The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-10
THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT.

sos get through his argument when the Cours ad-
,ournsd.
THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT
wAsHiSGroN, April 9, 1859.
The case for the defence opens this morning. is ex
peeted that one Of the counsel for the prisoner will con-
supc The whole day the opening address. His asso
a,es would prefer bevity the opening they wish TO
reserve their plan Of operations for he present-to say
nothing Of Mr. Key, except that immediately connected
wNh the mansactsu, and TO withhold comments on the
prosecution There has been attempt to account for
the disparity between the sxs Of the bullet
sxarac~d hom the body and the bore Of the
Dcrnfer found IN the The defence deny that the
per,pger belonged " Mr. Sickles No effort has been
made W trace him. aud the defence will make the
most ofis circumstance and claim that it belonged to
Mr. Key and perhaps that the first shot came from Mr,
Key AS 10 the keys found in the pocket Of the de
ceased the idea that they those Of the house in
Feenh street, where the meetings took place, and if 80
that circumstance will be put in evidence.
Two letters from Mr.. Key to Mr Sckles-one indignant
" denouncing the psnualon made with respect to his
familiarity with Mrs Sickles and the other accepting
suose quent invitation 10 dinnerwill be offered in ev
depce II not admitted counsel will make use Of them be
fore the Jury.
The for admission becomes greater as the case
pyosf essca Many are present from New York-amopg
mem John Kelly, Sheriff; John Cochrane, NJ G. John
Clancy County Clerk; Capt Dowlog and Owen W. Bren-
nan. Mr.. Bagioli has returned TO New York.
3he Court opened at ten and quarter O'Clock.
Aer come delay the prisoner conducted into Court
and placed in the Dock where he conferred with Mr.
Brady Mr. Stanton and Reverdy Johnson.
1he Jurors called and answered to their names.
Counsel for Mr. Sckes proceeded to address the jury,
amid the solemn silence and attention Of the whole court
He said:-
Nay il please the Court, and Gentlemen Of the Jury
This is to me the for solemn thoughts, and rise to
addr ess you aborpg under struggling OF feel
ing beautiful sentiment better expressed in the
Lain than in the translation, o'nco' opime pariuM
adrcsa pyobaar posperty is the parent of friends
bad fortune FIRE in which they are ried) Friend
ship h the most sacred of all artacal distinguished
nom our natural attachments It stands nearest TO those
which by the hand Of have been interviewer with
the objects which she herself creates On the altar Of
that relation cast my present Offering II carries with
IL the junction OF warm heart May 1t prove
10 be an sfncacous tribute in favor Of my client.
I have been the companion Of his sunshine, and
am now called here TO participate in the gloom
Of his preecnt aiict'on. Trohble Is mysterious
vsiter to be the unshupable doom of man. It
has been well said that "although aicton cometh not
forth the Dust neither does trouble spring out Of the
ground . "man born trouble the sparks fly up
ward, "behold happy is the whom God correcteh;
therefore despise the Christening Of the Almighty
he mskeh and he bindeth up; he woundeth and
his hands make whole; he shall deliver thee in six
troubes-yea in seven; there shall no evil touch thee"
few weeks since the body of human being found
in the of death Of the streets Of your city
proved be the body of confirmed and habtua adul
terer. On day too sacred to be profaned by worldly
toon which he forbidden 10 molsten his brow with
the sweat Of honest day when he should have
.r h;e nd fhn,u
other days he had his aspirations heaven ward,
he should that day have allowed them to pass in that
direction VIC find him besieging with the most evil in
tenons that castle where for thsi security and repe
the law had placed the wife and children OF his neghbor
That great influence which has impressed the laws
all the departments of creationwhch has studded
the heavens with their fires and ordained the boundary
line between the day and the nehtthat sama great in
nuence which stretches the face of nature, ver
dures the green mantle and again supplant 1t fer the less
pleasing dress of winter--that great influence
which has designated the time for the dropping of the
leaves the falling of the sparrows, is the will which
,des and the hand which holds the rod with which In
this life punished. As pass from the proceed
Ing in which we are here engaged may we be
permitted to repeat over the result which conf eny
anticipate a conRratulation this defendant for the
severe ordeal through which be has passed. Had the
deco ased observed the solemn precept Remember the
Sabbath day TO keep holy" he might at this
bave form ed one Of the living. Tne injured father and
husband rushes on him in the moment Of his guilt and
under the influence Of frenzy executes on HIN jutg
ment which was as just as 1t was summary. The
which you here to decide whether this renders
s author emcnabe TO the laws OF the land la the de-
csion OF that issue gentlemen OF the jury, you have
deep and solemn interest You here 10 fix the price
q the marriage bed you are here to say in what estima
Won that sacred couch he'd Ivy honest and intelligent
American jury You are favored citizens you live ia
CITY which constitutes the city of federal government
acty coDsecrated TO liberty above all othere, but 10
the liberty Of the bertine city bearing name of the
iusrious Washington, the father of hs country Of whom
has been emphacay and truly sad that he the first
in thest in peace and the frst In the of his
country You may feel pity in reviewing this occur
renee the taken may regret the
necessity which constrained that event but wne you pity
the dead remember also that should extend commse-
ration 70 the ing Ths, life, taken away as it may
prove 10 be yo aud my gain You In ho the
wife or dsughter of some OF you would have beenn
fact know not but she had beennarkei by the
eyes that destroyed the marriage relations of this do
fendant know not how the gardens U oveness
which you now preside, had that life been spared
satisfy the neatabIe appetite of The deceased An inter.
ference with the relations must rtrke every
fectng mind az the greaest wrong that be committed
human being. IL has been well said that altction,
shame poverty and captivity preferable, aud do not
know that can express the sentiment ably than 10
rectog The lines which the great dramntst has placed in
the mouth OF the Moor the supposed discovery of the
Inconsistency OF his Desdemona:-
oTn. Hsdm pleasd heaven
t., Anbh,s o. SORES, and sh,,nes on my bare head
Given 70 ;spiiyi'y me aad my utmost hopes;
n dfoy patience But (liasD 10 make me-
A Bxed bgure for the n nc Of soorn
70 point his SOW unmoving finger at
OiUi
Yet ccrrld bear that too; we'll very we'll.
y,ut there where have garner A NO m heart:
Where ether mrst I've, bear no life.
Tie fouut,tc from the wbi my current rms
Or else dries1ip; to oe discarded thencel
Or keep II y cserp 70. foul toads
To tnot and resder in--turn thy complexion therei
Patience, bou vcupg and rose lipp'd chcrubn;
Ay, there, look grim as hel
You are here decide whether the defender OF the mar
reee bed s murdercr-whether he is TO bc put on the
same footing with the fret murderer and Is 10 be present
ed IN his neral and legal aspects with the same nus of
aggravaton about him. Gentlemen, the murderer IL a
detesable Character and far be from dcfcn him
pcore tns or any other jury Society cannot ought
10 tonten BIN Calm cold and calculating he saves his
malice AZ tbc miser his his bosom the
vsult IN which he deposits age possesses no claim for
bis consideration, nor does interfere With him in the
execution oil bs boody purposcin the very air he secs
bis weapon, aud II motions bm the wav bc mnst o., bs
selects some object OF innocence for his v,tm and be
mn on nInl lax