The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-03-05
Terrible Tragedy at Washington.

Terrible Tragedy at Washington.
Washington city was thrown into an in
tense state Of excitement on Sunday last, by
the killing of Philip Barton Key, U. 8.
District Attorney for the District of Column
bia, at the hands of Daniel f. S:ckles, q
member of the House from New York city.
At about 2 o'clock Key was standing in
conversation with Mr.. Bu;terworth, of n. Y,
near the Presidents House, at the southeast
corner of Lafayette square, when Mr.. Sickles
came up, apparently much excited, and
charged Key with having dishonored him
and destroyed his domestic peace. AT the
same instant he Grew revolver and fred
three times in rapid succession. One of the
balls entered the left side of tho body and
passed through to the corresponding point
on the opposite side, lodging under the skin.
Another shot took effect in the right thigh,
near the main artery, when Mr.. Key fell,
implorins Mr.. Sickles not to kill him. The
third shot was in the right side, glaneine
from the body, lnhictlng only a bruise.-
Death ensued in few minutes. The body
was taken into the National Club House,
where jury Of inquest was held, who after
an examination into the circumstances Of
some hours in length, returned q verdict,
merely stating that the death of Mr.. Key was
from the effect of pistol shots, as above
stated, fired by Sckles.
The domestic difficulties which led to this
terrible tragedy, are thus related by the
Washington correspondent of the New York
Times:
Mr.. Sickles received an anonymous letter
stating with precision minute as to make
suspicion imperative that Mr.. Key had rented
a house on 18th street, above X street, from
a negro woman, and that he was in the
habit Of meeting Mrs Sicklcs there two or
three times a week or oftener. The person
and dress Of Mrs. Sckles was accurately de-
scribed, and the usual time of the interviews
specified. Accompanied by a friend Mr..
Sickles went to the house designated, and
found every statement Of the anonymous
letter corroborated. Mr.. Key had taken the
house, and he had constantly met there
lady resembling very Glossy in description
Mrs. Sickles. Mr.. Sickles still chung TO the
hope that the person who had stopped TO
the baseness OF making such charges, under
the veil of secrecy, might have thoroughly
deceived him, and that Mrs. s cklcs was not
the lady in question. lie accordingly re-
quested his friend, Mr.. Woodbridge, of y.
V, to watch the place from the window OF a
house just opposite. On Saturday no meet
ing took place, and the woman in charge
seems to have stated that none had occurred
since Wednesday. On Saturday evening
Mr.. Sckles resolved no longer 10 play the
spy upon his honor, determined to confront
his wife directly with his suspicious. At
first Mrs. Sickles strongly denied her guilt
but on her husband asking her whether on
tie Wednesday previous she had not entered
the house on the 10Th in certain particular
dress, and concealed by hood, she cried
out: II am betrayed and lost and swooned
away. On recovering her senses, she ad-
mitted her guilt, and besought mercy and
pardon. Mr.. Sickles said he would not
harm her, since he believed her the victim
Of scoundrel, but that he had right to
full confession. Two ladies in the house
were sent for as witnesses, and in their pre-
sence Mrs. Sichles made a full confession in
writing, stating that her connection with
Mr.. Key had commenced ia April last, under
Mr.. Sickles' roof, but that Mr.. Key had since
hired the house in Fifteenth street, in which
they had constantly met. Mrs. SIckles con
fession was made in the midst of the bitterest
contrition and misery. Her husband simply
asked her 10 give him back her wedding
ring, and desired her to write to her mother
to come ard take her from his house forever
Mrs. Sickles made no objection, admitting
the justice of her punishment in the mos:
affecting language.
At the latest accounts, Mr.. Sickles had
given himself up to tho police and was in
prison, expecting to be released on bail
Mrs. Sickles was awaiting the arrival Of her
mother from New York, who had been tele-
graphed for. The wife persists in exhonorat-
ing Mr.. Sickles from all blame, and avows
the strict truth of her confession made to him
in the presence Of several ladies.