Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-09
THE sIcKLEs TRAGEDY.

We last week briefly mentioned the fact that
Hon. Daniel E. Sickles, Democratic Con-
gresham from New York city, had, on Sun
day the 9th Feb, shot Phillip Barton Key,
U. S. Attorney, at Washington City, for hay-
ing criminal intercourse with his wife. Il ap-
pears from Mrs. Sickles' own confession that
this crimInality commenced last April in the
| house of her husband. Afterwards, however,
Mr.. Key rented two-story frame house on
Fifteen-and -a-half street, from a negro, where
they were in the habit of frequently meeting.
They had, between themselves, arranged sig-
nails, and whenever Key desired the company
of Mrs. Sickles he would wave a white hand
kerchief which was answered in the same way
by her, if there nothing to prevent her
from going forth to meet her paramour. Their
conduct did not escape notice, and created
great deal of scandal, some of which did not
fail TO reach Mr.. Sickles, who, il is said, tho
unwilling to believe any of these reports, yet
cautioned his wife, as did also her mother, a
gainst conduct which would give room for dis
creditabie remarks. But matters went on as
before, the guilty pair going to parties, balls,
the opera, theater, &c, together. and revelling
| almost daily in their unhallcwed lustful plea
| sures. On Thursday night, Mr.. Sickles re-
ceiTed an anonymous note, which however he
| did not open till next day, informing him Of
| their conduct and giving such particulars as
induced him TO look into the matter, and thro'
| the excrtion of friend he learned the facts
of their meeting at the negro's house, &C. On
Saturday, Mr.Sickles confronted his wife about
it, but she yehemently denied everything m
til Mr.. S. presented the evidence of her guilt,
which overwhelmed her that she burst into
tears and confessed all, which was put down in
writing in the presence of witnesses. The
disclosure threw her husband into a mortify-
ing state of mind, and he asked her to give up
her wedding ring and write to her mother TO
come and take her home. Mr. Sickles con-
tnued in a state of high mental excitement
until noon on Sunday, when Mr.. Key passed
his house several times and gave the sccus-
toned signal. PerceiyiDg this, Mr.. s. lefs
his house, armed with a revolver and two Der
| ringer pistols, and approached his victim, who
was in conversation with Mr.. Butterworth, g
friend of Sickles', who, it is alleged, was sent
by the latter TO detain Key until he should
come up to him. AS Sickles approached, Key
extended his hand in a friendly way, but it
was rejected, and Sickles told him he had dis
| honored his family and that he must die. Key
| stepped back, drew forth and threw an opera
| glass at Sickles, when the latter fired at him.
/ The shot only gave flesh wound, and Mr.. S.
| fired twice more, when Mr.. Key fell and ex-
! pired in few moments. Sickles immediate
| ly placed himself in the hands of the authoTi-
| ties. Mr.. Butterworth, il would seem, did not
| try to prevent the shooting, and be was arrest
/ ed as an accessory, but he denies any knowl-
| edge of Mr.. Sickles having been armed, and
says he did not detain Key 80
| Mrs. Slckles Is the daughter OF antohio Dd-
gioli, an italian music master in New York,
an upright, industrious and much respected
man. whose wife is a native of that city, her
! maiden name being Cook She was married
when she was 10, is now but % or %, and has
two children. Mr.. Sickles is abort 40 years
of age; Mr.. K y was about AZ, is nephew of
Judge Tauey, and brother-in-law of Mr.. PEN
dleton, member of Congress from the State
| of Ohio. His father was the author of ssThe
| Star Spangled Banner.''
The N. Y. Times gives Siekles rather dis
creditable name. and says that adulteries, like
| curses, come home to roost. This hint is too
plain to require explanation, and is accompa-
MED by the remark that Sickles was excluded
from decent society long ago, and that it would
be almost miracle if, in the school TO which
he took his young wife, with her character yet
uniformed, she should have preserved her in
nocence. The Times does not mean to e1-
tenuate the injnry done to Sickes-it is the
greatest one man can commit against another )
| but thinks there are states OF social existence
where mutual federation is the rule oil conduct,
and that Sickles, in acquiring SO perfectly the
morals, should also have acquired the phiiosc-
phy o. the class 70 whict hs belongs.