Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-02
The SIrkles Homicide.


tre, beginning with the slaughter Of CT
ley and including the unfortunate at
tack upon Sumner. the killing Of Mr.
Key by Mr.. Sicklcs is by far the mos
startling to the Union, as it IS by far th,
fullest OF horror. Difficulties which
have their origin in political discus
sions, though they may for time ar
rest public attention, make no imprcs
sion on all classes of society compared
with that which domestic tragedy In
high life must produce. Though the
prominence in political circles which
both Mr.. SicEles and Mr.. Key have
enjoyed, would make any quarrel ol
their. matter Of comment with the
people, the interest felt in the late de
plorable rencontre is enhanced hun
dred fold by the cause which produced
1t. 1t is to Mr.. Key as the bctraycr o.
conjugal virtue, and to Mr.. Sickles as
the avenger Of outraged honor that
the public eye is turned. Few, very
few, can be found who do not Justify
the act Of Mr.. Sckles, by that great
principle, which though recognized by
no human law, has its place and its
sway in every manly heart. Many OF
course regard the deed as foolish, be-
cause it must blazon his shame to the
world, and close the door upon all his
hopes of future preferment, but moth
ing will be said against the sonndness
OF the principle that the dishonor of a
wife,a sister or daughter is stain that
can only be wiped..ont with blood. We
confess we were little astonished at
the proceedings of Mr.. Sickles.-
From our knowledge of the man, We
did not suspect that he, ABOVE all 9TH
ers, the cool headed, the ambitious, the
unscrupulous, the chevalier Of cypri-
ans, the libertine-would feel the hon.
or Of any woman Of enough import
ance to demand SO great sacrifice as
be has made. We are led from his
conduct to believe that from his famil-
lar intercourse with those Of easy vir-
tue-he has learned to prize more
than other men-that most precious
of jewels-femae chastity.
Slckles' career has been as varied, il
not as romantic as that of hero of a
novel. His early youth was spent in
riot and debauchery among the vile
women and vile men of Church street,
New York. For years after he had
grown to mans estate, he was known
as the lover" of one Of New York 5
most noted courtezans. He was, how
ever, always known to possess abilities
of no common order, and in course OF
time became a lawyer and politician
The Democracy Of New York city
elected him to the State Legislature,
where he was conspicuous for his in
and his shrewdness, his
vices and his sagacity. He then de-
voted himself to the practice OF his
profession and to politics by turns, and
made little advancement
in either.
Had he given to the law the entire
devotion of his apt and fertile intel
lect, he would have gained an envia-
ble position at the bar. His reckless
uess Of character however, weighed
like mill stone round his neck, and
he took advantage of an acquaintance
with the American Minister at the
Court Of St. James, to introduce to
the first circles of London-the fe-
male whose cavalier serviente he had
uotoriously been. Again in order to
circumvent rival faction of the De-
mocracy, he broke into the Broadway
Post Office, and stole package of bal
lots which had been deposited there
for safe keeping. His personal stand
ing as . man and politician fell to
the lowest grade; and though he sue
ceeded in getting nomination for the
State Senate, he was ignominiously
beaten in q Democratic district. On
the election of Gen. Pierce, when MIR.
Buchanan wasnamed for the Mission to
Nj. Sickles was rendered the
appointment Of Secretary of Legation.
Shortly before his departure for Eng
land he married Miss Teresa Baiioli,
tho daughter Of an old Italian Music
teacher Of New York. Between old
Madame Bajioli and Mr.. Sickles there
existed a very peculiar relation, and
mischievous people insinuated that the
old lady paid Sickles' board at fash.
ionable hotel. Miss Teresa though q
we'll dressed and good looking LADY,
was not conspicuous for beauty, nor
remarkable for accomplishment.
From the time of his going to Eng
land, NJ. Sicklss' fortunes have been
constantly % the mend. On his re-.
turs h tess, b vas elected to he