Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-04-22
News of the Week.
TIE SICkL tS' TtI.L.
WAsuryor ~, April l

At the assembling of the Court on We'd
"a l.y IN rning, Mr.. Cirlisla fr the gpvern.
hent proceeded with his argumen against
he a1nissibilitv Of Mrs. Sickles confession.
he question WAS whether adultery could b.
limited in evid in mitigation of the
rime of murder to the grade of mnnslaugh-
pr. Mr.. Carlisle proceeded Mt very great
ength, quoting numerous authorities and
hising various questions pertinent 10 the
Fsue, thus occupying great part OF the
,rano,n. Aftr brief recess the judge
roce,ded to give his decision. The pro-
POSITION he said is to introduce the
ta,ement Of wife to her husband, flr
md on behalf Of her husband. II would
iulite all well established principles and
ules, TO admit t. 1t would have 4 most
hjurious effect on the relation Of husband
nd wife, in destroying their confidential
IDENTIFY. The proposition IS, therefore.
detected.
The confession of Mrs. Sickles was thus
xcluded as testimony in this case, by the
ulng of the Court. to which the counsel FIR
he dcfensa took exception. Two witnesses
Fere examined, hut their testimony contain
d little u, nothing of interest or importance
his closed the proceedings Of Wednesday.
10Th DAY.
prepared if Mrs. Sickles' declaration had
becn received, to have given in evidence, tn,
,ct, that in January last, Mr.. Scklrs and
hdy not his wife, remained for night at
Parnums Hotel at B fillmore. The Register
4 the Hotel was in Court for that pur-
bose. This preparation shows that, If Judge
Crawford had let in the confession, ~ vast
uantitv Of scandal on both sides, would have
been introduced. involving persons not men
Toned in tho afflir.
George B. Woodbridge, the first witness
|alle1 for the defence on Thursday, testified
fellows;
Feb Goth, was in 18th strccth from about
10 A. NJ. till 3. saw Mr.. Sickles that p NJ
Detwo; and Sat tho C.pitol. When |
t first saw him he appeared different from
What he had been the day before. When |
net him next morning an put 10 O'Clock in
he library of his own house, his eyes wern
bloodshot and red. lie told me he had sent
or mo to cpmo there. His face denoted that
DO had b,en weeping There WAS strange
manner alb ut him. lie would go up stairs
md then come down again, look about and
10 up again, Saw Mr., KY twice on that
Sunday. Tho second time about quarter To
;wo clock P. NJ. directly in front of the Lii
brary window Of Mr.. Sickles house. About five
minutes before that Mr.. Sicklcs had gone up
stairs two minutes after Mr.. Sicklos came
down stairs very rapidly and entered tho Ii
brary very excited and talked for O moment
with Mr. Butterworth, who endeavOred T.
calm him, lie appeared to resist these at
tempte To calm him and threw Mr.. Butter
worth off, and turned into the Hall, That is
the last saw of him until he came into the
house with the Police Officers.
WAsHINGroS, April Is.
Tho Court Room to-day is as crowded a
1t has been since the commencement
of this memorable trial. The interest il
it does not abate jot, bat rattle
becomes intensified from day u day. Their
is so much time consumed by Counsel j
arguing the questions that arise, that bn
little real progress is made, and weeks mn.
yet el pse before the trial can be brough
to close. Tho Court was opened
at half past ten O'Clock, and soo'
aft the prisoner was brought in looking les
carevorn than heretofore. Mrs. Name
Brown, wife Of tho Presidents gardener,
middle aged Ia ly, WAS placed on the stand
As the oath was administered to her she sal
she did not hear 1t and wanted to undcrstan
it.
Mr.. Carlisle supposed thera must be som
determine tho question about this house OF !
Gray's. They were sliding along in tho d
rtction of giving evidence Of adultery.
SO ii WAS the duty OF the prosecution to pr
sent the question to the Court.
Mr.. Brady would insist that Key w
killed in an act Of adultery within the mea'
ing of the law, and that thar WIS prove
within the testimony Of the prosecutlo
They would offer evidence too on the pol
Of insanity, supporting it on the rulings
tho case sof Day and Jarh1e. They otter
prove first that before Mrs Sickles left b
house and homo on the 9th Of Fe). III
shortly before he me, Mr.. Key, the latt
had Used his handkerchief in front of sa
house as signal for her to leave the hou
to Join him to proceed to said house in Is
street.
Mr.. Carlisle argued against the admissh
ity Of evidence of adultery. He regard
the question ono of exceeding importan
to the administration of justice generally,
Mr.. Phillips referred to tho Comma
wealth against Bell, in Addison, add
'here theJudgc lays down the doctrine viii
is consistent entirely with everything
have said, that the passion arising from Il
icient provocaton, is evidence of the
sence of malice. We think we have prov
the passion; that is not for us, but fof
Court to determe-but coming nearer 70
point, we have the proposition that il
husband find or sea the wife in