The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-04-13
The London Times OH the Sickles Case.

| 'e'J S'"''Se anu very SAD stoiy HUH wash
ington With the recollection of Sir Cress-
well Cresswel's clieis before our eyes we
are not about 10 fly ilto paroxysms of vir-
tuous indignation because, in the United
States, as elsewhere, woman is sometimes
frail, and mansgenerally vindictive. Such
things are of all asss and of all counties,
and this Washington story about Mr. and
Mrs. Sickles and Mr. Key might, at any Civ.
en- season, find its counterpart in the scan
dalous chronicles of any of the European
apitals-London included. It is true, in.
deed that the husbands vengeance was
swift, savage, and severe. Such is no, the
way in which such injuries are resented in
I England, but according 10 the civilization of
a country, so is the fashion of its revenge
One nation uses stileto, another revolv.
er, another an old flint-gur, fourth bar.
rister. We employ the fourth weap-
on; in the United States the second comes
familiarly 20 the hand Of an outraged hus-
band The remarkable part of this occur.
renee, then, as far as we are concerned, is
the form which the husbands vengeance
assumed.
Had such story as this happened in Eng
land, and had the husband in due course
put his case into the hands OF the family
solicitor, and had that useful parsonage, still
in due course, feed counsel and brought it
before the Judge 0rdirary,we should scarce
ly have given the report a second glance
Deny it who may, the truth is that habit
renders all persons but the immediate fami-
ly, friends, and acquantances OF the parties
10 such suits, profoundly Indifferent 10 the
matter. We can hardly say if equal apathy
exists on the other side OF the Atlantic, when
injuries OF this class are avenged ir the ter
rihle fashion of this Washington tragedy
Al first sight, the fact that an injured hus.
band al once rushes 10 the conclusion tha,
nothing but the blood Of the adulierer can
be accepted as an expiation for his wrong
would seem 10 argue higher conception of
the marriage bond than the one which OBJ
tains among ourselves. We cannot how
ever, at the same time, forget that American
hands are swift 10 shed blood for riurie+ of
lar inferior class 10 those OF which we are
speaking.
The form, then, Of MIR. Sickles' revenge
was according 10 the fashion of his age and
his country. We think it probable that had
he been an Englishman, living in London,
he would have acted Otherwise. Take il
however, as you may, the story is lament
able one. In England much interest will
be felt in il, from the fact that The unfortu-
nate young wile-and surely she is most
unfortunate was known in the social cir.
cles of London. When Mr.. Buchanan was
minister over here her husband MI Sickles,
was the secretary of legation. He was ac-
companied by his wife: a child in years, s,and
still more child in appearance. She ex.
cited interest in every one who met her in
those days, and many an English friend will
grieve at the termination of her brief career.
The facts of the case may be known in a
very few words-indeed, we had rather
make as short story of il as possible, for
il is not one upon which .he mind can rest
without the most painful feelings MIR. Sick
les was secretary of legation here in Lon
don, but on the election OF Mr. Buchanan to
the Presidency he returned 10 the U. States
and Obtained the Democratic nomination
for Congress from one of the metropolitan
districts of New York. In due course he
went 10 Washington, taking with him his
wife. Now, there was certain Mr.. Philip
Barton Key, the nephew OF the Chief JUS
tice OF the United States who was the Unit.
ed States Attorney for The District of Column
bia. In the discharge of hls duties he also
was at Washington, and thus an intimacy
arose between him and Mrs Slckles, which
seems speedily TO have assumed n criminal
character. Whether it was that her husband
became distastetu TO her, or that Mr.. Key
possessed attractions which extinguished in
her mind all sentiments of her position, all
feeling Of duty, it must, we fear, be ad
mitted that the young wife became what
she was not when she was known and ad.
mired here in London. Suspicion soon dog,
ged the steps of thy young wife and para
mour. As is usual in such cases, the hus.
band was the last person TO hear the history
of his own dishonor. The connection be.
tween Mrs. Sickles and Mr.. Key, if we are
to give exact dates, began in April of las
year-was continued through last winter land
renewed again at Washington during the
present session of Congress. Impunity made
them bold; they had been discovered, Mr.
Key hired house, where they used to meet
When her husband was away from home
Mr.. Key would pass before the house
wave handkerchief, and she would hurry
out to meet him at their usual place of as
signaion. But now comes the terrible par
of the story.
On Friday, the 25th of February, Mr.. Sick
les was entertaining the Presidenof the U
s. at dinner--he at one end of the table, Mrs
Sickles al the other. He knew nothing of lht
matter in hand. In the midst of the dinner
letter was delivered to him which revealed
10 him the history of his wife's shame and o
his own dishonor. AT the time he could, o
course, say nothing and do nothing. There
sat his young wife opposite him, and by he
side the President. When the guests wen
away he began 10 consider grimly with HIM
self what course he should adopt. Tha
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