The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-03-03


WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 1859
This city has been thrown into an uD
by the shooting of Philip Barton Key,
United States Attorney for the District
OF Columbia, BY Daniel E. Sickles, Mem
ber of Congress from the lid District o!
New ork, resulting in the almost instant
death of the former. The circumstances
as l have learned them from the parties
most interested on both sides, including
Mr.. Sickles, with whom | have had an
interview in the District Jail, are as fol-
lows:
For more than a year there have been
floating rumors of improper intimacy be-
tween Mr.. Key and Mrs. Sickles. They
have from time to time attended parties,
the opera, and rode out together Mr..
Sckles has heard of these reports, but
would never credit them until Thursday
evening last. On that evening, just as
party was about breaking up at his house,
Mr.. Sickles received among his papers
an anonymous letter Without opening
his mail, or knowing the contents of the
letter, he accompanied his wife to hop
at Wizards. On his return home at
midnight, Mr.. Sicklcs opened the anony-
nous letter, which informed bin of the
infdelity of bis wife, of her intimacy With
MIR. Key, and stating all the details of the
manner Of their meeting, and naming the
place of rendezvous. The letter was so
plausible in its statements, and gave such
precise directions for the detection Of the
parties in their assignation meetings that
Mr.. Sickles decided to investigate the
facts Accordingly he placed the letter
in the hands of two of his most intim ate
friends, who last evening possessed them
selves of the evidence satisfactory to Mr..
Sickles that Mr.. Key had rented house
of negro in Fifteenth street, which he
used as place of rendezvous with Mrs.
Sickles.
This morning, being in great agony of
mind, Mr. Sickles, in the presence of two
witnesses, charged bis wife with having
had illicit intercourse with Mr.. Key
At first Mrs. Sickles declared her iono-
ccnce. Mr.. Sickles then paraded before
her the evidence of her guilt. She be-
came overwhelmed with sudden arraign-
ment, faiDted, and finally confessed her
guilt. Mr.. Sickles was not satisfied with
this verbal confession, but desired Mrs
Sickles to make the confession in writing.
She complied. She also informed him
bow often Mr.. Key had been in the hab-
of seeing her, and his mode Of telegraph
ing to her by wave of his handkerchief
when be wanted her to come out.
Mr.. Sickle's residence is No. 7 Presi.
dents square, in view of the Jackson
statute. wh hich is opposite the White House
6 In full view of Mr.. Sickle's residence
on the other side of the square, Fif.
teen and "a half street. is the Washington
Club House, where Mr.. Key frequented
and from the windows of which Mrs Sick
les says be was in the habit of telegraph
ing ber with his white handkerchief. L
Mr.. Sickles was absent, she was in the
haiti Of returning the signal.
About two o'clock to day Mr.. Sickle;
saw Mr. Key come out of the Club House
and 60 round the square and walk pas
his (Sickle's) house two or three times.
He made the signal for Mrs. Sickles once
or twice, when Mr.. Sickles, arming him.
self with fye-bore six inch revolver and
two single barrel Derringers, which car.
~ each a ball double the size of the re-
volvers, went out of bis house and walk
ed down past the Presidents, and met
MIR Key. The latter greeted the former
and was about Offering him bis hand
2 when Mr.. Sickles. refusing to take Mr.
, Keys hand, said, "Sir, you have dishou.
ored me; prepare to die!' Mr.. Key star
ted back few feet, exclaiming, "What
for What for! Don't! don't!" and u ade
movement as if seeking for weapon
in his left breast but which proved to be
D an opera glass, which he threw at SckIes
MIR. Sickles then drew one of his Der
ringers and shot Mr.. Key, who staggered
some; Mr.. Sickles shot at Mr.. Key again
J with his second Derrnger, which sent hin
e reeing against tree; he cried out "mur
der" when Mr.. Sickles fired third time
from his revolver, and Mr.. Key fell. Mr.
Sickles, believing him dying, desisted
and did not fire again.
Mr.. Samuel E. Butterworth, Superin
: tendent of the Assay Office, New York
was conyersing with Mr.. Key when Mr
Sickles came up, and witnessed the affair
and then went with Mr.. Sickles to the of
fec Of United States Attorney Genera
Black. He expressed desire to surren
der himself, aud accordingly sent for th,
D Mayor, the Marshal Of the District being
absent, and in company with that m agis
trate, rode in his carriage to the Distric
Jail, where he has been visited by large
number of his friends, from different sec
j tions of the country, all of whom express
ed great sympathy for Mr.. Sickles.
+ After learning the facts, Mr.. Sioklei
5 conversed freely on the subject, and jus
titles himself. He said to me, "He hal
f dishonored me, and We could not live to
D gether on the same planet"
Since writing the above, | learn tha
after Mrs. Sickles confessed her guilt