The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-03-04

pocially fond OF exercise on horseback. lilo
rode an iron grcy horse aud scarcely day /
has passed since tho return OF Mrs. Sickles
to tho Capital, on which his tall figure. his
whitu riding cap. wclltrimmcd mOustachc.
aud iroh.grGy horse might not have bccn
sccn two or three times in the course of tho /
morning on tho circuit of the Presidents
square. or at tho door of NJ. Slcklcs' house, I
which stands alone on the north side of the
square, aud is u very conspicuous building
of white stucco. 1t was but on Tuesday
last. that on vialting Airs. Sckes, Tuesday
being her day of reception, found Mr..
Key there, his horse waiting tor him at the
door. The rooms were filled with pleasant
company; the soft Spring sunlight poured
in at tho open windUws and Mrs Slckles
herself, in her almost girIish beauty wearing
a Joquct Of crccnses, the firstlings OF tho
year, seemed tho very incarnation of Spring
and youth, aud tho beautiful promise of
lie.
In tho early part Of tho week before last,
Mr.. SicklUs went on to New York. During
his absence, tho busy spius of society oh.
served that the attendance of Mr. Koy at
his house. was even more unromitting than
usual Mr. Sicklus returned to Washington
on tho morning of tho day of tho Napier
Ball, and from that timO up to Friday last,
nothing occurred to make tho matter of the
wiir's relations with Mr.. Key more than or
dinarly prominent IN his MUD So tar was
no from manitusting anything like inordi.
nate or tyrannical suspicion, that he al
! lowed Mr.. Koy to escort Mrs. SicklUs as
usual, on Ponnsy ylyania Avenue, and saw
them, in company with MIR. Henry Wrkof,
ut tho theatre on Wednesday night. On
/ Thursday MIR. and Mrs Scklos entertained
a largo party at dinner. Over that gay aud
! brilliant company how near and fearful IA
| doom lmpended
! On tho next day Mr.. Sicklos received an
| anonymous letter, stating with precision 80
minute as 30 mako suspicion Imperative,
| that MIR. Key had rented house on Eff.
tounth street, above X. street, from negro
woman, aud that hu was in the habit Of
meeting Mrs. SiCklus there, two or three
times week, or oitCner. Tho person and
dross OF Mrs Sickes were accurately do.
scrihoa. and tho usual time of the interview
specified. Accompanied by friend, Mr..
Stcklos went to tho house designated, aud
found every statement of tho anonymous
writer corrOborutcd Mr.. Key had taken
the house; and he had constantly met there
lady answering worry closely in description
to Mrs Sckos.
Mr.. Sickles still clung to tho hope that
tho person who had stopped TO tho basoness
at making such charges nndcr tho vcii OF
secresy, might hayo thoroughly deceived
him, aud that Mrs. Scklrs was not tho lady
in question. IIo accordingly requested his
friend, Mr.. George Woodbridge, Of New
York, to watch the place from tho window
OF the house just opposite.
On Saturday no meeting took place. and
.
thut none had occurred since Wednesday.
On Saturday evening Mr.. Slcklus, 70.
solved no longer to play tho spy upon his
honor, Determined to confront his wife di
rectty with his terrible suspicious. At first
Mrs. Slcklcs strongly denied her guilt but
on her husbands asking her whether, ON tn,
Wednesday previous, she had not cntercC
. tho house on Fifteenth Street, in certain
f particular dress, and concealed by II mood
slSo cried out, II am betrayed and lost !!
S and swoonGd away. On recovering he
, senses, she admitted her guilt. and bus0ugh
/ mercy aud pardon. Mr.. SickIes calmI.
}, said no would not injuro her, since no be
| loved her tho victim OF scOundrol. bu
8 that no had right to u full confession -
. Two ladies in tho house were sent for II
u witnesses, and in their presence. Mrl
S Sicklcs made Il JuU confession in rrit,ng
= stating that her connection with Mr.key ha
Y commenced in April last, under NJ: Slcklc'
d roof, but that Mr., Key bad since hired tn
u house in Fifteenth Street in which thoy ha
IL constantly met. Mrs. Sicklrs' confession
= was made in tho midst of tho bittorcst con
= triton and misery. Her husband simp
asked her to give him back her wedding
It ring, and desired her to write to her moho
y to come aud take hor from his house forever
- Mrs Sickos made no objections, admitting
:. the justice of hor punishment in the mos
>. affecting language,
Y OncU having Quilted tho presence Of hi
:, wife, Mr.. SiCklus gavo way to tho most tor
!. rible emotion, aud passed the night III |
J., state bordering on distrac;IOn-u feeling
I which was worked in'O madncss this morn
\ ing on seeing tho cause of his misery, Mr.
. Key, with gay uuduclty. walk past. opposite
I tho window OF his wlto's room, and wayu hi
D handkerchut-the usual signal tor assigna
ton.
Asking Mr.. Buttorworth, who was at hi
. house, to follow Key and cugago him in cou
. vcrsation SO that he would not got out {
i sight, he rushed up stairs for his pistols, an
}. quickly following, found Butterw"rth an
Kuy together at tho corner OF Slxtcent
IS street shon tho tragedy took plac".
10 On coming up S,ckIos walked directly
i. Key aud said, You have dshonored my bt
I'd aud family, you scOundrcl-. prepare
u die H'--at tho same time drawing his plate
Almost simultaneously Koy placed his har
n inside his vest, aud drawing what appear'
ct to DO a pistol, but what was really an ope
- plass SAID You had better not shoot i
IS. SlckIos at once fired, Key ut the san
re limo throwing his glass ut hlIn. This sh
III, only grazod Key, slightly raising tho SIX
"a OF his sldo, aud he immediately lonpod l
mt hind treo to avoid another shot. Sick
~. followed, and Key catching his arm, endep
bo orcd TO prevent HIM from firing but Sick
~ dlsongugoI himself, and firing again, ST
ny Key IN tho upper part Of tho right Ih!l
mt ctuso 10 tho main artery.
Failing on his hip and supporting hims
or with his hand, no cried, Murder! do
ho shoot !" SckIcs still following, fired aga
lis with his pistol close to Koy, tho ball passi
lnl through his body below the breast.
II, In tho meantime the report of tho pls
= and Keys cries startled thuso in the ncit
,o. borhoud. MIR Thomas Martin, Clerk
M tho Treasury Department who happened
= tho moment to be leaving tho club, rush
m. back. and calling out, key is murdered
Ir Mr.. Doyle, Mr.. Upsher aud MIR. Tidball, "
nis weru ~ tho Club at tho tlmu proceed
,l,,, ,vh, thnv InuIlI Sick