Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-03-04
Tragedy at Washington!
Murder by n Member of Con-
gfess.
Great Excitement!

g
Phillip Barton Key, U. S. attorney for the
district of Columbia, at the hands OF Daniel
T.. Sickles, Democratic member of Congress
from New York city. Mr.. Sickles, becom-
ing convinced of the truth of certain scam
dalous rumors involving his wife, resolved
to redress his wrongs, and at about two
o'clock Sunday afternoon, proceeding from
bis residence near the presidents house to-
the south east corner of lafayette Square,
in the same neighborhood, where Mr.. Key
was engaged in conversation with Mr.. But
terworth Of New York, he charged MIR.
Key with having dishonored him and des-
troyed his domestic peace, and then shot
him with a revolver. One of the balls en-
tered the left side of the body, and passed
through to the corresponding point on the
opposite side, lodging under the skin. An
other shot took effect in the right thigh,
near the main artery, when Mr.. Key fell,
imploring Mr. Sickles not to kill him. The
third shot was in the right side, but glanced
from the body, inhicting only bruise.
Death ensued in few moments.
The body was then taken into the Ma
tional Club house, where a jury OF inquest
was held, who, after an examination into
the circumstances, of some hours length
returned a verdict, merely stating that the
death of Mr.. Key was from the effect of
pistol shots, as above stated, fired by Sickles.
The primises of the Club House were
crowded with people anxiously enquiring
all the circumstances of the event.
After Mr.. Sickles had killed Mr.. Key,
he repaired to the residence Of attorney
general Black, where he was advised to de-
liver himself into the hands of the officers,
who subsequently conveyed him to Jail,
to which he was committed for further ex-
animation on Monday. The facts which
: led to the tragedy will then probably judi
caIly transpire.
The Springfield Republican says the
social and political positions of all the partie;
will give to this occurrence wide notoriety
and much Importance. Mr.. Sickles has
: never been regarded as model of all the
!, domestic virtues and if his wife had acted
upon the principal that animated him, III
this matter, and on which he will rely foI
acquital, she would probobly have killed
: more than one woman before this time
And why should she not have equally vim
, Dictated, by the revolver, the purity of hel
Il marriage bed?
The following particulars are gathered
from the Washington correspondent of the
), N. Y. Tribune:
+ The circumstances, as I have Learned
J. them from the parties most interested Oh
5 both sides, including Mr.. Sckles, will
"a whom l have had an interview in the Dis
Of .rict Jail, are as follows:
>. For more than year there have bee
floating rumors of improper intimacy be
tween Mr.. Key and Mrs. Sickles. The
T. have from time to time attended parties
e. the opera, and rode out together. Nj
s. Sickles has heard of these reports, bu
R. would never credit them until Thursda
IN evening last. On that evening, just as
r. party was about breaking up at his hous
N. Mr.. Sickles received among his papers a
IS, anonymous letter. Without opening hi
mall or knowing the contents of the lette
he accompanied his wife to hop at Wi
lard's On his return home at midnigh
~ Mr.. Sickles opened the anonymous lette
II which informed him Of the infdety of h
~ wife, of her intimacy with Mr.. Key, an
y, ~ stating all the details of the manner
IL their meeting, and naming the place of rel
- devious, The letter was so plausible
iS' its statements, and gave such precise d
rections for the detection of the parti
in their designation meetings that NJ
Ct Sickles decided to investigate the fact
m Accordingly he placed the letter in I'll
p hands of two of his most intimate friend
is who last evening possessed themselves
!. the evidence satisfactory TO Mr.. Sickl
* that Mr.. Key had rented a house of n
NJ gro in Fifteenth street, which he used as
w. place of rendezvous with Mrs. SickIes.
This morning, being in great agony
mind Mr.. Sickles, in the presence OF tv
witnesses, charged his wife with having ha
en- illicit intercourse with Mr.. Key. At fir
1T Mrs. Sickles declared her innocence. NJ
III. Sickles then paraded before her the e,
ne, dence of her guilt. She became owe
ma whelmed with the sudden arraignment, al
!. tainted, and finally confessed her gui
iu' Mr.. Sickles was not satisfied with I'll
verbal confession, but desired Mrs. Sickl
to make the confession in writing. s.
zen complied. She also informed him how o
ran en- Mr.. Key had been in the habit of Sc
MI ing her, and his mode of telegraphing
lis her by wave of his handkerchief VIII
7 he wanted her to come out.
B. Mr.. Sickles's, residence is No. Pre-
,,cn dents square, in view of the jackson st;
Vii ute, which is opposite the White Hou
In full view of Mr.. Sickles's residence,
the other side of the square, Fifteen-ar
a-half street, is the Washington Club Hou
ect- where Mr.. Key frequented, and from
md windows of which Mrs. Sckles says