The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-03-09
rhe wa.hington Tragedy.


The Washington correspondent of the Phil
most candid and impartial statement of the
causes which produced the late fearful tragedy
at Washington that we have seen.
The letter from which we extract is dated
Washington, Feb. %:
- There are many rumors in circulation in
relation to the late melancholy affair between
HonDAHIEL E. SIcKLEs and PHILIP BARTON
KEY. Many of these are unbound
ed, and most of the details are exaggerated. L
have been able to CLEAN the following, as a
full and reliable account of the matters con-
nected with this fearful tragedy:
p Last Thursday evening Mr.. SICKLEs receiv-
ed a bundle of letters addressed to himself.
Among them was an anonymous communica-
tion, which he either overlooked or did not open
till Friday morning. This letter charged inf
delity to her marriage VOW on the part of Mrs.
SIaKLEs, and stated further that Mr.. KEY had
hired q house on Fifteenth street between K
7andL streets; that Mr.. KEYS motive in hiring
Ethis dwelling was for the purpose of meeting
Mrs. SIcKLEs; and that Mrs. SICKLEs was in
the habit of visiting Mr.. KEY at certain hours
i'm the
Mr. SIoKLEs was, as naturally would be
supposed, at first inclined to treat the anony-
ymeus frebrand as the work of malice. But the
circumstances being detailed; with such Rrecis-
ion, mis- suspicious were aroused, and accor-
DINGHY he requested Mr.. GEORGE B WooLD-
RIDGE, mutual friend of himself. and his
lady, to ascertain the truth or falsehood efthese
assertions, affecting, as they did, his own honor
and that of his family.
Mr.. undertook the mission,
and visited the neighborhood indicated in the
anonymous missiye, to see whether such a
house had been let last summer, and under.
what circumstance the lease had been grant
ed. He there learned that Mr.. KEY had hired
such a dwelling, at the time alleged. The
landlord was a colored man named JOHN GRAY,
who stated that he received fifty dollars a
month rent for his house, he having furnished
It, &c. The house was a two-story brick, no
one else occupied it. Mr. KEY commenced
going there with Mrs. SIcKLE in the month
of January last. KEY generally entered first;
and. going up stairs, would hoist the first
window over the door, and hang out a towel or
a white handkerchief as a signal to Mrs SICK
LES that all was clear. He then would leave
the door ajar, for Mrs SICKLEs to enter.
Tho last time Mrs: SIcKLEs and KEY had
been at this house was on Wednesday the 23d
ultimo. On that occasion they entered in the
back way, through an alley leading from
Sixteenth street.
On this Wednesday night there came along
4 man closely mufled in a shawl. He asked a
colored woman standing on the pavement wheth-
er the house was then occupied or not?
ssYes sir +" twas the response.
every well, that's all I want" the myster-
ious gentleman replied, and turning around,
walked away in the direction of K street.
He was observed, however to hang around
the neighborhood for a good part of the evening.
Eventually KEY was seen to leave the dwelling,
and the stranger mufaing his face still closer,
spoke a few words to KEY and then hurried
of. It is supposed by many that he was the
author of the anonymous letter.
Mr. SIcKLEs knew of an intimacy existing
between Mr.. KEY and his wife He supposed
it simply an innocent but incautious Irritation,
and, on account of the scandal that it excited
IN many circles, he demonstrated with her
Size did not pay any heed to these entreaties
of her husband, bat continued uninterruptedly
her singular, but (by her husband) unsuspect-
ed intercourse KEY was known to be in the
habit of attending the theatre, opera, balls
soirees, and other places of gaiety and fashion,
and was almost invariably accompanied by Mrs
SIcKLEs. He, indeed, followed her every.
where.
It is said hat KEY was accustomed to boast
of his attentions in this quarter, and that a
the National Club House the criminal inter
course between himself and Mrs. SIcKLEs wa.
well known, and formed the topic of converse
ten:
Nh. SIckLEs' dwelling was opposite tn,
Club House, and KEY was accustomed to e,
up stairs to- a window in the latter building
overlooking SicKLEs' house, and hang GU
signals to Mrs. cKL He would also go ii
Lafayette square, wave his handkerchief a
her, throw out kisses, and make profuse de
monstrations of attachment.
Before the fatal denouement of this un
hsIloWed intercourse, KEY had been time ant
agafH warned by his friends that something
dangerous woa1f grow from his criminal at
tachment. He was accustomed, however, t.
treat these friendly admonitions with an air O.
haughty bravado. He would listen to no re
monstyance from any quarter. He had beer
known to boast of his amours in society, and i