Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1859-04-14
THE sICKLEs TRIAL.

Yesterday was the ninth day o. this trial,
which has been going On regularly since its
'EEe6fhmencesnent. Fife opening speech of the
presenting gattornsy, Mr.. Guild, was delivered
4 MursdsN and il setsforfhthe facts expected
Ito be provedby tile prosecution. The witness
]]essexamipeA detsaed the }particalars of~the
shooting very much as they were given at
the time the homicide occurred-and' no new
facts with regard to it, were elected, as far
as we remember. The parties met, Sickles fired
three shots, Key fell after. the second fire-he
attempted to escape from Sickles' attack-call-
ed to him not to shoot him, &c. After Sicklcs
shot the first time, Key threw at him an opera
glass. In addition to the three shots fred,
Sickles snapped the pistol three times during the
ARRAY. He (Sickles) said in the presence of
several of the witnesses after the shooting, that
Key had dishonored him. &C..
The opening speech for the defence was COM
menced by Mr.. Graham, on Saturday and fin
ished on Monday, occupying about six hours in
the delivery. The following extracts from the
correspondence of the Baltimore american points
to some Of the facts expected to be proven by
the defence.
| The counsel of Mr. Sickles intend, it is said,
to show. that having discovered some statements
respecting his wife's intercourse with Mr.. Key
to be untrue, in having discovered that the two
did not meet on one day, as supposed, he was
so credulous that on Saturday, the day before
the murder, believing her innocent, he wrote a
note requesting the friend who was examining
into the truth of the matter, to be guarded in
his inquiries and careful not to compromise the
probably guiltless. In the afternoon this friend
brought to Mr. Sickles at the Capitol, proof
which convinced him of the truth of his suspi-
ciOns, and that the interview in question was
on another day than had been supposed. In
the evening Mr.. Sickles drew the confession
from his wife, which will be offered as part of
the res geste-and all night, all the next morn
ing, was almost frantic with grief and indigna-
ton. When Mr.. Key appeared, waving his
pistols and pursued him, and sent him to his
account
The defence say that they will prove that
Mr.. Key, on the 9th of March, year ago, re-
PEELED the ruhiof then afloat Of his improper in
tercourse with Mrs. Sickles, and characterized it
as disgusting calumny and that he pretended
to seek the author with the expressed intention
of challenging him. According to Mrs. Sickles,
the intrigue commenced in the April following.
The defence rely much upon Judge Craw-
ford's charge in the case Of Jarboe, who was
tried for shooting the seducer of bis sister. This
was Keys last cause; and it was ruled then that
such declaration as that of Mr.. Sickles, about
a dishonored bed, might be admitted in proof
with the circumstances which tended either to
explanation or confirmation. The charge also
made the state of mind on the part of the pris-
oner question for the jury. The result in this
case was verdict Of acquital after only fifteen
minutes deliberation. Mr.. Graham shortens
his argument by reading from this charge, where
all the argued and settled cases are collected.
The trial will Last a the -a.1as
mount of cross-examination and the ruling OF
the Court. The defence say that they will be
through with their witnesses in two days. Mr..
Graham will close for the defence with picture
4 Of the relations of the parties