Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-03-04
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN WASH
IN(.rnN

The death Of Philip Barton Key, Esq
in Washington on Sunday afternoon, ut
the hands of the Hon. Daniel L. Sick
les, member of Congress from New FORK,
has created widespread and profound
sensation, and the facts involved in the
melancholy affair are looked upon with
interest. The following account of the
affair was telegraphed to the Baltimore
Sun, on Sunday evening:
A lamentable affair occurred here this
afternoon shortly before three o'clock. =
Philip Barton Key, ESQ, u. s. District
Attorney, was killed by three balls fred
nearly opposite the Presidents house,
corner of Lafayette square, by the Hon.
Mr.. Sicklcs, member of Congress from
New York. The whole ncighborhood Of
Lafayette square has since been the scene
of intense excitement thousands of per-
sons Of Washington and Georgetown
having visited it during the afternoon.
The dead body of Mr.. Key was immedi-
ately conveyed to the Club House, on
Madison place, at The cast end of Lafay-
cite square. Coroner Woodward sum
moned u jury and held an inquest.
Several witnesses were examined, and
the substance of the evidence was, that
about two o'clock this afternoon Mr.. But
terwogth and Mr.. Key were talking to-
gether at DR.. Maynmd's corner. The
Hon. Daniel Z. Sickles approached, and
called Mr.. Key by name they were
facing each other. Sickles said to Key,
"Iou scoundrel you have dishonored
me, and then fired Simultaneously
with this act Key moved in such man.
ner as to indicate that he was about to
draw a weapon. Sickles' fire had not,
however, taken effect, and as he raised
his arm to repeat his fire, Key seized
him, and they tusselled to the middle Of
the street, when Sickles becoming dis
engaged, fired second time. The ball
entered the right thigh of Key, hearth
main artery.
Key then took shelter behind tree
box on the opposite corner, Sickles fol-
lowing, and fired third time tits sup
posed this ball entered his left side, be-
tween the false ribs, and passed through
the body. 1t appeared that during the
intervals of the firing Key begged his
assailant mot to shoot-not to shoot. "
A ball from fourth fire produced a
bruisc on the body as is glanced. Key
fell and expired. 1t also appeared that
when he was down Sickles put the pistol
to Keys head aud pulled the trigger,
when the cap exploded. One Of the
witnesses testified that during the excite
ment Sickles remarked to gentlemen who
came up that "iIe had dshonored me
and defled my beG," or words to that eff
feet. Whilst standing near the body,
Sickles said, Damned rascal, is he
dead 2"
/ The excitement here became very high
crowds accommodating, when Mr. Sicklcs
joined arms with Mr. Butterworth, and
they proceeded to the residence of Judge
Black. He was there arrested by Capt.
Goddard, and conveyed to prison.
Mr.. Sickles residence is the house on
the west end Of Lafayette square, former.
/ ly occupied by Secretary Woodbury.. A
Derringer pistol, of one barrel, was
picked up on the pavement. Some sup
pose it to have fallen from Key, but il
was not loaded.
The Washington Star, of Monday
evening last, gives the following par
ticulars in regard to this case:
Mrs. Sickles is the daughter of an
Italian music teacher in New York city,
named Badjaoli She was married wher
not more than sixteen, under circum.
stances which we're subsequently, com
mented upon invidiously by the press. -
In this city her career was that Of an
intensely fashionable sqjourner.
According to accounts, Mr.. Sickles
learned that his wife was in the habit o
meeting Mr.. Key at a small two-stor,
frame house on Fifteenth street, between
* and l., the property Of negro mar
named John Gray, of whom the de.
ceased is alledged to have rented it, anC
where he kept a servant woman to attenC
to it. That on Thursday evening last q
woman dressed like Mrs. Sickles wa,
seen to 60 and remain in the house fol
one or two hours, and on leaving it Il
90 to the house of Mr. Sickles and OF
Saturday morning parties acting for Mr.
Sickles carried Mrs, Sickles' clothing tC
/ the ncighborhood, whero it was identified
by females living near as having been
worn by the woman who was in the ha5it
Of visiting that house.
Yesterday, she signed paper pur.
porting to be full acknowledgment Of
her iuhdelity with the deceased. In il
she admitted that the deceased and her
self had signals by which she could let
him know whether she could met him.
She also acknowledged that criminal in
tercourse had been going on since April
last.
BURNING or THE STEAMER PRINcEss.
Nev Orleans, FRI. 28.-The steamer
Princess, from Ficksburg for New Or
leans, exploded her boiler and was burn
ed to the waters age, on Sunday morn
ing, at Conrad's point, near Baton Rouge.
-Four hundred passengers were aboard
Of which number 200 we're either lost or
arc missing. The passengers are mostly
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