Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-04-21
The Siekles Trial.

although we dislike the detail of vice which it
'mbodes. On the fourth day the jury haymg
1een empaunelled the indictment was read, and
The case was then opened by Attorncy-Gener.I
Ould, who IN brief speech, detailed the prln-
III les of the law Of murder, and brought them
to bear on the case belize the court
The evidence for the prosecution was then
james H. Reed. Was passing by at the ti.:le
Of the murder Saw Sickles and Key together
Saw Sickles arm rise ard steady itself gradu-
ally: saw him raise pistol gradually in the
course Of five or ten seconds, and take deliberate
aim; he fired. Key r1trcatcd and got behind Il
tree shouting, Don shoot me Sicklcs
came within FIVE feet Of him and fred the
pistol snapped. Key then advanced toward
Sickles, who rctreated and at ten feet distant,
fired again. Key threw something at Sickhs;
on receiving this second shot, Key pressed his.
hands against his stomach, and cried something
like +" Kill me - Key then ran to the pave
ment aud fell. resting himssf on his right Ell
bow. Sickles pursued him, and fired u third
time, ut Il distance Of about two and Il half feet
from Key, standing over him lie tried to FIRE
twice more, but the pistol snapped each time
On cross-examnation tie witness stated that ho
witnessed no scuflc of any kind between the
parties. lie judged the last shot struck the de
ceased in the abdomen.
P. Y. r. Van Wick, Joseph Dudson, Cyrus
McLcech, and others also testified to the shoot
ing.
Thomas Woodward, Coroner, produced Il
Derringer pistol handed to him at the inquest
by Mr. Duwncr; also two brass keys, the case
of an opera glass, and handkerchief found in
the pocket Of the deceased Witness examined
the body Of the deceased. There was IL bnlct-
hole in the side and another in the thigh, u
bruise ON the right side, snd slight wound on
the hand Witness produced the coat, vest,
and pantaloons worn by deceased. The holes
in them produced by the shots were shown to
the jury.-This witness was infinitely examined
by the defense as to the pockets of the deceased
and their contents; but nothing material was
elected.
Dr. Coolidge made two examinations of the
body. and testified accordingly
The case of the prosecution closed here
Counsel for the prisoner now asked the Court
to compel the prosecution to place Messrs. But
terworth, Walker, and Woodbridge on the
stand, as they had been witnessed before the
Cor9ner's inquest. The prosecution refused to
do so on the ground that Butterworth was a
confederate, and that the names Of these wit
nesses did not appear on the back Of the pre-
sentiment. The Court declined to grant the mo-
ton.
The defense was opened by Mr.. Graham, who
considered the following questions at great
length, occupying the whole OF the day Satnr-
day and Monday:
FirSt-llow far the government is bound to
make out a case by facts, and not to rely on
prcsumptions,
iSecond-llow far the old rule Of presumed
malice will be considered.
Third-How far the old rule would be ap-
piled in a case of adultery.
FOuth-rhe reason or principle of the old
rule.
F16h-The effect Of this old rule.
Sirth-Ilow far the proyocation affected the
mlnu Oh ttlc itCCusSu.
Secenth--W neither there was Sufficient time
for passions to cool.
On Tuesday witnesses were examined for the
defense. John McElhone testified to the friend
ly relations between Sickles and Key.
John D. Hoover testified to a correspondence
which passed between Sickles and Key in
March, 1858 in relation to Keys alledged in
timacy with Mrs. Sicklcs and the later restora-
ton of friendship between them.
Kew S. Pine testified to remarkable strange.
ness in Sickles dcmeanor on Saturday prior to
the murder.
Robert j. Walker testified to the agony o.
mind and grief of Sickles on Sunday after the
affair took place,
Bridget Duffy, Mrs. Scklcs' servant GIRL tes-
titled to the difficulty between Mr. and Mrs
Sicklcs, also that she and Miss Rdgely signed
Mrs Sickles' confession.
Mrs. Sickles' confession was here offered in
testimony, as follows:
have bee in house in Fifteenth street
with Mr.. Key. How many times don t know
believe the house belongs to Il colorei man
The house is unocupied. Commenced going
there the latter part of January Have beer
in alone and with Mr. Key Usually staid an
hour or more. There was a bed in the seconc
story
The intimacy commenced this winter wher
came from New York, in that house-an in
timacy Of an improper kind. Have met half q
dozen times or more, at different hours of tn,
day. On Monday of this week, and Wednes
day also. Would arrange meetings when w
met in the street and at parties. Never woulC
speak to him 'when Mr. Sickes was at no ne
because knew he did not like me to speak t,
him did not see Mr.. Key for some days after
got there. lie then told me he had hired The
house as place where he and could meet
agreed to it. had nothing to eat or drinl
there. The room is warmed by wood fire
Mr.. Key generally goes first. Have walked
there together say four times--l do not thin
more was there on Wednesday last, hetwoe
two and three. went there alone. Laur,
was at Mrs Hoover's. Mr.. Key took and lel
her there at my request. From there went t.
Fifteenth street to meet Mr.. Key from there
went to the milk woman's. Immediately aIte
Mr.. Key left Laura at Mrs. Hoovers, me
him in Fifteenth street. Went in by the bacl
gate Went in the same bedroom,
" Il This occurred on Wednesday, Feb
22d, 1859. MIR. Key has kissed me IN this
house number of times.
Mr.. sickles was sometimes out Of town, an
sometimes in the Capitol. | think the intima
cy commenced in April or May, 1858. | di
not think it safe to meet him in this house, be
cause there are servants who might suspee
something. As general thing, have worn
black and white wooden plaid dress, and bea
yer hat trimmed with black velvet. Have wor
a black silk dress there also, also plaid sill
dress, black velvet cloak, trimmed with lace
and black velvet shawl trimmed with fringe
On Wednesday either had on my brown dres
or black and white woollen dress, black hat an
velvet shawl. arranged with Mr. Key to &
in the back way, after leaving Laura at Nj
Hoover's. He met me at Mr. Douglass Tn
. arrangement to go in the back way was eithe
made in the street or by Mr.. Douglass, as W
would be less likely to be seen. rhe house