The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-04-13
TELhGRAPHTC NEWS.
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REPORTED FOR THE "DisPATCH."
II RI AL OF
d ANIEL b. SICKLES
FOR THE MURDER OF
p. BARTON KEY.

rREroRTrp SPECIALLY nj rrLEoRApH FOR THE RICH
MoND pIspArCHl
PER WASHINGTON AND MEMPHIS TELEGRAPH LIME,
Office corner Main and Pearl sts- }
WARRINGTON, April IL.
Judge Crawford took his seat at ~ minutes 10
10 o'clock.
MFR. Sickles shortly after was placed IN the DOCK.
Rev. Mr.. Pyne, Episcopal Minister OF st. Johns
Church, and Rev. Mr. Healy, Unitarian, were
seated inside of the bar near the prisoner.
Mr.. Woodbridge was present, and near Mr. sickles
father. Woodbridge is q tall aud powerfully built
man, about IS years old. He goes on orutches,
having lost the use Of his lower limbs by acct.
dent. His countenance is of resolute stamp,
witira moustache, but no whiskers.
Jao J. McEUtoaie, Reporter, called and examined
by Mr. Brady-Resides in Philadelphia Is one of
the Photographic reporters of the Congressional
Globe. Has known Sickles more than year.
Has Visited his house frequently; is on terms of
friendship with him; is a married man. Has never
been at Sickles' receptions, because they occurred
when be was occupied in reporting Congressional
debates. Knew Key we'll for six or seven years,
and had had frequent opportunities Of knowing
the relations existing between him and Sickles.-
When together they always held towards each
other language which had the appearance Of their
being good friends. Key frequently expressed
friendship for Sickles. Drew the conclusion from
all saw, that they were good friends.
Last Spr ing or Summer l took a ride to Little
Falls, five miles from Washington, in company
with Mrs. SickIes, Mr.. Key and Mr.. Haskins; is
not certain whether Mr.. S. was ia New York or
Washington at the time; saw Key last eight or
ten days before the ARRAY occurred; saw him and
Mrs. Sickes at the hop at Willard's, preceding his
decease.
En- Marshal Hoouer, sworn.-Key was my most
intimate and cherished friend for ten years
more. Got acquainted with Sickles after Pierce's
Inauguration. Became intimate with him.
Have known Mrs. s. TOUR years. Both we're guests
of mine two or three weeks in March, 1857. Think
I introduced Key to Mrs. S. at Wizards Hotel, or
at my house The relations which existed be.
tween Key and Sickles were friendly. Key was
indebted to S. for his reappointment to Office
when Buchanan became President. Knew of the
correspondence between Key and Sckles when it
transpired. and privy to all the circumstances
relating to it, 1t occurred on March Goth, '5S.
MIR. Brady After the correspondence, did you
have a conversation with Key concerning a letter
received by him from Sickles?
Question objected to and argued on both sides,
the counsel for the defence stating that they had
given notice to the prosecution TO produce that
letter and that they Intended to give parole
evidence of its contents.
Mr. Carlisle stated that the prosec ution knew
nothing of the letter referred to.
Mr Brady argued the admissibility of the evi.
dence
The Judge did not doubt that the letter itself
was evidence, but did not think the defence had
gone far enough to be able to give parole evidence
of its contents.
Mr. Carlisle stated he should require the defence
to take up the time in sending for the adminstra-
tor of Key, to ask about this letter.
Mr.. Hoover resumed-I bore the correspond
euce, referred to yesterday, accompanied by a
note from Key to Sckles. key afterwards told
III that he had received note from SckIes tell
ing him THAT 80 far as that affair was concern
ed, ha was perfectly satisfied, aud hoped that
friendly relations would continue as previously"
On the 23d Of February Key came to my house.
bringing with him Laura. the daughter Of SickIes
between IL and II O'clock. He left the child and
went away. He returned iD two or TIN GA hours
afterwards, and iuqnlted for the child. Did not
see him again that day Saw him again the day
before his death.
Gross-eysmued by Carisla--Was frequently at
Sickies' during the winter; frequently saw Kew
there; Mrs. S. WAS there the whole winter Sickies
went to New York often during the winter; after
the correspondence the par ties AS friendly ns
before; never heard Sickies say LIE wished Kew 10
visit his house, only on public occasions; Sckles
annexed no qualification to his invitation to Kew
to visit him; witness saw Key at Sickles' huuse,
and always saw Mrs S.; had conversation with
). when the correspondence took place; the sense
of the conversation was, that Sickles said he was
willing to meet Key on friendly TERMS as if moths
ing had happened.
j. ID. Goddard Chief of Police called-Said he had
the opera glass in his possession which was hand.
cd to him in the Jail by s. when he WAS arrested;
showed the glass.
Mr.. Brady said the glass could be identified as
belonging to Key.
Goddard, resumed-There was mud on the glass
VIXEN he received it, now.
Er. Pune, called-Was an Episcopal clergyman;
had known Sickles and his wife u year; visited
their house on one occasion; passing Sickles in
the street the Saturday previous to the killing
OF Key, noticed that his appearance was very Pc
cellar; there WAS a wildness about it, as if he
in great troubles his appearance was 80
strange that 1t Caused witness to draw the atten.
ton OF his son to it.
Cross examined by Mr.. Ould-Was driving in
front of the Presidents house when he saw Sic.
klet; witness was coming from the Capitol: Sickjes
was walking rapidly; only saw S. rs the carriage
was passing.
By Carlisie-The one occasion on which he v;s;
ted the house of s. was by Invitation for the pur-
pose of baptising his child.
MIR Stanton here called the attention of the
Court to the fact that the opera glass exactly fit,
ted the case aud said it would be offered in eyi.
dence after a while
Hon Robt j Walker called-Have resided in the
District many years; was ia the city on the q tn
Feb last. Had known Sickes several years; hadn't
seen him Tor several months before that day Saw
Sickles on Sunday, Feb 9th, about 3 O'Clock in
the back room Of his house ON the first story.
His manner appeared excited, which was some,
thing unusual. His voice wrs greatly changed.
lie advanced and took witness by the hand
and spoke to him. He then became very much
conyulsed with grief Ssthrew himself on the sofa
and broke forth in variety of uncouth sounds.
Witness thought at the time if it lasted would
become insane. He frequently broke into
violent EXPLANATIONS about the dishonor Key ba,
brought on his wife and child. After a while the
violence OF his grief subsidized. Witness at one
time was on the point of going for physician.
Witness accompanied the prisoner to Jail in Sena-
tor G Twins carriage.
By Mr.. Ould-At the interview only Mr.. Butter
worth was present. subsequently the Mayor and
Mr.. Goddard came in Witness found Butter worth
alone in q back room, when he first went in
Sickles came in afterwards. Witness was very.
deeply excited himself, and asked for due allow.
ance to be made in reference to his testimony.
At this point Mr. Sickles was 80 overcome W it'll
emotion that MIR. Stanton was compelled to re-
quest the Court to allow him to be removed from
the room u few moments. For some time he had
been sitting with bis face buried in his handker.
chief; but as the testimony of Walker progressed,
his grief appeared to become beyond control. He
was led out Of the room, leaning helplessy on the
arms of two friends, aud sobbing like child. In
a few moments he returned. His intense ayopy
apparently somewhat subsidized.
During that scene feeling of the deepest in
terest aud sympathy was manifested by ali in the
court room.
The examination of Walker was continued:
Believed Sickles some of his friends sent for
chief of police Goddard After q while SickIes
became calmer.
By Carlisle. Shortly after witness entered the
room, Sickles was overcome by perfect agony Of
despair Thought ifit had continued Sickles would
become permanently insane. His screams were
of the most unearthiy character. His grief bib.
tied symptoms more alarming than witness had
ever seen. The passionate EXPLANATIONS of s. we're
principally 10 reference to the disgrace brought on
his daughter. His aiming dow @lHas Very gradual.
The inpr ession OF the witness was, that Batter.
worth proposed going before magistrate az soon