Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-04-22
CRIMINAL COURT. H. CRAWFORD, Judge.
SETENTE ENTH DAY-FRJDAy

tic double raps, Serving open sesame) at the
cast entrance. were by no means so continuous as
on previous mornings.
The jury were behind (usuaD time also and
the Judge, coming in at ten minutes past TO-
reached the room before them. Then occurred an
other interval while tine prisoner waited for
"ccupied, as usual, in newspaper reading, and in
discussing the new phases of the trial. The ques-
ton whether not the mysterious letter in cipher
was written by Mrs. Sickles was debated With
animation. and in opposition TO this theory il was
asserted. by those who claim to have the letter
that il is dated on the Saturday night preceding
the fatal Sunday, and when Mrs. Sickles was in a
state of excitement and PrOstratiOn to preclude the
possibility of her setting about the construction of
"a ciphcr-lOve-ietter. Others, who claimed to be
quite we'll posted as to the letter maintained
that it has date whatever and was unoues-
ti"nahly written by the guilty wife. Who Shall
sly!
LADY VISITORS.
Yesterday, a substantial family carriage drew
mp at the south front of the City Hall packed full
with ladies from the country who had come To
the trial. They inquired of Susan.' tn,
COOd-humOred caterer for hungry LAWYERS and re-
rortcrs. the way 10 the courtroom. Susan directed
them but hluShingly suggested that il was not
just the place for ladies. The visitors. who had
come some distance. evidently seemed 10th 10
give il up so,' bat receiving positive assurances
that females other than witnesses lad visited
the trial-rOOin, they concluded after ma king some
inquiries Is To the :. handsome prisoner - &c &c
10 rcalc themselves at Susan table with fare more
wholesome II not quite so highly seasoned, that
Of the trial.
THE OPENING PROCEEDINGS TODAY
At half past 10 the prisoner was brought in and
the jury was called.
Mr. OIld asked that John McElhone, Richard
Brodhead, and Mr.. IIanniman, witnesses should
lie called; which was done, but they did not an
swcr.
Mr. windsr here rose, and asked to make an e,
PLANTATION in reference 10 his statement Yesterday.
tie was not aware, at the time that Mr.. Doyle had
been on the stand
The Court thought such explanation irregular;
but, II no objection was made, would consent.
Mr. Winder went on to say that Mr. DOYLE was
utterly mistaken In saying that witness had told
him that he fOdnd the papers on the person of Mr.
key. At the time the search wds made. at the in
quest he wishes To deny. distinctly. that any scrap
Cf paper was found upon the person of deceased
Tine Court suggested that the conflicting testi-
InOHy between Mr.. Doyle and Mr.. Winder arose
merely from confusing the two exami nations-that
at the inquest, and that afterwaId.
Mr.. Winder said that all he wanted was to set
himself right in the matter.
IESTINoNY OF los. L DuPROw (REcALLED)
Didn't think Sickles appeared To be any more
excited on the day of the killing than any man
would be- in Il f2ht. Was about 81 or 40 feet from
him at the time The last shot was fired
CrCss-eNaT:ined Had seen Sickles frequently
IN Congress Hall before.
IE;TIdONY OF EDWARD DELAFIELD (RECALLED0
saw Sickles coming. down Sixteenth street be.
fore the killing IL seems to witness that his man.
ner WIS rather COOL from the fact that he put his
pistol in his pocket and walked away quietly al
before the kilag. Thinking Of il after ards il
appeared to him that the whole thing rather
cool. HIS impression at the time was, that the
number OF shots made it appear rather cool:
Cross examined. Never saw Sickles before
Thinks his walk is dignihed, a gentlemanly
walk, neither fast or slow.
TESTIMONY OF CHARLES H. G. LEWIS
Witness IS connected with the office of the Con-
gressiOnal Globe
TFhe witness here produced two bundles Of
Congressional copy, containing the whole days
Proceedings of the House of Representatives of
February 18th and Goth including speeches made
on those DAYS by Mr.. Sickles
MI. SarllsIe stated it was proposed to show the
state Of mind of the prisoner on the two days I'M
hledl1tely preceding the homicide.
TESTIMONY OF f. e SMITH
was reporter in the House on those days The
handwriting of the report of Mr.. Sickles' speech
on saturday is that Of Mr.. McElEone that
on Friday has interlineationS in another hand
writing. Thinks MIR. Sickles spoke on Friday
about O'Clock p. M, and on Saturday about
o'clock.
Mr.. Carlisle proceeded to read from tie Con-
GreSsicnll proceedings the remarks made by MIR
Sickles GPon Friday, February 18th. They were
made in ia the course of the debate on the naval
aPProPrl Ition bill He mvved amendment to
strlke out all appropriations for yards except
those at Pensacola, Norfolk. New York. Califor-
MIA. and SackCtt's H1rbOT, and he advocated this
until the SPEAKER s hammer fell.
His remarks on Saturday were in defence OF the
Brooklyn navy-yard.
mir. Carlisle proceeded to read at length the
SCRIPT
Witness thinks this speech was made about
O'Clock ON Saturday afternoon. Judges from
the fact that il occurs about half way in the DAVIS
proceedings Docs not know by whom the re-
vision Of the speech (Fridays) was made.
The manuscript was here passed to the jury
thdt they might see the iEterlineatiOns in another
hand writingJ
In Il majority Of instances the speeches were
handed to the members the next day for revision,
brt does not know how il was in this instance
The witness was here requested to examine the
lisl Of yeas and nays Of Fridays proceedings TO
see II he could determine by the mark opposite
SlcAies' name, by what reporter the mark was
made, 50 as To arrive at the time at which the
prisoner took part in those prOceedings.l
The witness tresuming) said ON an examination
ot the lists yeas and nays, Mr.. Sickles seems 10
have voted on the Adjournment on Friday Thinks
they adjourned that day about or o'clock p. IN
On Saturday he appears TO have voted on the last
vote taken. There is no indication at what time
the vote was taken. He could ascertain by fur
Tier examination Of the copy, which would re-
qUire some time.
Mr.. Carlisle said be was sorry to put him TO SO
much trouble, but il was necessary To do So
Tue witness then stepped from the stand and |
entered upon tedious overb1ulng of a huge roll |
of manuscripts, task which he performed with |
sufficient GOODNESS and scf-pOSsessiOn to elicit |
compliment from the counsel
LATER.-SECOND EDITION.
After recess at half past IL m, the jury again
took their seats in the box
Mr.. Carlisle stated that the prosecution had sub
United to the defence certain evidence which they
(the PrcsecutiOnl proposed TO offer and which was
then being considered by tine defence in cOnsulta
taiIOn upon il.
Here MeSsrs Ould, Brady, and Graham gather |
e'l around the Court with books and papers in |
hand submitting to the Court, evidently, that |
proposed testimony. Though little appeared TO |
IL said by either Of the counsel to the Court and
that little in hardly above n whispering tone the |
attention of the audience rivetted to that point
aud great curiosity WAS manifested to learn pre-
ClSCly what was going there.
The Court at length. without stating what the |
offer OF evidence was, ruled that ii was not ad-
nlSslble. The secrecy Of the manner in which il
was offered, objected to- and decided upon. was
agreed to by the prosecution the request of the
defence. Many different suTmises were aroat in
the court room with reference To its particular
character and tue reason why the defence had
asked the prosecution not 10 make il public by lis
discussion In open court with the SAME freedom
with which the defence had discussed evidence
offered by themselves, the question OF its adj
instability hid been disposed OF by the court
Another, and Il long pause in the proceedings
took place after the Court ruled this unknown
knOwa testimony not admissible.
Mr.. Carlisle said the Court having yuled out the