Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-03
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AT WASH
INGTON.
Phillip Baz ten Key Shot by Danlel
n. SickIes.
SAD STORY OF DOMESTIC RUIN AND BLOODY
REVENGE.

The following particulars of most tragic
affair which occurred on Sunday, are takel
! from Washington letters to the New Yorl
papers. The community was thrown into al
intense excitement to-day by the killing o
Phillip Barton Key, United States District
Attorney for the District of Columbia, at the
hands of Daniel Il Sickles.
According 20 report, Mr. Sckles, becoming
convinced of the truth of certain scandulous
rumors involving his wife, resolved to redress
his wrongs. At about two o'clock this after
noon, Mr.. Sickles observing Mr. Key pass op
posite the window of his wifes room, anG
waive his handkerchief, asked Mr. Samuel F
Butterworth, superintendent of the New
York Assay Office, who was at his house al
tie time, to follow Key and engage him il
conversation so that he would not get out O.
sight, he rnshed up stairs for his pistols ant
quickly following. found Butterworth and Key
together, at the corner of Sixteenth street
when the tragedy took place.
On coming up Sicklcs walked directly tc
/ Key and said, " You have dishonored my bee
and family, you acknowledgements to die!" al
the same time drawing his pistol. Almost
simultaneously Key placed his baud inside his
vest, and drawing what appeared to be pis
toll but what was really an opera glass, said
You had better not shoot"
Sckles at once fired, Key at the same time
throwing his glass at him. This shot only
grazed Key, slightly raising the skin of hi:
side, and he Immediately leaped behind tree
to avoid another shot. Sickles followed, and
Key catching his arm. endeavored to prevent
him from firing, but SickIes disengaged him
self, and firing again, shot Key in the upper
part of the right thigh, close to the main ar
terry.
Falling on his hip and supporting himself
with his hand, he cried, Murder! don't shoot!
S;ckles still following, fired again, with his
pistol close to Key, the ball passing through
his body below the breast.
In the mean time the report of the pistol
aud Keys cries started those in the neghbor.
hood. Mr.. Thomas Martin, clerk in the
Treasury Department, who happened at the
moment to be leaving the Club, rushed back
calling out, Key is murdered !" Mr.. Doyle
Mr.. Upshur aud Mr. Tidball, who were in the
Club at the time, proceeded hastily to the spot
when they found Sickles standing over the
body Of Key, with his pistol presented at his
head, and which he tried twice to discharge
but snapped both times-and Mr.. Butter
worth standing by eomposedly.
On Mr. Doyle's touching Mr. Sickles on Il c
shoulder, the latter at once desisted, and turE.
ing around, said: Gentleman, this man has
dshonored my bed r Upon this he took
Butterworth's arm, and walking from the
spot with the most perfect self possession, pro-
ceeded to Attorney-General Blacks, and de-
livered himself into custody.
Since writing the above, learn that after
Mrs. Sickles confessed her guilt. her husband
demanded her to return to him her wedding
ring. and desired her to write for her father
father is Antio Bagoli, an Italian music mas
ter in New York City where he has resided
about thirty years. Her mothers name WI S
Cook, and was born in New York.
Mr. Sickles married his wife when she was
sixteen years Of age. He took her to Eng
land with him when he was Secsetary of the
Legation at London md 4 Mr. Buchanan; in
trodueed her to the Queen; carried her to the
Continent and introduced her into the most
fashionable society. they lived in elegant
style here, occupying house of $4,000. Mrs
Sickos rode in a splendid carriage with out
riders; wore jewels to the value of So 600, and
seemed to want nothing that she did not have.
Mr. Key is nephew of Judge fancy, and
brother-in-law of Mr. Pendleton, Member Of
Congress from Ohio The father of Mr. Key
was the author of 1.-THE Star Spangled Ban
ner." Key and Sickles were both the intimate
friends of the President.
AS Mr.. Sickles has killed the District At
torney, it will be necessary for the President
to uppoint another to Gil his place.
Mr.. Keys friends are quite indignant, and
talk about shooting Mr. Sickles at sight
The deceased leaves four interesting chill.
dren-Llzzie, Mary, James and Al;ce-whose
ages vary from four to twelve years.
These gentlemen lived on the most friendly
terms almost up to the moment of the dread.
full act. Although gossip had made free with
Mrs. SlckleS' namo in connection with Mr.
Key for more than year, and it appears that
Mr. Sickles had heard something about it, vet
her adroltness, denals, and apparent childlike
simplicity, completely beled his suspicious
Last night he received an anonymous letter
taxing his wife directly with criminal inter
course with Key, aud detailing facts and oc-
currences In correlation. He this morning
proceeded to her room and charged her with
her guilt. At first sire denied it vehemently
and tainted. When she recovered she con.
iessed her guilt-that for long period to use
her words, she had frequent intercourse with
hey' That he had seduced her. This confess
ION she put in writing. and it was Immediately
atterward that Key passed the house, and
The tragedy was consnmated.
1NTERaENr OF THE DECEASED.