Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-03-05
TIE WASHINGTON TRAGEDY.
Further Particulars.

Fuftnef PartlculaFS.
A feverish degree Of painful excitement
and regret pervades the public mind, in
reference 10 the sad domestic tragedy at
w ashing ton, on Sunday. terminating in
the untimely death Of Phillip Barton Key,
Esq, and as Mr.. Key has relatives in
Baltimore. and many personal friends.
who are anxious, doubtless, TO know the
whole of this story of bloody revenge and
ruin, we compile the following succincl
account hon the papers received yester-
day.
The New York Times, which paper
gives the details in full, says:
For months past the social world OF
Washington. always as quick 10 relish
the details of those by whom such scan
dial may be caused, has been busy with
the names of Mrs. Sickles and Mr.. Key.
Their intimacy was Of that marked and Pc
culiar kind which may perfectly well con.
sisi in the innocence of any absolute guilt
since while il was open to public obser-
vatiun, il was hardly concealed from Mr..
Sickles himself, who having married his
wife, Miss BagioIi, of New York. in her
early youth, and always treated her with
exneme kindness and tenderness, and
doubtless looked upon her relations with
Mr.. Key as the mere exp ession OF glIl-
ish love of admiration, and of vanity de-
lighting in sense of power over a man oil
fine presence, graceful address and GER
tain local renown in the District for high
spirit, resolution and gallantry.
During the whole Of the last session OF
Congress, the tall figure Of Mr.. Key was
constantly 10 be seen in Presidents square
opposite Mr.. Sckles' Washington res
Iidence: and Mrs. Sickles was as constant
IS in his company at places of public en-
,ertainmen,. In the interval of the Con.
gressional recess, Mr.. Key made short
visit TO New York. still without exciting
any absolute suspicion Of positive" impro'
tprieiv in the mind of Mr.. Sickles; al
though other friends of the unfortunate la
dy. and among them her mother, repeat
edly warned her OF the fatal precipice on
the brink of which she was permitting
herself to ,rifle. 1t was hoped that sihe
affair would soon come 10 an end of itself.
and tina, one or both of the parties most
nearly implicated, would perceive The real
Drift Of their conduct in time TO avoid its
almos, inevitable consequences.
In the early part of tie week before last
Mr.. Sickles went on 10 New York. Du-
ring his absence the busy spies OF society
observed that the attendance Of Mr.. Key
at his house was even more unremitting
than usual. Mr.. Sickles returned TO
Washington on the morning OF the day of
the Napier Ball, and from tina, time up to
Friday las, nothing occurred 10 make the
matter of his wife's relations with Mr..
Key more than ordinarily prominen, in
his mind. So far was he from NANTES T.
ing anything like inordinate or tyrannical
suspicion, that he allowed Mr.. Key TO es-
corl Mrs. Sickles as usual on Pennsylva-
MIA avenue, and saw them, in company
with Mr.. Henry Wikof. al the theatre on
ednesday night. On Thursday Mr..
and Mrs. Sckles entertained large par
~ al dinner. Over that gay and briIlian.
company how near and fearful doom i'm.
pended
On the next day Mr.. SickIes received
from some enemy Of mankind an snnony-
nous letter. stating with precision so mi
mute as to make suspicion imperative, that
Mr.. Key had rented a house on Fifteenth
street, above X street, from negro wo-
man, and that he was in the habi, of NEE
ting Mrs. Sickles there two or three times
week, or oflener,. The person and
dress OF Mrs. Sickles were accurately de-
scribed. and the usual time of the inter
view specified. Accompanied by friend
Mr.. Sickles went to the house designated
and found every statement Of the anony-
nous writer corroboraied. Mr.. Key had
taken the house; and he had constantly
met there lady answering very closely in
description to Mrs. Sickies.
+! Mr.. Sickles still cluns to the hope, that
The person who had stopped 10 the base
ness Of making such charges under the
, veil of secrrsy. might have thoroughly
deceived him. and that Mrs. Sickles was
i not the lady in question. lie accordingly