The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-04-20
vious friendly relations she, ,.ld be re establish,

IONS friendly relations sho tld he re estabiish-l
ID M
The appearance of tie Hon.. Rohert j. d,
w alker created much interest, and his svieIy
touching description of the appalling condi-i :
ton of Sickies, when he saw him after the ale
fair of The 9th, resulted in scenes OF almost
similar agony. Mr. Walker was deeply NOV
ed, and bis appearance added sadly impress
sive power 10 the recital of his sad perienee
of the memo able day. as be described the un
earthly screams, iniermingled wi,h the mostl
painful sohs he ever heard and exclama ions
on the dishonor of his daughter. whirE ma. o.
him fear that Sickies was becoming insane;
and precisely at quarter past twelve MIR
Stanton begged tho court permission FOR Mr..
S:ckies to reti'e. 1t was granted, aud the ris.
ing of Mr. Sickles in the dock preSen, ed a most
beart-rendiug scene. The dreadful facts of the
scene being SO visidly recailed,Nir iris feeliags,E
when the first desolation of house and family,
the loss of wife, and the di-gra.e of his innc !
cen, little daughter fell upon biln-,he deed
done that prOrlaimed it TO the world and all
tagnerieofyped in the first terror. as il were,
~ the hook aud speech of Governor Wake,
was too much for he prisoner. He passed
through The awful ordeal again. He p esent
ed an appearance that once hushed with ten
der feeling and excited with a manly sympa
thy, the whole auditory He was broken Into
tears and he sobs # uncon,rollahlA anguish
and contraction of his frame. too evidentl,
exhibited the symptoms of convui.ioa of
sorrow The effect vas marvellous, The wit.
IS. already deeply moved on seeing the eff
f ct on the prisoner. had to turn away.to hide
his emotion Several of the auditory buried
their heads in their hands, the eyes of several
of the lawyers, especially the friends of Mr..
sba ae., tl,
not less affecting than on Mr.. Walker Many
II do not publish their names) openly wept,
some applied their handkercbisfs fs to their ia.
ces, and all were sflicied. Mr.. SickIes was
helped partly carried ont by Isaac Bell Esq
of New York. accompanied by Hon Emann
el B. Hart, and followed by his father and 9th
ers. He had barely got into the ante room
and the dnor close upon him, when the con
vulsion evidently reached its height, and the
excited anxiety of the court room was kept
alive by the sobs which reached it from the
next. ...- ~ --...--.
1t was scene of deep, fliction, such as
probably no man in the assemblage had ever
witnessed, and which will never be eradcated
from the minds of those present. barely
,diraie it; ! could not describe it.. F7
The testimony of Bridget Duffy. next called
up, was of nature to keep up the sOrrowful
importance of the last. She was chamber
maid of the Sicklea, signed, witk Miss Ridge
", the confession of Mrs. Sickles. at The re
quest of the latter. aid was witness of the
growing torture of Mr.. Sickles during the
Saturday night and Sunday morning.. AS |
close this communication tie judge is perusihg
the confession, which has beeu offered by the
defence aud ojected to BY the prosecution.
Touch TONE,
TESTIMONY OF THE HON. ROBERT j. WALKER.
Robert j. W0ker. examined--I have re
sided in this District many years; was in the
city on Sunday the 9th of February; had
known Mr. S.ckvs several years, but mad not
seen him for six nr eight months prior 10 th.,t
date; it was either th,ee or twenty minutes
after ,hree O'Clock saw him in his own house
ON the afternoon of that day in the back room
of ihr Fl 8, story; as he came in his manner ap
peared exciIed; there was something strange
and unusual about it, bis voice was some what
different fr, m the manner 10 which had usu
ally heard him speak; be advanced and took
me by the hand; think lie then said "a thou.
sand thanks for cunning to see me under these
circumstances he had scarcely repeated these
word when ] saw a great change in his ap
pearance; he became very much eonvnlsed, in
deed; he threw himself Oh the sofa, covering
his face with his hands; he then broke into al
agonf of unnatural aud unearthly sounds, tht
most remarkable | ever heard-sornething like
scream interrupted by violent ohbing; from
his convulsed appearance he was il the act o
wrilhing; his condition appear d to me very
frightfu, appalling me so much that l thongh
if it lasted much lot ger he must hecome in
>anr; he was INDUCING in exclamations abou,
disb0nor having been brought on his house
his wife and chid; he seemed particularly "a
dwell on t, disgrace brought upon his chiI.:
should think this continued ten minutes; IN
deavored to pacifs him; turned from him 10
go for physician myself, bat he seemed q
stop little these violent exclanaiiens. "a
finally they broke dnwn; the spasms becama
more violent til they ceased; think must
have been there sonnet hing over half an hour;
| accompanied him from there to the jatl:
Mayor Berrit. Captain Goddard aud, pc haps
Mr.. Buuerwortts we're there; was still alarm.
ed at his condi ion. not knowing when the
convulsions wonld recur believe | drove
with him in DIR Gwin's carrisge. with whom
came to Mr. Sickles'., a.-g....-j !.
Cross frdmined-At first ] do not think
any person was pres mt hut Mr. Butteru or. h
l was very much exc ted u y elf. but will no.
be ce tain; ihirk Bu q worth and Goddard
came in; when these terrible cpnvul- loss oc.
: Cured, thick no one vas present bat But.
terworfh, besides myself; remaintd talking
with Bu'ier orth foar or five nil utes, wht o
Sickles came in alone, ano stayed With us
some little fime; was, from a variety OF eau
es, much excited; never was more SO than on
that occasion; when the convuls ons came o
| thought would go for physician
At this period MIR. Stanton, who was near
the prisoner asked that the cross examination
be discontinued for the present, in order that
the accused might retire for few minutes.
Mr.. Sickles, during the statement of this
witness, was violently afftc,ed-breaking ou,
into sobs and profusely shedding tears. E. B.
Hart and Isaac Bell, one on each side, and Mr.
Sckles, senior together with others, nccompa.
MED him from the court room. The witness
particularly. and many of the speei ators, were
moved to Tears. The scene was one Of deep
interest In sone few minutes Mr.. Sickles
was brought back into court. his countenauce
still Indicating extreme mental suffering aud
the desolateuess of his whole appearance
awakening strong sympathy in the breasts OF
all who saw him. His father was much affect
ed by tiisIconditiOn. ~" ta'sas 7'a s-'''
The cross-examination of Mr.. Walker was
resumed by the District. Attorney. A3A f3"--s
Hitness--I do not know who sent for God
dard, the Chief of Police; my impression was
that it was SickleS or some of his friends; at.
ter time Sickes became calmer, but did not
resume his natural appearance; be Quilted sob
bing and CRYING for so,ie time.