The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-04-22
Hiss Ridgeley Sworn n-Tho Prosecution
BEGGING Quarter.

Begging Quarter.
WASHINGTON, April 2l.-The usual crowd is
in attendance this morning.
Among the letters received by the counsel,
one was read this morning by Mr.. Brady, from
a lady signing herself, in Greek characters,
"0lymphia Aiken" and describing herself as
one of the order of frailty-one of the simple
walters for the wave of some masculine pocket
handkerchief. The letter is dated from West
Randolph, Vermont, and asks the counsels' at
tention to the following extract from "White
Lies:"
"I'd have no wasps round my honey; if my
| wife took lover, would not lecture the wo-
man. What's the use2 I'd kill the man, then
and there; I'd kill him indoors or out; I'd
kill him as would kill snake. If she took
another, I'd send him after the first and SO on
till one killed me-" .....
Before proceeding to business, the Judge
said that there was letter on his desk directed
to one of the jurors, Mr.. Wilson, in care of the
Judge. 1t bore the New York post-mark. He
supposed there was no objection to its being
handed to the juror.
Assent was given on both sides, and the let
ter was handed over. After a few moments
the letter was returned to the Judge, who said
to the counsel: "This letter is handed back by
the juror. He knows nothing about it or the
writer. 1t proceeds from the worst of motives
it is an impertinent, improper and uuwarranted
interference with the Courts of Justice"
| The letter was handed down and examined
by the counsel.
Mr.. Brady remarked that the manuscript
was similar to that of the anonymous letters to
Sickles. Both letters were examined together
and the counsel agreed as to the similarity OF
handwriting in both letters. .r.s u.
, Judge--It is q matter of extreme regret
that the author Of that letter can not be known
The letter was bept secret among counsel
but it was understood among other things to
convey slanderous assertions against some OF
a the counsel.
! After some time spent in examining the let
: ter, the Judge said he supposed the best cours'
e \ to pursue would be to put it in the custody O
= the District Attorney.
II The letter was handed back to the Judge
but it was then shown to Mr.. Sickles, and scru
tiuized by him and his counsel. Several min
It utes were occupied in this matter, and inquire
i were apparently set on foot to find out the au
r, thor.
e Mr.. Brady said that the proposition mad
3 yesterday by the government to the counst
y of Mr.. Sickles to admit the confession of Mr.
Sickles as evidence, is rejected by the defens'
The District Attorney proposed to examin
ot Francis Doyle, to explain how and under wha
t. circumstances certain papers, testified to by D.
le Miller and Mr.. Pendleton, were found.
d. Mr.. Brady objected, urging that this wi
N not rebutting evidence. I'm ,V.
10 The Coroner was introduced and asked
q produce certain articles which have been COZ
: nected with the person of Key, and which lie
to the exhibition of his clothing and 9TH
: articles. --|
Various gentlemen who were in the Clr
House at the time that Keys body was broug
there, including this witness, were eXamine
y and your honor will remember how diligent
re and scrupulously we endeavored, but faile'
to discover any other articles than thot
- which the Coroner produced. We never heal
-, of those papers until they we're produced on Il
81 81 stand. 1t has been shown by Mr.. Pendlett
lie that tho prosecution knew of these facts almo
a., At Immediately after they came into his hand
uuss and that he communicated them to Mr.. Ca
all Isle.
nYtt Mr. Ould-It was not communicated to Il
k prosecution that these papers were at any tin
, found on the person of Key. We now propo
eS ns to show the circumstances under which thu
were found, and then trace how they came in
ieeTf the hands of the witness.
ed Mr.. Phillips argued against the line Of O.
at animation proposed. There never would
a' an end to the trial if such course was permi
Oc. ted.
=, Mr.. 0ud-There was no evidence offered
we the United States as to the existence of the
papers. The circumstances were introduced
Wy the defense.
Mr.. Brady remarked that Mr.. Pendleton y
terday repudated the idea that he had Il
himself TO the concealment of any kind of I
timony. The fact was, that Mr. Pendleton
/. ceived letters taken from the person of X
at held them in custody to be used when requir
for and communicated to Mr.. Carlisle the fact Il
do: these papers existed, and yet the defense kn
% nothing of them.
After further argument the evidence was
at mitted.
go Gao Charles Howard, of Baltimore, brother
900 law of Mr.. Key, was called. He identii
,3 9S the paper in cipher produced yesterday, as
md that had been handed to him by Mr.. Pend
ton. He said: The letter appears to be WI
'"u ten in cipher; have discovered the key to
lies have read it, and made a translation of II
SSH leW do not know who wrote it.
ris' The Court took the original and the trans
:, at tion and compared them together.
fs re-. Mr.. Brady was willing that the origi
ime should 60 to the jury, but he objected to
lSg translation being given to it. The lette
iers written in a sort Of cipher, which consists
the substitution of ono lettor for another
iol for "a," for instance. II is supposed to
for letter from Mrs. Sickles to Mr.. Key.
The defense do not wish TO have it m
public, in order to prevent any further sht
to Mrs. Sickles.
C. The Court finally ruled TINT the letter
par not admissible. .... ..... .-
eece Policeman Dow was called aud testifC
lIlea hsc took Mr.. Sickles from Attorney Gen
Blacks to his own house on the day "
Key was killed; and was in the hall of
house while Mr.. Siokles went into the lib
and held a conversation with personsj the
81. came out and was going up stairs whe
rte, stopped him, and told him he must not g
"'''' unless he would promise not to do any in
to his wife; he said he had no such intent
and let him go up; he soon came down,
ing some letters in his hands, and went
the parlor; heard voices In the parlor
81. could not understand the conversation; I h
onds no unusual sounds or noises, only voices in
J. 50; imatad conversation. inst hefore e,oinO to