The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-03-11
The Sickles Affair.

The following statement by Mr.. Butter
worth, is said to furnish full and reliable
history of all the circumstances attending
this most unhappy occurrence.
In accordance with written request from
Mr.. Sickles, Mr.. Butterworth called upon
that gentleman, VINO communicated to him
his knowledge Of his wiles guilt. Mr.. D.
says -
After he had appriscd mo Of the foro-
going facts. he consulted the as to the course
he should pursue | advised him to send
his wife to her mother at Now Gork-that,
rs it was now near the close OF tho session.
! it wonld excite no romark that during the
time intervening between the close of this
/ session and tho commencement OF tho next.
/ hQ could 60 to Europe for a few months,aud
| infhe meantime n separation could bo ar.
ranged between himself and his wife; that
/ presumed the affair was known only to one
or two persons beyond mere surmise aud
/ that for the honor of his little daughter, aud
his wites friends, this course should be pur-
/ suod.
Immediately left the house. and walked
! to tho Club on Sixteenth street, drank
glass of ao with n friend, and slowly return
| I'd to the house of Mr.. Sicklcs
/ To this Mr.. Sickles replied, My friend,
would gladly pursue this course, but so
! abandoned, so reckless, have Key and my
wife been that all the negroes in that neigh
borhood, and daro not say how many
other persons, know all about the circum.
stances !"
! thon left Mr.. s. in his bedroom. and on
gong down stairs met in the Library Mr.,
George b. Wooldridgo,a Clerk of the House
of Representatives. | said 20 hIm, This is
u terrible affair."" lilo then handed me the
written statement made by Mrs Sckles
of her guilt, which was written aud signed
as | was then informed by Mrs. S. in the
presence of two females, and witnessed bv
them. | read the statement, laid it down
on the table, and said 81 will 90 down town
for while, and return here again and re-
, quested Mr.. Woodbridge to say so to Mr.. S
il he should inquire for me
On entering the Library again. Mr.. Wool
: drdge informed mo that Key had twice
passed tho house during tho morning, and
had a short time since waived his handker-
chief three times as II signal. While in con
vorsation with Mr. Woodbridge. Mr.. Scklcs
) camo into tho Library. and said that ho had
J "secn the sconndrnl making signals. and
he added, my God this is horrible! |"
said, Mr.. SickIcs, you must be calm
and look this matter square in tho face II
; there bo Il possibility of keeping the certain
knowledge of this crime from tho public
you must do nothing to destroy that posi-,
bility. You may be mistaken in your DO.
lief that it is known to the whole city"
He instantly replied, mo, no, my friond
Il am not ! 1t is already tho town-talk =
! Isthen said, " If that be so, there is but
one course left tor you as man of honor
, You need no advice
After few moments sionce. Mr.. S. said
that he " was satisfied that Key had boon in
3 tho Club House opposite" aud what sur
I prised him very much was that his wifi,
, strenuously denied this. though freely con
Tossing her guilt, He then walked into tn,
o hall, and said to me, Come, 90 over will
NO to StuarI's room, in the Club House .anC
:, he may 10 ablo to inform me whether Kc,
has u room thorC, and for what purpose h,
. uses it," | assentcd, and walked out int,
the street. surprising that Mr.. Sicklos wa
Is following me. left tho house for this soil
purpose.
L When | left Mr. S. in tho hall am salts
', fled that he had no weapons on his person
lie was without his Ovorcoat. Ilo SAT-
nothing to me about weapons, or tho proba
bilty of oncouuterng KY
u ! walked slowly down the avenue on tn
It south side to tho cornor, and rs | was cross
10 ing tho street, saw Key advance few step
r., towards me. lle salutcd mo, saying, Goo
. morning. Buttcrworth--what fine day "
J. have J. | responded. and said, llavo yo
y como from the Club 2 lIo said, have
IL asked, "Is Stuart in his room Z" He an
~ swered. " Yos, and is quito uGwcll." l the
said, " am going up to SEQ him goo
morning !" and turned to leave him. As
10 did so saw Mr.. Sickles for tho first tim
or after leaving his house, coming rapidly dow
al Sixteenth street on the side next the squar
vi and then near tho corner
IN had walked about thirty feet on my wa
If to tho Club, when | heard Mr. S. cXclaim j
r. loud voice, Key, yor scOundrcl.you ha'
dishGnOred my houso-you must die J.
| turned Immediately, and saw X. thru
to his hand in his vest or sido coat pocket, an
of take u step in the direction of Mr.. Sickle
u. and simultaneously | heard tho discharge
:, pistol. Key then rapidly advanced G
IL Sickles, soized him with his left hand by II
ls, collar of his coat, and seemed to make
n effort to strike with something in his rig
ch hand, which | then supposed to be a wea
- on. Mr.. $. backed into tho middle of Il
"0 street, when he succeeded in cxrricatir
Oh himself from Keys GRASP, drew pistol fro
to his over coat pocket, and presented it
10, Key, who rctroated backward up Sixteen
-. street, toward tho club, and threw som
=, thing at ScklCs. Sicklcs followed, NJ
al whom within ten feet, fired. / saw that X,
Wy was wounded. He staggered towards Il
ng sidewalk saying. "Don't shoot me! - I
hc leaned for moment against a tree, VIII,
Sickles advanced upon him, exploded C;
- and then fred tho third timo.
or, AS key VAS falling Slckles frequently G
of claimed, "You william, you dishonored Il
ng house, and you must die !" He utter
,a. these words again while standing over X
Jus with his revolver in his hand.
took no part in the contest. | boIiev
IN them both to 90 armed. When left n
b;s SickIes' house | had no thought of moeti
'o or seeing Mr.. Koy, my object being to vi
ou Mr.. Stuart. | had no arms with mo. | {
not know that Mr.. Sickles intended to ta
nm arms with him. IIo left tho house after
and, without any suggestion from mo, car
- towards tho Club on the north side of /
nat Square. When Mr.. Key saluted me d
on. not know that Mr. Sickles was approachir
ian nor did see him until turned TO lea
ann Mr.. Key did not see Mr.. Sckles she
~ 10, Key after his fall, nor place his pistol
tuo contact with his hoad or clOthinp