Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-02
STATEMENT OF Mr.. BrTrERwop,u

which have appeared in The public press in rela-
uon u 70 the death OF Barton Key. Esq, feel
that u IS necessary that should state the facts
lar as am connected with the occurrence On
sunday morning. about IL m, received 1T the
house OF friend with whom was staying. note
from the Hon. d. f.. Sickles. saving, Dear Il .
come 10 me right away" which showed to Hon
RObt- j. Walker and Senator Gwin. with whom
was then cOnyersng. l asked the bearer OF the
mote who was there. and said tn my friends what
en- Sickles desire Immediately went to the
house of Mr.. :. On Inv arrival. ! found Mr.
siekles in his bedroom. living on his face on the
pillow. overwhelmed with grief Some time
elapsed before could obtain from him an account
Of The cause Of his atrictiOn. He Kept excIaim-
ing-..l am diShonored and ruined man. and
cannot look You in the face Finally he dis
closed to me the following circumstance.
On Friday. Mr.. Sickles received an anonymous
letter, stating that his wife was i'm the habit of
meeting Mr. r Barton Key at house on Fifteenth
street IN negro neighborhoOd. Through an
agent Mr.. Sickles had ascertained that Mr. Key
had rented house la that neig hbOrhood and was
ia tue habit OF meeting lady there corresponding
LA dress and appearance to the wife of Mr.
kelpg possessed of these facts he stated them To
hissATife On saturday night She said at once
that she perceived that she discovered and
thereUPOn made full confession of her uuiIt i'm
kritng-
BY this conf ssiOn il appeared that this criminal
intercourse had been going since April l~5s
sometimes. in the absence of Mr. = I'm The Lnnss
of her husband: aud that at the commencement ~
the present session of Congress. Mr. key had hire,
unten1nted house az Fifteenth street viIrrr
ltiGN were IN the H3tBt uI meeting freuuPntly
After he had apprised me uf he fortgoin.; facts
he consulted me a. To the lac should D,Irsu
] advised MIN 10 sind his wife u her mother. at
New York; That 10 was now 50 near the closf. OF
the session u would excite remark that duripv
the time intervening between the cIose of the scso
siOn and the commencement of the next lac could
20 To- Europe for a few months. and in the mean
time separation cOuld be arranged between him
self and his wife; that presumed the affair was
known only to one or two persons beyond ner.
suTInisei and that for the honor his little dauyh
to- nd NJ 80 fraa. L. =.
pursued.
Tothis Mr. Sickles replied, My friend. would
gladly pursue TINS course. but So abandoned. so
reckless have New aud INV wife been that ali the
HrgrO,s III thad neighbOrhoOd and dire NOT s,v
how many other persons. know all about the cir
eumlstlHccS.
then left Mr.. :. in his BEDROOM and Oh yoino
down stairs met in the library Mr.. Geo b. Wool
bridge. clerk Of TIE HOUSE. of Representa- vt,:
said 10 him. - This is "a terrible affair III. tb,,,
handed me the written statement made b. Mrs
>ickes Of her guilt. which written and signed
- WIS then informed b. Mrs. - in tine pr,4s..nc,
81 two females. and witnessed by tItcn 4 re.J
the statement laid 1t down ON the table and saL.
90 Viii =" down town fIr Il while and return here
sTain, and requested Mr.. Woodbridge To say 20
10 Mr.. :. II he should inquire for me I iuI1p
dl1tely left the house and walked to the Club on
~iJtr~niG street. drank glass of ale with friend
and slowly returned to the house of MIR SickIrS
OI entering the library again. Mr. woGldridYe
Informed me that MIR. key had twice passed the
nJuS- during the morning and had short time
sIHs- waived his handkerchief three times A, a
signal Whilst cOnversing with me- Mr. SiekIes
came into Tie library and said that he had seen
tie scOundrrl making signals ." and he added
My God this Is hOrribie.' said. MIR Sickl-s
You must he calm. and look this matter square in
the face II there he possibility of keepiup the
t,riH" kno,rt'dss Of this crime from the public,
yOu must do nothing 10 destroy that possibility:
YOU nav be mistaken in your belief that il is known
10 the whole city
tie instantly replied. .: No. no, my friend; am
not it is already the town talk then said il
that he -, there is but one left for YOU as
man OF hOnOr-yOu need no advice After q few
moments silence, Mr.. :. said that he was salts
fed that Mr.. Key had been in the habit Of naking
his signals from a window Of the Club House on.
POsite and what surprised him very much was
thu his wife strenuOuSly denied this though free
y eInIysslnS nsf guilt He then walked into
The ball and said To me - Come. 90 over with me
u stewart ; room. in the Clubhouse. and he NAV
b ahle Ia inform me whether key tas a room
'1rfe. and Tor what PnrP1se he USES it assent
ed and walked out into the street. snppOsng that
Nj Sickles Vas following me. len the house
iJI his sole purpOsr.
Thsn left Air. :. in the hall, am satisfied he
Lad no weapons On his person. He was without
LiS OVrrCOIt- He sIid nothing u l,. about NS-cs
pons- or the probability OF rncounterinr Mr.
hey walked slowly down the Avenue on the
sontii SIDE tO the corner and rs was crussiD0 tie
street saw Mr.. hey advance few strus towards
AZ He slItted lie. swing: Good morning
hf bHiI[rWOfIh. what tue day We have
responded, and SAID Have YOU come from the
'l"h' lie sud. &c | have - I asked. ISM
stewart IN his room He answered y YES and
IA" IS quite unweIl.'' then said .. I am g,in.I
~ 10 sc MN good morning" aud turned 10
lrayr him As did -. slw Mr. SickIes for the
hfst liir alter lrlyIns MS h1aS- COMING rauiJlv
down 10th street, on the side ncNt the slilarr and
Then near the corner. | had walked about thirty
i-ct Oi Hiy WAY 10 the Club " hen 4 heard Nr =
rA'lali. IN a load Voice. key. YOU scoundreI
10" have dlShonOrrI my hOuS,---y0u must die
turned immediately and saw Mr. h thrust his
hAid IN ms vest or side coat pUck and take
step IN the direction OF MIR Sf-kles and simrIt,
nrOd>ly heard the discharge Of a pistol Mr.
h"V then rapidly advanced uu Mr. Sickle. seized
hiin with bis left hand by the collar of the cont
ahd seemed 10 make an effort tO str Ike with some
th.hg Ia us right hand. which then supposed To
49, a weapon Mr.. SIckles backed into the middle
81 we street when lac succeeded in extrieating
i.."seI from Mr. heys grasp. drew n pistol fcoin
b. "vercuat pocket. presented il at Mr. Key who
rvuedted hckward up Sixteenth street toward the
Clrh and threw something at MIR. Sickles Mr.
S"kI'> followed. and when within ten feet fired
saw that Mr. Key Wa> wounded. He staggered
towards The Sidewalk. saying =. Don't shoot me -
lie leaned Tor 4 moment against 4 tree. when Mr..
>icklts odvanced uIJou him. exploded can and
thrn hre'i third time = Mr.. Key was falling
III =. frequently eNrlLincd, e. You villain Won
nave diShonored my house and YOU must die =
lie altered thee ordS again v bile siaudiu,, over
SIR. hey Win his revolver ia ms hand took nU
part ia tIc contest.
i''iIrved them both to ID, arnird whci, I.f,
III Skis house hId no Thought of uucrtiuo or
>,lng Mi hoy. Iny object bein., H. visit Mr. stow
'rt ] had nO arms with me. did not know Mr.
~rekir> intended tn take arms with him. lie left
H' NUS A4-GI nv 1liu ttilDut any SUGGESTION
irOn ne caIIe towards the club on tie north side.
Il Ia" Il udT" W Lcn Mr.. kry ,dluted me. did
at knI.s Mr. SIcLlrs WAS apprOac hing nor did
- LlE. uHiIl turned 10 leave Mr.. kev did not
a~'- hf shoot Mr. he's after his fall nor place
ts Il>td la cUht1"t with his head or eI.thin.s
-titgr tue third lire Ia AL yinccd and took MIR
kis> arm. and walked with him up Sixteenth
street lHd advised him To 20 10 has ho.ls. or 4, tie
attorney tieiIeral 5. lie did 50 | returned To the
,tEp. AMI picked up aii opera glass from the mid
dlr 81 i-e street, and gave il To Mr. SickIes This
= t' whole OF my Connection with this unfortu-
nat occurrence 10 i not true that either sought
or detained Mr. key. He first addressed me and
our interview did not last minute have
known the late Mr.. Key. in New York and W ash
hSton during the last ten wears aud our relations
lave ever be'n Of the most friendly character 4
DID not anticipate collision ON the Sabbath
though did not doubt but that il would take
pre- at All carly day.
SAN. +. BuTIERwORrH
have carefully read the foregoing card Of Mr.
r Buttrrw urth. I Wa in the library OF Mr.
>rklrs At the time Of the occurrences mentioned
Ia that card. The statements contained in il
to,'chInS those occurrences are correct i'm every
i"urulIrs- GEo. Ii. WoOLDkIDSE
NA~HINaTON. March I, 1873