Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-03
r.l Farslenlar. g sl.s sIsl.ls. pa Asy

Evil Particulars Of the sielkles and key
Affair.
PHILADELPHIA, February 2s.--The Washington
correspondent Of the New York Times gives the fol-
lowing account Of the domestic difficulties Of Mr..
sickles, which led to the killing q Key.
On Friday, MIR. Siekles received an anonymous
letter, stating With precision minute as to make
a suspicion imperative, that Mr. Key had rented
house on Fifteenth above K street, from negro
woman and that be vas in the habit Of meetiag Mrs
sickles there two or three times week or OfIener
The person and dress of Mrs sickles were accu-
rateiy described, and the usual time Of the inter
view specified.
Accompanied;by friend, Mr. Sicklss went to the
house designated and found every statement Of
the anonymous writer oorroboTatsd. Mr.. Key had
taken the house, AID he had constantly met there
lady answering very closely in description to Mrs
Sickles.
Mr. Sickles still cluBg to the hope that the per-
son who had stopped TO the baseDess Of making such
charges under the veil Of secrecy must have thor
oughly deceived him, and that Mrs Sickles was not
the lady in question. He accordingly requested his
friend, Mr. George Woodbridge Of New York, to
watch the place from the window of house just
opposite. On Saturday no me- ting took place. and
the woman in charge seems 10 lave stated that
had occurred since Wednesday.
On Saturday evening Mr. Sickles resolved no
longer to play the spy upon his honor, and deter
mined to confront his wife directly wi bis terrible
her guilt, but on her husbands asking her whether
on the Wednesday previous she had not entered The
house on Fifteenth street in . certain particular
dress and concealed by hood, che cried out, al
am betrayed and lost, and sEooned away. Ga re-
covering h@ eenses she admitted her guilt and be-
sought mercy and pardon.
Mr.. sickles calmly said be would not ipjare her,
since he believed her the victim Of a se,undre
but be had right TO full confession. Two ladies
in the houseiWeresent for Witnesses aud in their
presence Mrs Sicklss made q full Q nfesFion in
writing, stating that he= Connection with Mr. Key
had commenced in April last under Mr. Sckles' roof,
but that Mr.. Key had since hired the house in Fiji
teenth street, in which they had constantly mst.
Mrs. Siekles' lnfesson was made in the midst of
the bitterest coRiritioa and misery Her husband
simply asked her to give him back her wedding ring
and desired her 10 write to her mother to come ana
take her from his house forever Mrs. Sickles made
no objections, admitting the business of her pun
ishment in the most affecting language.
The Washington correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Gazette gives the following version of the affair:
Sickles had received an anonymous letter yester~
day. informing him of improper intimacy between
his wife and Key. He charged her with it this
morning, and obtained 8 written statement of the
facts signed by her. Not long after, Key ap.
which was the accustomed signal of meeting with
Sicklss' wife.
Siskles observing it, went over aud met Key at
the corner of the Square. Approaching him, he
said: you are The id rascal who has dlshonored
ne, and viii have TO kill you" He thea drew q
pistol and shot Key; the latter advanced and Sickes
retreatsd few steps snd fred agsiu, when Key fell
shouting "murder!" While he was down, Sick ss
attempted to FIRE his pistol third time but the cap
exploded without being followed By a discharge He
then re capped the pistol and put the mu1zle near
Keys heart, shooting him dead.