Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1859-05-07
o. e. Eickles Acquitted.

District Attorney for the District of
Columbia. The trial is ended, and Mr..
! s. has been discharged. The facts as
established by the evidence upon the
trial, are briefly as fo!Iows:-Soma
T time in April Or May, 1858, an inprop-
Grand criminal intimacy began between
Mr.. Key and the wife of Mr.. Siekles !;
and this intimacy continued minter-
rupted, Except during the brief recess
between the two sessions of Congress-
until about the 18th or goth of March
last. At the commencement of the late
session Of Congress, it appears that
Mr.. Key rented house in compare
lively remote part Of the City, for the
sole purpose Of using it as place Of
meeting with Mrs. Sicklcs, and they
were frequently seen entering, and
leaving that house together or at near
ly the same time. Some time in the
early part ofMarch last, some unknowa
person, addressed Mr.. Sickles an anon
ymous note, informing him Of the inf
deity of his wife, and naming the place
Of their criminal meetings. This letter
impressed Mr.. Sickles with determi-
nation to investigate the facts, and he
accordingly dispatched a friend, in
pursuit Of evidence.
The facts elected by the observa-
tons, and inquiries Of his friend, cen
firmed his fears, He charged his wife
with her crime, and she confessed all.
This was on Saturday; and on the fol-
lowing day, Mr.. Key was seen III the
vicinity OF Mr.. Sickles' house, evident
ly making signs, intended to attract
Mrs. Sickles' attention, and induce her
to meet him at their place ofretreat.-
Mr.. Sickles saw Mr.. Key from the win
dow, and rushed out OF the house. fol-
! lowed HIM down the street, and accOst-
ing him with the eXclanatlon--''I Oh
scouhdreI, you have dlsnonored my
! bed-prepare 10 die ~ shot him-tiriue
three shots into his person, before he
tell, and after he lay dying at his feet,
fired two more shots at him, and snap
ping his revolver the third time! AL
this happened upon the Sabbath day,
upon public thorought,sre in the Cap
ltsll Of the Nation, and almost beneath
the shadows Of the Presidential man
sion.
Mr.. Sickles gave himself up to the
authorities, was indicted and tried foI
murder, aud discharged "amid the vo-
cIlerous applause of tbs spectators. .
An array of counsel appeared for the
prisoner, and asked his acqulttal upon
the ground OF the inetticiency Of the
law IN the District OF Columbia, to
punish the crime Of adultery. II such
was the fact, Mr.. Sickles himself, as q
member Of Congress, and lawmaker
for that District, should shoulder his
share of the responsibility. Ii the law,
in this respect was inefficient, he is
answer able for it, and was not there
fore justifiable il taking the law into
his OWN hands.
It was also claimed for the defense
that Mr.. Sickles was lsboring under
the effects of 'tnental arrangement"
! in consequence Of the discovery of the
guilt of his wife, and his own dishonor.
But it will be recollected, that after he
had washed his hands in the blood Of
his victim, and returned to his house,
his friends would not let him go into
the room with his wife, until he ''piedg-
cd his honor that he would do her no
HARM II, indeed, his reason was de-
throned, his 'shonor" must have been
fattering guarantee, that he would
not slav his wife also.
/ But Mr.. Siclles was prominent
! pOluclan, fueNd OF the PRESIDENT,
and not a stone was left unturned. or
an effort umperformed, which could
possibly tend TO his acquittal. It was
even minated in private circles, be-
fore the trial commenced, and before
the facts could be made known, that
"the President desired lis acQssittoM'
What q commentary IS this, upon the
justice which our Government was Or
dained to establish, and the indepen-
dence ofits coordinate branches, as
guaranteed by our Constitution!
Daniel E. Sickles is 2 murderer be-
fore God and man, Notwithstanding a
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