Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-04


The Washington correspondent of the N.
Y. Tribune gives the following account of
tho late terrible tragedy, in which Hon.
Daniel F. Sickles, member of Congress from
New York city, shot and killed Phillip
Ba. On Key, U. 8. Attorney for the District
Of Columbia
For more than . year there have been
floating rumors Of improper intimacy be-
tween Mr.. Key and Mrs.. Sickles. They have
from time to time attended parties. the
opera, and rode out together. Mr.. Sickles
has heard of these reports. but would never
credit them until Tuesday evening last. On
that evening. just as the party was breaking
up at his house, Mr.. Sickles received among
his papers An anonymous letter. Without
opening his mail, or knowing the contents
Of the letter, he accompanied his wife to a
hop at Williards. On his return ,ome at
midnight. Mr.. Sickles opened his anonymous
letter, which informed him of the infidelity
of his wife. of her intimacy with Mr.. Key,
and stating all the details of the manner Of
their meeting, and naming the place of rem
devious. The letter was 80 plausible in its
statements, and gave such precise directions
for the detection of the parties in their as
signation meetings that Mr.. Sickles decided
to investigate the facts. Accordingly he
placed the letter in the hands of two Of his
most intimate friends, who last evening pos
sessed themselves Of the evidence satisfac-
tory to Mr.. Sickles that Mr.. Key had rented
. house of a negro in Fifteenth street, which
he used as place of rendezvous with Mrs
Sickl,s.
This morning, being in great agony of
mind, Mr.. Sickles, in the presence Of two
witnesses, charged his wife with having had
illicit intercourse with Mr.. Key. At first
Mrs. Sickles declared her innocence. Mr.
Sickles then paraded before her the evil
dence Of her guilt. She became overwhelm-
ed with the sudden arraignment, and faint
ed, and finally confessed her gnlt. Mr.
Sick!es was not Satisfied with this verbal
confession, but desired Mira Sickles to make
the confession in writing She implied
She also informed him how often Mr. Kew
had been in the habit OF seeing her. and his
mode of telegraphing to her by q wave Of
his handkerchief when he wanted her to
come out.
Mr.. Sickles' residence 10 No. 7 President's
square, in view Of the jackson statue, which
is opposite the White House. In full view
Of Mr.. Sickles residence, on the other eide Of
the square, Fifteen-and- ahalf street. ia the
Warrington Club House, where Mr.. Kew
frequented. and from the windows Of which
Mrs. Sickles says he was in the habit Of tel
egraphing her with his white handkerchief.
II Mr.. Sickles was absent. she was in the
habit Of returning the signal.
About 2 o'clock to-day Mr.. Sic kles saw
Mr.. Key como out of the GLIB House and 20
round the square and walk past his (SicklesD
house two or three times. He made the
signal for Ara Sickles once or twice, when
Mr.. S'ckles. srmi0g himself With O Eve bore
six inch revolver and two single barrel dir
ringsre, which carry each ball double the
size of the revolver, went out Of his house
and walked down past the Presidents and
met Mr.. Key. The latter greeted the for
mer, and was about offering him his hand,
when Mr.. Sickles, refusing to take Mr. Keys
haad. said, 'Sir. you have dishonored me !;
prepare to dis!' Mr.. Key started back .
few feet, exclaiming, "what fort what for :?
Don't! don'tl" and made . movement "a If
seeking for weapon in his left breast, but
which proved to be an opera glass, which
he threw ct Sickles.
Mr.. Sickles then drew one Of his Herring
ere and shot Mr.. Key. who staggered some !;
Mr.. Sickles shot u NJ. Key again, with his
second Der-inger. which cent him reeling
against tree. he cried ont murder" when
Ar. Sieklss fired third time, from his 70.
vol,sr, and Mr.. Key fell. NJ. Sicklss, De-
lisving him dying. desistsd. sud did not fire
again.
Mr. Samuel F. Butterworth. Superintend-
:. Il the Assay Office, New York, was con-
-ssing with kr. Key when NJ. sisklss