New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-03-09
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.

/ WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.
Special to the New Orleans Daily Cresesns,I
4 WASHINGTON, March !, 1853.
Editors Of Crescerf on Sunday afternoon, about
o'clock, as your past and present correspondents,
"Essexn and "Malou,n were walking by the National
4 Hotel, the former was accosted by the redoubtable
i Beau Hickman. Who informed him that Barton Key,
the District Attorney son Of the author Of the Star
Il Spaueled Banner and nephew Of the wife Of Chief
Justice fancy had been shot dead on the sqnare
the Presidents house BY Hon. Daniel E. Sickles, Of
New York city. The information was correct. All
that DIV and up to the present time the excitement
has been intense Every Newspaper that contained an
item about the tragedy was eagerly bought Ten cents
were paid for copy Of the Baltimore Sun. As no
Union is Issued on Monday morning, this morning
! impression was snatched from the counters Of the
periodical stores and from the newspaper boys almost
instantly. The fullest and, according to what have
gathered orally the best account Of the whole affair,
you will find in the New York Times.
Key had been intimate with Mrs Sickles for nearly
year, had seduced her in her own house. had rented
obscure dwelling in the suburbs, where he in
the habit Of meeting her twice or thrice week. had
continued to be guest and FREUD Of the injured hus.
band, and but few moments before he was shot
chief, as signal for the usual assignaton. As long
ago as last winter the intimacy Of Key with Mrs.
Sickles had excited the scandal Of the town he
visited her In New York last summer, and continued
his attentions this winter in SO marked manner as
to excite the suspicion Of everybody but Sickes him
self. At the Napier ball. and subsequently at large
party given by Mr. Parker, of this city his behavior
towards Mrs Sickles is said to have been in the last
s. - hos
mad about her. Sickles trusted him implicitly. But
when, on Friday last an anonymous letter came to
him from New York, giving minute particulars Of
the place and Of his wifes indelity, his eyes
were opened. He visited the house they had rented
and the information he obtained there corroborated
the facts detailed in the anonymous letter. He set
friend to watch his wife enter the house. She did
not come and unable to bear his terrible suspense he
charged her with the crime. She tainted. On com
ing to- she confessed everything, and her confession
in writing was taken down in the presence of two
female friends Of the family. This was Saturday
night. On Sunday morning, seeing Key pass bis
house and wave his handkerchief, Sickles asked bis
friend Butterworth of the Assay office, in New York,
to 60 out and engage Key in conversation until be
could get his pistols Butterworth complied. Sickes,
arming himself with two Derringers and revolver,
went forth met Key; told him be had dshonored
him !; shot him with both Derringers, and with one
ball from the revolver, and it is said even snapped
the pistol twice at his head after he was down and
imploring mercy. This was the frenzy of man in
censed beyond all bounds. Key acted bravely. He
threw his opera glass at sckles head and, not until
be had been fatally wounded, did he cry MURDER
and don't shoot" He comes Of q plucky stock.
When his elder brother was MORALLY wounded some
years ago by Mdshipman Sherburne, of New Hamp-
SHIRE and had fallen to the earth, Sherburne up
and offered his hand; Key Indignantly rejected it,
and with his dying hand hurled his pistol at him.
Barton Key was made District Attorney by Mr.
Tyler, was turned out by Taylor, re-appointed by
PIERCE and at the urgent request of Chief Justice
Taney who promised that be would ask no other favor
If this were granted him. was retained by Mr.. b.
chanan Without being handsome man, he was
fine looking, and had much reputation for gallantry
His wife, now dead, was the beautiful Miss Swan, of
Baltimore. Key was introduced to her by COL May,
Of Mexican war notoriety, who was then engaged to
her. Key displaced him in her affections, and soon
after married her. A duel would have been the con-
sequence, had not Key and May been arrested. Mrs.
Sickles is said not to be the only victim who has
fallen under Keys Establishments. For a year or
two past, Key has been In such bad health that
would hardly suppose that he could be inclined to
unlawful pleasures. In fact, be looked like corpse
It was said that he was in consumption but the
port now s, that he suffering the consequences of
his vicious indulgencies.
Sickles isin jail. During Sunday he was sustained
by excitement, but gentleman who saw him yes
terday says that he is completely shattered in
nerves. He believes he has done right. His wife
was the daughter Of an Italian music teacher of New
York, whose name is Bazioli. Her mother was an
American lady OF the name of Cook. At the time of
her marriage Mrs Sickles was only sixteen years DID,
and many scandaous reports were in the newspapers
about the birth of child two months after her mar
riage There was also additional scandal concerning
her while she was in London, when Mr.. Sickles was
Secretary Of Legation. There is no end to the base
stories about both of the guilty parties, many of
which are doubtless untrue. As regards the GRIM
inaty OF Mrs. Sickes, suspect the truth was told
last night by citizen who declared that she was no
worse than many others of her class. She was
fortunate got caught-that was all" Certainly
she led luxurious life here, being INDUCED by her
husband in everything her heart could wish. The
Star says that she is personally exactly like Picco-
lomini.
Public feeling has fuctuated great deal since
the tragedy occurred. At first it was for Key then
for SckleS and To-Day " lncnes TOWARDS Key again.
If sckles is released on ball. as he probably will be,
the report is that Keys brother intends to kill him
on sight But this will hardly am told that
the ladies almost without exception sympathize with
Key, and declare that Mrs. Sickes ought to have
been shot. Indeed, learn from good authority that
on yesterday when Of there vast deal of
gaddng about among the ladies', party of them as
sembled in fashionable parlor treated the matter
with horrible levity, absolutely laughing over it, and,
while blaming Mrs Sckles and asserting that it was
" so TERRIBLE, concluded by saying that there was
room enough in the world for all of them" This
could not have believed if had not heard it from
a most reliable source.
Sckles is Catholic, his spiritual adviser priest
and sensible man. Yesterday this priest told
friend that he was going to get the "Lady of the
Lake" for Sickles to read. That's strange book
for man in his condition to read" Not at ALL"
said the priest "my business is to keep his courage
and his spirits up under the first terrible collapse from
excitement. When be reads, when he becomes calm,
then will speak to him of religion" Few Protestant
ministers would have acted SO nationally.
The squabbles at the Capitol have all ended, and
the Congressman are working manfully, think thew