Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-04-13
TRIAL OF SICKLES.


Mr. Sickles' trial will begin on Monday. Mr.. Jas.
8. Brady, the counsel to whom has been assigned
&c conduct of the defence, arrived last night The
Use has precedent in the annals of criminal ju-
iSprudcnce though cases in some respects not dis
! milar are not unfrequent Never before have q
Try been called upon to sit IN deliberate trial and
eclare for against man who slew his wifes Sc
ucer that seducer being the guest of his roof the
cclared friend of the husband, and the assumed
rotector of the wife. The result will stand as
lie henccforth.
Mr.. Sickles has an intelligent and able array of
,unsel, and the public may well rely brilliant
I'd astute management of his case Mr.. Ould the
iistrict-Attorney, is, | find, man of good rcpute
nslble, reliable, and in every way competent to
scharge his duties prosecutor, though these, |
/ N compelled to avow, do not appear to be particu
q. ,rly oncrous. 1t is rumored that he will be well
lpportcd by experienced professional advice, and
o not think it improbable that much of the time
ill be taken up in legal wrangng over offers Of
estimony.
Here while it occurs to me, l may say that the
atement, recently published, to the effect that the
nmbers of the Bar in this city had met to designate
ON their number one Or more to assist the Dis
rict-Attorney in the prosecution, is canara, pure
nd absolute. No such meeting ever occurred
he members of the Bar here are not unanimous
n their views Or feelings regarding Mr. Scklcs' ac
ID personally that the majority take favorable
lew of it. The rumor probably originated in the
,c that two or three of those most hostile to the
rsioner did convene to talk over the matter, but
nc Bar, en- masse, took no part IN their deibera-
IONS and the lawyers are among those who most
emphaticaly condemn tie rumor as fabrication
Were it not that the practice here regarding the
qualification of jurors in the matters of impression
nd bias TO the guilt or innocence of the prisoner
cfr Of
.ses in Courts of New York. there might be seri-
ls difficulty in procuring jury. As it is | appre-
lend that much time will not be consumed in efectng
lat important preliminary.
AS the trial approaches, public interest gradually
cawakens. The popular sympathy generally tends
a Mr.. Sickles' favor. I have not yet encountered
he first man who has hestated to declare that, I'M
der the same circumstances, he would have done
the same thing. should not be much surprised if
The public were Obliged to undergo little disappont
.nent when the evidence comes to be presented
The trial, there is every reason to believe, will be
conducted with marked decorum and good taste, and
no testimony will be admitted regarding matters
not Immediately connected with the killing of Key
and the provocatives that directly led to it-COr
n. !. Times.
WASHINGTON April 4-The Sickles case was ta-
ken I'D to-day in the Criminal Court, Judge Craw-
lOlu
The prisoners counsel are MesSrs. Brady and
Graham, of New York, Stanton, of Pittsburg Phil
lips of Alabama, and Chiffon, Radcliffe, and Ma
gruder, of Washington.
The prisoner entered plea of not guilty, and the
process of organizing jury commenced. Only
five jurors were sworn in, when the panel was ex-
hausted.
Counsel asked the Court to allow the prisoner to
occupy position of easier communication with his
counsel than the dock, but the Court refused. The
Court then adjourned until tomorrow.
The Court House was densely thronged at an ear
ly hour Many of the prisoners personal friends
are here from New York and elsewhere.
WASHINGTON, April 5.-The Sckles case was re-
sumed to-day. The prisoners dock was removed to
the middle of the bar and the passage kept clear fol
the counsel to communicate.
The number of Mr.. Sickles' personal friends, from
New York and elsewhere, increased since yesterday
considerably.
Seventy-four talesmen appeared, only three o
whom were selected, making at present only eigh
jurors in all selected.
The court ordered the same number of talesmer
to be subpGnaed for tomorrow, and adjourned.
The father and father-n-law of the accused were
present The interest in the trial appears increas
ing
It is reported that Mrs. Sickles arrived from New
York this morning, and is stopping at Kirklands
Hotel.