The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-06-10
RATES OF ADVERTISING.
Daniel E. Sickles, the New American
Minister to Spain.

@lnlSGeT W opdlu.
The appointment by President Grant
of Daniel E. SicEles as Minister to Spain,
uice John P. Hale, resigned, has OCCASION
ed so much comment that we print below
a sketch of certain portions of his career
that,have from time to time been brought
to public notice
Daniel e. Sickles was born in this city
in October, 1921. When he was old
enough to be put to some useful employ
ment he was taught the printers trade,
which he followed for several years. As
Be.emerged from boyhood he took part in
ward politics, and soon became notorious
in all the, mysteries of ballot box stuf6ng,
running primaries, and manipulating vo-
ters. at the polls: HIS manner of life
brought him into several damaging
scrapesI In 1887 he was indicted in The
Court of Sessions in this city on charge
of false pretenses,- but the matter was
hushed up, through political influence.
4 few years later he was arraigncd be-
fore the same court and compelled to pay
over certain misappropriated funds to
ane Moore, who appeared as plaintiff
Bl December, 1916, he was indicted by
the Grand Jury on q charge of grand
larceny. The offence charged against
him was that he had taken mortgage,
entrusted to his care in his fathers Office
for delivery to Kemble & Co., and sold it,
appropriating the money to his own use.
He was tried for the offence, and acquit-
ted on the plea, of the statute of limita-
ton.
Ih.the meantime, Sickles had studied
law, and had received admission to The
bar in 1S43. His activity in local poll
tics was rewarded by nomination for
the State Assembly, in 1S47, and this was
followed by his election. At this time he
was living with Fanny White, the keeper
of notorious house of prostitution in
Mercer street, and it was ths current be-
lief that she supported.him withs the wa
ees- Of her shame. A curious incident
took place which brought his name be-
fore The public in no enviable light.
There was milk bill due at the bannio
al Eannie White, and early one morning,
when. tho milkman called. for the pay
ment. Sickles' mistress took the-money
from his pocket and gave it to servant
girl to settle the claim. The money
proved to be counterfeit, and the servant
girl was arrested, and on the trial all the
facts came out.
During the session of the Legislature,
Sickleu took Fanny White to Albany and
introduced her in the Assembly Chamber.
This scandalous conduct created a great
deal of Indignation, and the House by a
vote passed a consure upon the act.
In 1852, there was a bitter fight in this
city over the Office Of Corporation Coun-
sci, Robert J. Dillon and Nelson J. Wa
terbury being the opposing candidates.
The friends of Waterbury prepared q
circular addressed to voters, which was
enclosed with ballot in an envelope, and
taken to the Broadway Postofice for de-
livery. Sickles belonged TO the opposing
faction, and when he got wind of this,
gathered his roughs about him, and with
several carriages drove TO the postoffice.
He charged the building, captured it, and
tearing open the mail.bags, carried off
the obnoxious documents. He was ar
rested upon q charge of robbing the
mails, but, as usual, the matter was hush
ed up anu never came W Iridi.
In 1855, Sickles was elected to the State
Senate He took conspicuous part in
that body in fighting the Albany Bridge
bill, and also in defending the Trinity
Church corporation in the contest over
their property The statement has been
made that he received $4,000 in each OF
these cases for his influence. At any
rate, he was living the following year at
the rate of $50 900 per annum, which was
q remarkable change for one who had
been comparatively poor but short time
before
His Senatorial career was cut short by
his nomination by the President as Sec
retary OF Legation to London. 1t is un-
derstood that Mr.. Buchanan, then Minis
terto England, solicited this appointment
and it was made against the protest of
Mr.. Marcy, the Secretary Of State, who,
an old New Yorker, had had occasion to
know great deal about the appointee.
Tho new Secretary of Legation carried
hisacharacteristic tailings with him to
England, much to the annoyance of his
chief. He borrowed money freely, and in
return gave drafts on the United States
Treasury. The Secretary Of the Treasu-
ry at the time, Mr.. Guthrie, refused to
honor these drafts, and wlren at last Mr.
Buchanan was obliged to send Sickles
home, the disappointed creditors, among
whom. were some lordlings and men Of
fashion, followed him, and in vain impor-
auned him for payment.
Upon reacning New York from his for
eign exploits, SiclSles again plunged into
politics He procured the nomination
and election to- Congress from one of the
lower districts of this city. His oppo-
nsnt contested the seat, and it was charg-
ed in the public prints that Sickles i'm
ported voters from Brooklyn, and af6da.
Wits to- that effect were printed. He was