one Of The msiu supporters OF the White
1ouse party lie detected by her husband in a cr nina
intimacy with government fonctionary, widower OF
etuTe age and the father Of daughters. The ioldred
husband meets his betrayer IN the street and ora" ne
6 pistol, shoots him down without warning. Inc hfst
shot Lot proving fatal lac fires Others al hts vcln Ia
spite OF hs entTeaes 10 be spared mt he Hes bloody
corpse the pavement. The tragedy occurs on sun
day in clear daJ bgh and within sight Of she Pfesl-
dert'e House.
1t is not fair 20 charge Washington with all
the vice and crime that are seen there. Adult
~ and murder not peculiar 10 tue National Seat
of Government. But the state OF socety there dnTing
the essiOns of Congress is such as 10 provoke to $40
and stimulate to CRIME. American hotel hte where
there is more of the privacy, the purity or The sa1cu
" of home is most Vivlcly seen a. washington lhe
Member of Congress who takes MA wife 70 Washing
ton and while he is engaged Tor hall the day at the
fession or at a caucus, OF among tie Departments
leaves her N bE puDlc mouse CIoNu'u WIN opNeu-
tuIers male ana male from all parts of the country
runs crest risk Of being dshcnoIed. The balls,
routes hops receptions DINERS, and general excite
meIts of Washington, brng women into contact with
many dangerous companions. The natural modesty
If the sex is soon off in such scenes and when
modesy begins TO fail virtue finds no lack ~ Tempt
ere. The wretched woman, whose fa IL sad to have
led to this last tragedy, was not at all pecular
instance Of sin 10 fashionable crces. Her singularity
consists 10 her having been detected Her penalty is
that her lover dead, her husband is murderer, aud
herself is disgrsCed. Hundreds of others, who have
done as she did, stl flourish 10 Washington, and
doubles IN other cities alec.
There is much allowance TO be made for the feelings
Of man outraged and wronged in hi. nearest and
dearest relation. But in spite Of past scquittals OF
muriereIs WHIP had been thus wroDged, Ne mus re-
gard the man who killed Philip Barton Key as
murderer. Adultery does rot justliy killing There
are laWs for the puI shmfnt Of all cTImes, AMI
there is public scom Tor aiuerers male sud female,
that is as severe Is any Punishment as terrible as the
fearful Scarlet Letter Of Hester Pryane. To these We
should Ike 20 refer al such cases as s Il there no
reasoning with Who has just learned the MANY
Of bic wife and the Of her partner IN guilt HIS
reve Dge waits not for laws il cousuts with no ilenis,
it asks for explanations The pistol or the dsgger
is the aiy vndioator, and with tins he destroys lpe
life If the man who hiss destroyed his wife and hls
own honor. uuhappy, Juries Of this country afe too
ready 10 excuse a crime, and the msny scquitss OF
men who have sain seduCers show that the crime Is
no LONGER regarded murder. Yet Il remains
u,rler on the statute books. The common practice
AZ Courts and uries sets the written Law q. d9nSnce
This lsuentable .tste Of things, but u Is true.
There csp be 10 DOUBT that Daniel t. Sckles has
committed murder But there Is last as little d5uol
that a Washington Jory Will acquii nlin'