Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-04-10
The slckIes rrlnI-rourth Day

WAsH1SaToN April The trial commences to.
day in earnest. and the interest in it becomes in
tensfed As soon as the doors are opened the court
room is filed with throRg, pressing and crushing
to get glimpse of the prisoner, who sits in the
barbarous looking arrangement to which he is con
signed by the usage of the court. Though he sits
throughout the days proceedings apparently Gala
and unmoved, yet when he gets back to his prison
apartment, he shows signs of exhaustion, and when
alone, which is not ofep he is said to be prey to
sorroWful refsctions not that he regrets the act
for which he is row on tTial--no compunciious
thought Of that visits bis mindbut when he thinks
upon his blighted home and the ruin that has been
wrought by the viilaiDy of false friend, his habit
ual self possession gives way and nature asserts her
supremacy.
The Washington papers have published state
ment that Mrs. Sickles is in the city There is no
truth whatever in the statement. The ladys father
contradcts it in the most positive manner, and Gays
that since she left her home here she has been
siding under his own roof in New York under the
protection OF her mother, and hopes that her name
will not be wantonly or unnecessarily dragged be-
fore the public. He and Sickles father remain to.
gether in court all the time.
Graham complains that letters passing between
him and Sickles have been tempered with in the
postoffce, some opened in transitu and others had
not reached their destination.
The Court opened at l0t o'clock. After some
delay the jury were called, and all answered
Judgs-After the jurors were dismissed yesterday
one Of the eleven came up to the bench and asked
If he could say word to me. | told him not ab5u;
the case. However he went on to say, al answered
the question put 10 me, but since have been sworn
and been in the jury box | have been rejecting on
this thing. am not quite satisfied with myself"
On which l said, 81 cannot believe you" inning
round, and he went of l think it right to mention
this publicly, in case counsel may think proper to
move about it. So little impression did The mans
appearance make me that | cannot recognize
him now, but he is one of the eleven
Moore, the juror, standing mp, said: was i'm
pressed with the responsibility that rested on NE
and felt kind of shrinking from The duty.
Judge-I hope you we're.
Juror-It made me feel unpleasant, hut this morn
ing say 20 the court that fee perfectly salts,
fed in my own mind.
Judge-Very well. / an glad to hear it. It was
the duty of the Court to state this.
Juror am very glad l have this privilege of
making an explanation.
Alpheus S. Wright, the twelfth juror, was then
sworn and took his seat in the jury bCx, when ihe
twelve jurors we're called and answered
Clerk to the prisoner-Stand up Daniel f. Sic !
kles stood up in the box Clerk-Dauiel E. Sickles !
look the jury while the Indictment is being read
The indictment was then read. Clsrk-Upon this |
indictment the prisoner has been arraigned and on
his arrangement has pleaded not guilty and has put
himself upon his country. That country you rep- |
resent, and upon this indictment you to try him
District Attorney Ould opened the case for the
prosecution by making an eloquent and effective
statement of the circumstances of the murder amid
the breathless attention Of judge jurors and au-
dienoe.
The Judge said it wasusual here to have openings
on both sides made before any of the evidence was
presented but presumed the counsel for the defence
would prefer TO reserve their opening till the case
for the prosecution closed.
Brady replied that the counsel preferred the lat
ter course.
The Judge said, while the former was the usage
of the Court, the wish of the counsel was always
consulted by him.
The witnesses for the United States were then
called into court The following persons answer
ed and we're severally sworn, such being the prac>
tice: DR.. R. II. Coolidge, R B. Stone, Richard N
DoWner, T. Doyle, Thomas E. Martin, P. " r. Van
Wicks, Jas DudroW, Abel Upshur, Edward NJ. It'd
sail, Cyrus Mccormick, John NJ Seely, Jonah D.
Hoover, Robert J. Dilton Thos. Woodward, Reuben
WOrthiDgtOn, Henry Pepburn, Edward Delafeld
Some delay occurred which the District Attorney
explained, by saying he waiting for witness
whom ne wished to examine first, and who was not
now in court, He had sent for him. This witness
was ]. H. Reed, policeman. He afterwards
came into court and sworn, and took the stand.
We're you present ct the time Of the cath of Mr.
Key?
was near BY
Be good enough TO state all the circumstances con-
nected with the killing that you saw
was passing, on the Sabbath of the 9th of Feb
ruary, up the street known as part of Pennsylvania
got up nearly on the opposite side Of the street known
as Madison place. l was walking along leisurely |
going westward and heard loud talking as ina
giped. My eye fell on two gentlemen on the corner
Of the pavement; one was standing rather westward
and the other eastward; they seemed to be from
four to six feet apart.
saw the arm of the one who was to the westward
begin to rise ; directly saw there was something
in it, apparently pistol; he raised the pistol grad
lslly in the course of five or ten seconds saw him
AXE deliberate aim saw him aiming at the man
eastward Of him the aim was deliberate. The man
eastward was making an effort to get off the drec-
ion of the pistol; in two three seconds the pis,
oil was fred; the man who fired the pistol moved
title westward slowly; the other advanced towards
lin; the one eastward followed up rapidly, but did
Tot gain upon him till they reached the place where
ne first firing took place.
Do understand you TO say that they went to the
middle of Madison place
They went westward and little on the southwes
inc when they reached about Is or 20 feet, the
rst fire took place the man whe was shot at re
reated and went somewhat northwardy and east
lardly up Madison place. the other following him
hough not 80 closely perhaps; the gentleman
tho was shot ran up and got behind tree, and
ommenced shouting Murder" Don't shoot me-"
le man who had the pistol came up to about
We feet Of him be then retreated back little
le man who was shot at following him, and (
new went into the middle Of Madison pace
lat was after the swapping and the second attempt
, shoot Whgn they reached the middle Of The