The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1859-04-23
The Sickles Case.
WASHINGTON, April 9.
PROCEEDINGS OF H COURT.

SoHe uelays Inc prisoner was conducted lu'o
court aud placed on the dock, where he was
engaged for some time in conference with
Messrs. Brady. Stanton and Reverdy johnson.
The jurors were called aud answered to their
names. ~
Mr.. Graham proceeded to address the jury,
amid solemn silence and the attention Of the
whole court.
Mr.. Graham said, after an eloquent preface,
had Mr.. Key observed the solemn precept-
:. Remember the Sabbath day 10 keep ii holy
he might this day hive formed one of the
living. The injured father and husband rushes
on him at the momen, Of his guilt. and, under
the influence Of frenzy, executed OH him u
Judgment as just as it was summary. The Is
sue which you are hoe to decide is whether
this act renders its author ainenable to the
laws Of the land and in the decision of that
issue, gentlemen Of the jury. you have a deep
and solemn interest. You are here to fix The
price Of The marriage bed. You are here to
say in what estimation that sacred couch is
held by an honest and intelligent American
jury. Yon may feel a pity, in reviewing this
occurrence, for the life that has been taken.
Yon may regret the necessity which CON
strained that event, bnt while yon pity the
dead, remember also that yon shoull extend
administration to the living. That life, taken
away as it was. may pruve to be yonr and my
gain. You know not how soon the wife or
daughter of some one Of you would have
benin fact you know not but she had been
marked by the same eyes that destroyed the
marriage. relations of this defendant. You
know not how soon the gardens of LONELINESS,
over which you now preside. hid that life been
spared, would have been called upon to supply
their flower to satisfy the Unsuitable appetite OF
the deceased. s
An interference with tile marriage relations
must strike every rejecting mind rs the great
est wrong that can be committed OF, a human
being. 1t has been well said that the iuhic-
ton Of shame. poverty and captivity are
preferable / do not know that / can express
The sentiment more ably than. in reciting the
lines. which the great dramatist has placed in
the month Of the Moor" on the supposed
discovery Of the Inconsistency of his " BESIDE
mona. N You are here to decide whether the
defender of the marriage BED is a murderer !;
he is to be pnt on The same footing
with the first murderer, and is 10 be presented
in his moral and legal aspects, with the same
3lhne ofs aggravatioD gabont him.
sMr. " rahaIa reviewed the opening speech Of
The District Attorney. III which he smoke of
sicklss going out to d carnival Of blood of
being a walking magazine, and Of his
standing over his bleeding and diving victim
with his pistol iii his hand. The arms &c the
prisoner 1T the bar had been seen. They were
not SO dangerous 10 The community as were
the opera glass and the handkerchief that the
deceased carried for The purpose Of destroying
the domestic neaces aalds shaoHorsof the prisoner
The verdi was benefited hby tie death of such
q man Us Philip Barton Key.
During this pnrt II lie speech the father Of
Mepii Ind many other persons
we've nlSNed III teast
Mrs%t y aEal aTrocesded1 sto8cIte various legal
authorities ~ regard ia tie various degrees pfl
the Ecfillesof rli,gder and granddaughter. II was
for thesjjnry t0 i0qThiFe whether the prisoner, 1T
Ishe time he sshotsth deceased, was, moved by
hidden and vi elenitt%Spaaass which be- could not
lfs this shsp,ld lie proved 10 their
safistactlen he was p0k acconntable to the law
tliea deed. ne had done. TAheyshould Inquire
md decide, from the testimony u be brought
them. Whathe IN ,Sr;ssnar,s n,;nd III
aot temporarily disofdered bys the appalling
discovery ofSthe destruction Of his wifes yir-
.t'e. The prisoner was not guilty Of crime,
because when he slew the deceased lie wassthen
elelld!ng MS household and Yindicating an I'm
wrong lnStlle death Of one man. Hell
vas, probably the means Of preventing tile
ieatl OF many who might bestenptea to com
ct The same crime that the deceased had done.
this Offence was rs pp u1,i,I,9ished usbaro