Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-04-13

In the British courts. These cases quoted on the
otner side were civil eases hut the speaker denied
,hat the general rule Of law excluding the evil
dence OF the wife or the husband in sneh eases
mad been ever set aside in any court
de referred to the case of Hewitt art Brown
tried at the circuit court of this District where the
husband lost trunk at Browns Hotel. and under
ook TO prove by his wife the contents Of the trunk
The Court decided that the evidence could not be
received.
had dssented 4
Mr.. Carlisle said that where there was more
than one judge on bench difference of opinion
is not remarkable. Mr. c. proceeded to take up
the point Of the surrounding circumstances the
res gsSta About ocleck of the day preceding
the killing MIR. Mohun testifies to seeing him
coming from the Capitol Bridget Duffey SAYS
that between and O'Clock he retired from dinner
without eating, and asked that something should
De sent to him to eat She testiiies that shortly
after dinner Mr.. and Mrs. Sickles were together
In their bedroom. and that about o'clock after
this prolonged interview the subject Of il. this
extraordinary paper was produced. This formal
instrument concluding with an attestinp clause
is prepared, and the Court asked to saw that
that paper. not the statement given to the prisoner
at the bar at the Capitol and which brought him
home In despair; but this paper, which was with
out parallel I'm the history Of man or woman
should be given to the jury in evidence Its e3,
taordinary character in the speakers Judgment
should cause it to be rejected in any cause. The
ssIuehce was onereo Tor the purpose of showing
the character Of the principal fact occurring the
next day. q. a
Unless the Court could adopt the theory Of the
uefence that under the peculiar circumstances Of
TINS case there was no such thing as cooling time
Unjust think that Is hours of deep grief did allow
OF cooling time. The question Of cooling time
was always question of law for the Court TO de
terinlne. The Court was to say whether the decla-
ration of the wife was so connected with the trans
action which occurred Is hours after as to reduce
that act from murder to mansiauphter The matter
OF inquiry was the fact of insanity and the United
states cOntended that this evidence did not bear
ON that question in any respect.
There were two classes of men-one he trusted
was numerous, but the other was. perhaps. more
humble men who with fear and trembling follow
ed after the footsteps of their assembled Lord 1t
was they who Were competent to speak in the lam
guage OF the Scripture and say, blessed is the
man whom the Lord chasteneth !, That was one
class.
There was vet another class safe. quite safe.
from such blow as that. The confirmed adulte-
rer The open, shameless profigate. The man
nurtured In brothels. The man breathing all his
life the air Of brothels. That was man safe from
insanity because his plaything had turned false ON
his hands.
Though in this case the counsel might desire to
go into such inquiries as these, the speaker con-
tended that il would lead to other INQUIRIES
which II was difficult to say where they would
end. Such Presumptions, as any other presunp-
tons, were liable to be met and rebutted by an
other state Of facts
At the close of the remarks of Mr.. Carlisle, the
jury took short recess
The Court said it was proposed to offer the state
ment OF wife TO her husband In favor of her hus-
band, and that he could not see the distinction
between admitting evidence which would ex-
onerate directly, and evidence tending to exoner-
ate because the result would be an acquittal. The
Court was very clearly of opinion that the state
ment is not evidence, and the proposition was re-
iectcd
Mr.. Brady noted an exception to the ruling
MIR. Brady then called for defence
TESTIMONY OF ocTAvIA RIDGEIy.
[The Introduction of this Young lady upon the
stand p, oducCd much excitement ia tue room il
being understood that she to testify is To the
particulars Of the drawing up of the confession of
airs. Sickles. Sic wore a double veil of blue and
black. but at the request of counsel, uncovered
her face. The mother of Miss Ridgely acconpa-
MED her. and sat by the witness stand while Miss
i *; was giving her testimony. The personal at
fractions Of the witness Were of character To
bring all eyes upon her, but with single excep-
ton "a burst of tears) she gave her evidence with
remarkable self-possesSonl
Miss Ridgely testified that she resides in this
city, at the corner of Fifteenth street and New
York avenue, with her mother and step-father
Has resided there six years. Has known Mr. and
Mrs slckles since January this year After wit
ness Introduction TO Mrs. :. visited there fire.
quently. Was there every Tuesday. and was there
frequently during the week to dinner Was there
the Saturday preceding the death of Key. Sickles
came to the dinner table but did not eat He came
home she thinks at 5k O'Clock.
Had noticed change in Mr. :. since the pre-
ceding Thursday night, the night of the hop at
Willards'. Mr. Key was with Mrs Sickles that
night. but not 80 much "a was Mr.. Wtkof Wit
ness noticed slight change in Mr.. Sickies Thnrs-
day night, but on Friday more, and on Saturday
he had wild, distracted look. particularly when
he returned to dinner from the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes.
Here the witness burst into tears and leaned her
head upon the witness stand. A glass of water
was brought to her, and after a moment she re-
sumed
He didn't eat much dinner and went up stairs
Witness went to the library. and afterwards went
to their room, and Mrs. S. was writing and Mr.
Siekles was walking up and down the (oom.
After Mrs. >. was done writing she asked VI tness
to sign paper, which witness did.
Mrs. Sickles passed the night in the room with
witness that night. She sat on the foor with her
head Il chair. Next morning witness went
down stairs, and Mr.. Sickles did not eat Witness
heard some one sobbing, and opened the door and
could hear Mr.. Sickles sob all over the house The
sounds Mr.. Sickles gave expression to were un-
earthly. They seemed to come from his very feet.
He continued so all day Sunday when witness
saw him. Witness passed through the room where
he was, and saw him OF a bed, with Mr.. Butter
worth by his side, aud he was grooming feaTfnlIy
This was the last witness saw Of him till she saw
him get in 4 carriage after Mr.. Keys death.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Ould.-Witness was a
great deal at Sickless house; sometimes stayed
there over night Thursday before KEYS death
went there to a dinner party. Stayed there from
Thursday before Keys death till the Tuesday fol-
lowing. Did not previously stay there as long at
one time this occasion There was no one
there after the death Of Mr., Key but witness and
the servants Was frequently there during the
month of January. Mrs Sickles was always there.
The longest dates between witncSs's visits i'm jan
nary was two o three days. Thinks Mrs Sickles
was there during all Of the month Of January.
Saw her on average about four times a week Did
not see Mrs =. every day during the month of
January. Sometimes two days would elapse when
witness would not see her, but not often. On the
Sunday morning in question witness breakfasted
alone with MIR. S.s little daughter The sobbngs
alluded TO were frequent, and continued a long
time. lie seemed overwhelmed with grief
DETERMINATION OF BRIDGET DUFFY
Bridget Duffy recalled by defence After the
signing Of the paper, thinks Mr.. ). remained in
his room, and witness thinks she heard him sob
bling. Saw him first next morning when she went
into Mr.. Sickles room to take Laura out t. dress
her. Saw Mr. =. afterwards ON the stairs and he
WAS sobbing very hard indeed lie went to his
room. Saw him next at 2U minutes to ii O'Clock
Saw him coming up stairs. lie had handke
chief in his hand and was crying very much in
deed. He acted as if he was tearing his hair and
called upon God to witness his trouble and threw
himself ON the bed Witness then left the room
and it was locked. The last witness saw of him
she saw him on the stairs wipng his hands.
Knew Mr.. Key as far as seeing him is con-
cerned First saw him come through the mark as