Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-04-13
from the Washington States Monday afternoon
Trial OF Hon. Daniel Z. 6ick1es.

called and dismissed until Monday next.
The prisoner was then brought 10 1t y minutes
OIL.
Mr.. Graham continued the address 10 the Jury
which was commenced on Saturday.
He said that the time WAS fast approaching
when his present duty would como to . termins-
ton. The severe labor Of Saturday had Imposed
upon him the necessity Of curtailpg the remarks
which he had intended 10 make ct . moro extent
ed length. II he bad taxed too much the a,,en
tion ofthe Court jury, his deep interest n hi
client must plead his excuse.
lie then briefly recapitulassd the arguments pre-
scented on Saturday. before proceeding toa further
discussion Of the subject.
All Of these arguments will b found 10 our last
issue and in that ofto-day.
| lie bad LETT Oh in considering that where there
was no intention there was no criminality, and
that tho man who offended against the law is not
responsible il he be in q state Of mind which pla.
ces him beyond tho control Of himself There
was but one exception to this principle--when
man puts that in his mouth which steals away
| his brains, for tho law held that O man was n
mcnnb!e 10 tho laws for all offences committed
while under tho influence Of Intoxicating liquors
| Mr.. Graham said since he argued on Saturday
that tho circumstances under which Mr.. Key was
killed by the defendant were suficient to render
| the mind unsound and make him temporarily in
sane b" had discovered that the learned Judge up
on the bench had instructed jury, in the case of
the U. S. %. John Day. that IL the prisoner who
had killed his wife for giving birth to child four
months after their marriage, was much under
mn influence Of shame and modification that his
mind was impaired. tho prisoner was discharged
from all responsibility. The counsel quoted oxtcn
sivcly Fl m tho instructions of tho court in this
/ 'ase and sad that if he had known Of the cxis
tcn.c oi the pamphlet in which instructions in this
aud other were published, half OF his Ia
Dor in tho preparation of tho defence would have
been cut of. lilo also made reference to the case
of Jnrboe.
"Bennetts h Hurd's Criminal Cases." lst vol.
page II, were also referred to, as sustaining the
opinions of the court in respect TO the instruct
ions allows named. The cases of Arnold, Ferress
and Hatfield in state Trials," were also refer
red to. Tho question for the jury to decide. was
how far tho mind of the prisoner conceded with
the lrst fixed nv the case of Jarbor.
There was delibcrntion on the part Of Mr.
Sickcs lle spread no bait for tho deceased to
draw him to his death. The very isrocity of his
attack On Mr.. Key showed the feelings Of frenzy,
razc. rage. and jealousy. under which he commit
Ted tho deed. Conld reason have had its sway in
tins cas-, amid the battle Of 80 many uncontroa-
blc passions
Mr.. Graham went on to contend that with Mr..
Sicklcs there was no cooling time" A whole
life time would not suffice to cool the passions
aroused by wrong like that received by Mr..
Sicklcs 1t wns tho adulterous intent Of Mr.. Key
which Ind thrust him on Mr.. Sickles; he had met
the aduerer his eyes had lightened upon him,
md, under the influence of that frenzy which no
human being could resist the prisoner had slain
- deceased
lie would now proceed to state tho facts of the
ease, previous to submitting it to the jury ut
least ~ far as the opening was concerned:
Mr.. Key a married man. lie had around
him those monuments which should have remind
81 him that he would resent that invasion of his
marriage bed which he had inflicted the
prisoner. lie was lawyer no belonged to that
,roIrssion WHICH, with tho exception Of the pulpit
should above all others, be filled by virtuous men.
Yet he had come into the court in the garb of II
hypocritc,, and in his public character Of prosocu-
ting attorney, had hunted down criminals
worse than himself with extraordinary success.
Who tho woman in this cnsei She was one
who wns young enough to DO the daughter of Mr..
Key. She unused to the guiles Of the world
she was almost too young to understand tho du-
ties of n wife.
Who was the prisonere He was representa-
tive in the councils Of the nation from the
mercal metropolis Of the country. lie was
who had mot and treated Mr.. Key a friend
lilo had even interceded TO have MIR. Key appoint
ed to the position which he disgraccd.
Mr.. Key had gone to the house Of Mr.. Sckles,
and, under the gusc of what is called gallantry,
had dishonored his entertainer. 1t would be
shown that enrly in March, 1857 the prisoner was
informed that the deceased was dishonoring him.
Mr. Sickes wrote to Mr.. Key in reference to the
time, stating that he would cali to the field Of
honor tho man who dared 10 make such charge
But two weeks before tho death of Mr.. Key he had
actually attended dinner party at the residence
It Mr.. Sckles, and had taken his sister with him.
lie took his sister to the house of his prostitutes;
for such was tho woman who 20 basey deceived
her husband.
Mr.. Graham then proceeded to state the crcum-
stances connected with the receipt of the anony-
nous letter. and the ultimate confession of the
wife. Behold the cunning Of Mr.. Key in getting
house for the purpose Of meeting Mrs. Sickles,
in locality where only blacks resided. Mr.. Key
knew that what tho blacks saw and heard could
not be repeated in n court.
Mr.. Woodbridge was commissioned to watch the
house referred to. lie learned enough to know
that the woman who went thithcr was the wife of
Mr.. Sickles. 1t was then that the prisoner lost
an hope lie no longer doubted the guilt Of his
| wife.
Mr.. Sckles and Mr. Woodbridge, which took place
| after the wife had made q written confession Of
| her guilt.
! Subsequent to the receipt OF this confession,
! there was nothing in tho conduct Of Mr. Sicklos
which could show that the state Of his mind made
him hardly anything different from the brute ere
ution. What must have been the anguish Of Mr..
| Sickes,
1t would be shown by the defence that the wa
| wing Of handkerchief before the house Of Mr..
Sickles habit with the deceased. The fact
| of Mr.. Key being seen in front Of the house on
| the Sunday Of his DEATH and the subsequent fatal
meeting of the parties, were eoquently detailed
| by Mr. Graham.
| From these facts. as they would be placed be-
fore tho Jury, it would be for them to judge of the
state of Mr.. Sckles mind at the timc that he kill
| ed the deceased 1t would appear from the evil
| donoe that Mrs. Sckles was constantly followed
| by Mr.. Key whenever she appeared in the street.