Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-16
THE sICKLEs TRAGEDY.
THE TRIAL-FURTHER PARTICULARS OF
THE CASE.


smallest detail connected with any of the par
ties Is still caught up with eager curiosity and
rapt attention. Leslie's paper containing pic
lures OF the scene and the actors was devoured
at premium, few moments after its arrival
on Monday, and in the absence of a sufficient
supply, even Harper and others of the smallest
fry came in for an animated demand.
The Grand Jury was called on Monday, and
are, am informed, of more than average re-
spectabillty and intelligence. The evidence
before them being entirely pdfe, they will
against Mr. Sickles Indeed, Mr.. Sickes HIM
self, l am assured, would ask no heavier pun
ishment than to have the bill thrown out, as
his impatient desire is to stand before panel
OF his countrymen, and when the whole case
Is untolded, have their verdict on his act.
The guilty connection of M. Key with Mrs.
Sickles will, l understand, be admitted, to
AVOID disclosures injurious in the momory of
Mr.. Key; and the argument of the prosecution
will be directed to examine whether the exist
ence of such a criminal connection excuses the
staying of the seducer by the husbands hand,
and whether Mr.. Sickles committed the act
under the extenuating influences of an exas-
peratlng conviction of this fact
The writer, after treating at some length on
the grounds of defence by the counsel for
Sickles, proceeds to say that the question at
tempted to be raised as to the character of
Sickles's early life is outside the record, and
whatever it might have been, it was no justii-
cation for Key. But, he says
This fact is patent, and admitted even by
all VT. Keys friends, that from the time Mr..
Key was introduced to his house, and ever
cinao bie fret rociIapna
conduct as father, as a husband, and as
man, has been not only blameless, but guarded
by the most jealous care. No one in Wash
mgton can say that he has ever seen him even
in a gambling house, which here is the favor
lite fashionable resort of men whom the coun-
try delights to honor" or at bar room,
much less at any place of more dubious char
acter. His whole soul appeared to be centred
on ambition, the advancement of his political
adherents in New York, and to cultivating a
happy domestic life. To his parliament
airy duties he was scrupulously attentive, and he
was considered by many, among others the
Speaker, as the ablest member of the pres
ent House. Every Tuesday he set aside for
his wife's receptions, and every Thursday for
entertainments to his political and personal
friends, where were always to be met much of
what was most brilliant and best in Washing
ton society. Is it possible to conceive that the
act by which he scattered all his dreams, and
rushed on a risk of life and all that gives it
charm, was not the work of mad impulse of
passion or that it was the act of a cool, cal
culating, bad man?
Just structures, were they but justly found
ed have been passed on Mr.. Sickles' alleged
neglectful indulgence of his wife for all her
tastes for fashion and society, without a prop
er controlling care. But it is not true that he
did so indulge her.
When, last Spring, the attentions of Mr..
Key first became the subject of remark and
scandal, Mr.. Sickles instantly, on the first
whisper reaching his ears, called upon
that gentleman and received from him asseve-
rations of the honorable character of his re-
gard, so solemn and SO strong that coupled
with those of his wife, he could not, and did
not for a moment after, cherish suspicion
Mr. Key went so far as to seal his assevera-
ton by bringing his own pure sister to call on
Mrs. Sickles, which Mr. Sickles had right to
feel was a complete guarantee of the purity of
his relations with her. Still desiring his wife
to be not only safe from, but aboveisuspicon,
he forbade her to receive Mr.. Key. except
when invited, and on her regular reception
day, in the presence of company, restraint to
which they both submitted to and observed
1t was probably this which induced Mr.. Key
10 tease u uOuSe VI NUT Ill any
instance, save one, has Mrs. Sickles been al
lowed to go to either dinner party or ball
except in his own company. The one excep-
ton was the fancy ball of Mrs. Gwin, when,
on her mothers representation that her alb
.ence might give color of reality to what
then but wore the shape of fiction, he permit
ted her to attend that ball. Whatever inter
interviews have taken place between Mr..
Key and Mrs. Sickles since then have
been in his absence at Congress or out of
town, at the house which Mr.. Key rented for
the purpose. Had Mr.. Sickles imposed any
severer restraint, those who are now ready to
accuse him of laxity of vigilance would be the
first to brand him as a domestic tyrant, deserv-
ing and provoking by his harshness, the fate
he met. The more the facts of this sad story
Last evening took tea with an old Italian
gentleman, whom l met at Sicxles's prison,
and who, though he has mingled little with the
world possesses a most refined and cultivated
mind. He told me, that, for thirty years. he
had been the intimate friend of both Mr. and
Mrs. Sickles's family, and his story of those
years was at the present moment so interest
ing, when so many fictions are floating about
that thought / would give it to you in the
simple, touching words in which he told it,
Mrs. Bagioi, he told me, the mother of Mrs.
SclIles, was born in the year 1919 at Croton
Falls, Westchester County. Her maiden name
was Cooke. AT the age of fourteen, she came
with her family to New York. and was shortly
after adopted by the well known Italian poet
and author Lorenzo da Ponte. She was bright
and somewhat beautiful girl, and, very shortly
after her adoption, was married to Antonio Bag
iol, a composer and professor of music, who was
a visitor at Da Pontes house. M. Bagioli is a
native of Italy, but has resided in your city
for thirty years, and, by those who know him.
is said to be much respected and esteemed.
Mrs Bagioli bore to her husband an only child,
Therese Bagioli, the unhappy wife of Daniel
Z. Sickles, upon whom was lavished her par
ents' undivided love. No expense was spared
to afford her all those accomplishments which
form the best accompaniment Of beauty. She
was educated at the best schools Of New York,
and, finally, sent to the Manhattanville Convent
Of the Sacred Heart Da Ponies son, Lorenzo
da Ponte, Jr., resided at this time with his faith
err and was professor of bellies lettreS, philosophy,
and literature, in the University Of New York.
With him, as with Dugald Stewart, in Scotland,
were placed several young men for education
OF this number were Mr.. Eames of this city,
Mr.. Bigelow Of the Evening Post, and Mr.
Sickles. The Bagolis also resided in the same
house, and continued to live there after the
death of Prof. Da Ponte. Living in the same
house in which his wife was born, Mr. Sickles
saw her grow up from infancy to womanhood
Their association gradually ripened into love.
He pressed his suit upon her father, who at
once made serious objections to the match, not
from dislike to Mr.. Sickles, but from the belief
that his daughter was too young for marriage,
had seen nothing Of the world, and was of
mind too uniformed to read correctly her own
heart. Parental opposition in this, as in so
many other deplorable cases, only ended in
candestine marriage, which was performed be-
fore Mayor Kneeland, the mayor of the city OF