Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-03-04

The S1CKLEs AND KEY TRAGEDY-The prominent
position of the parties to the late horrible affair at
Washington City, has attracted to it much attention
throughout tie country, and excited curiosity in
gard to its details which may by be regarded
morbid but which all know, from their feelings, to
be natural We copy the following from the Union of
yesterday:
THE LAFAYETTE SQUARE TRAGEDY.
The metropolis was astounded on Sunday afternoon
by the sad tidng that Philip Barton Key, Esq, .. S.
district attorney had been shot dead by Hon. DanefE
New York MIR. Sickes since he has been in Congress,
has resided in the Woodbury. house, facing the west
ern side of Lafayette square, and facing the National
Club House. which the conflict took place. and in
to which the corpse of Mr. Key carried The Star
of yesterday evening thus chronicles the circumstances
which provoked the attack
Mrs. Sickles is the daughter of Italian music mas
ter in New York city named Bagiol She was married
when not than SIXTEEN under circumstances which
were subsequently commented upon by the press In
this city her that of intensely fashionable
soourner Mrs. Sickles in appearance, resembles Pic
cOlomin so closely as that one might easily mistake
them for each other.
According to accounts emanatng from the friends OF
Mr. Sckes through the exertion of party whom he
devolved the duty of watching he learned that Mrs
Sickes in the habit of meeting the deceased at
small twostory frame house on Fifteenth-anda-half
street, between and L. the property of negro man
named John GRAY, of whom the deceased is alleged to
have rented it, and where be kept servant woman to
attend to it that Thursday evening last woman
dressed like Mrs. Sckes seen by the watcher to go
to and remain the house for two hours and
leaving to go the residence of Mr. Sckes and that
Saturday morning parties acting for Mr. Sickles carried
Mrs Sickless clothing to the neghborhood, where the
articles were identified by females living having
been worn by tie woman who in the habit of visit
ing that house.
According to the most reliable accounts we can OBJ
TAIN third party and friend was consulted by Sickles
days to the course he had best pursue who
advised him to do nothing until obtaining positive proc
of the criminal cOnneXOn of Mrs. Slckles and the de
ceased that on the night before last Mr. Sickes charg
ed the with the crminality with such speclhca
tons caused her to faint Yesterday induced
to sign or write paper purporting to be full &C
acknowledgement of her nfdety with the deceased. That
in it she admitted that the deceased and herself had sig
nails by which she could let him know whether she couC
meet him. and explain those signals That shortly after
she explained those signals the deceased over from
about the clubhouse where he had been using lorg
nette to whether the signals out into Lafayette
Square, and in sight of those in the house. he waved
Ibis hadkerchief at the house.
The testimony before the coroners jury showed that
Mr.. Key met Mr. Sickles the northern side of Penn
sylvania avenue, at the Madison Place crossing. MIR
Key extended his hand, saying, " How are your" Mr.
Sckes pushed back the prohered hand, and exclaimed
" You scoundre, you have dishonored my house anG
ruined my family" Mr. Key put his hand into thu
breast pocket of his coat and was drawing something
out, whether it operaglass pistol there il
some doubt when Mr.. Sickes drew pistol and free
at him. The shot merely grazed the side of Mr.. Key
who retreated behind large tree followed by Mr. Sick
les, and tussel ensued AS soon as Mr. Sckles coulc
disengage his right arm, he fired again, and this time
the ball took effect, entering the right thigh, directly
over the region Of the thermora artery Mr. Key sank
on one knee, crying, don't shoot! murder" Mr.
Sickles fired again, the bail entering the body of Mr.
Key the left sde between the false ribs and passing
through the body. At this time some gentlemen came
running from the Clubhouse near by, and Mr. Sickes
seeing his adversary dead took the of frienG
and walked to the house of Judge Black the ATTORNEY
General, where he surrendered himself Officers wer,
summoned and be was soon afterwards taken to jail
first calling at bis house.
A coroners jury was summoned, who heard the testi
mony of the surgeons and several witnesses and return
ed the following verdict
That the said Philip Barton Key came to his dealt
from the effect of pistol balls fired by the hands of Dan
lei E. Sickles while standing near the southeast
of Lafayette Square, one Of the balls entering the ef