Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-06-17
sflistellameuns &eadimg.
DANIEL E. SICKLES.
From the New York World.

The appointment by President Grant of DAME
E. Sckles as Minister to Spain, vice John 2. Hale
resigned, has occasioned so much comment thai
we print below sketch of certain portions of bis
career that have from time to time been brought
to public notice:
Daniel E. Sckles was born in this city in Octo,
Der, 1921. When he was old enough to be put to
some useful employment hewes taught the printer
trade, which he followered for several years. AS
be emerged from boyhood he took part in ward
politics, and soon became notorious in all the mys
teres of ballot box stufhng, running primaries and
manipulating voters at the polls. His manner Of
life brought him into several damaging scrapes.
In 1887 he was indicted in the Court of Sessions,
in this city, on charge Of false prentences, but the
matter was hushed up, through political influence.
A few years later he was arraigned before the same
court, and compelled to pay over certain misap'
propriated funds to one Moore, who appeared as
plaintiff In December, 1916, he was indicted by
the Grand Jury on charge of grand larceny. The
offence charged against him was that he had taken
mortgage, intrusted to his care in his father Of
fee for delivery to Kemble & Co., and sold it, ap'
propriating the money to his own use. He was
tried for the offence, and acquitted on the plea Of
the statute oflimitations.
In the meantime, Sickles had studied law, and
had received admission to the bar in l843. His
activity in local politics was rewarded by nomna
ton for the State Assembly, in lS47, and this was
followed by his election. At this time he was living
with Fanny White, the keeper Of q notorious house
of prostitution in Mercer street, and it was the
rent belief that she supported him With the wages
of her shame A curious incident took place which
brought his name before the public in no enviable
light There was milk bill due at the bagnio Of
Fanny White and early one morning, when the
milkman called for the payment, Sickles' mistress
took the money from his pockect and gave it to a
servant girl to settle the claim. The money prov.
ed to be counterfeit, and the servant girl was ar.
rested, and on the trial all the facts came out.
During the session Of the Legislature, Sickles
took Fanny White to Albany and introduced her
in the Assembly Chamber This scandalous con-
duct created great deal Of indignation, and the
house by vote passed censure upon the act.
In 1852 there was bitter fight in this city over
the Office of Incorporation Counsel, RobertJ. Dillon
and Nelson J. Waterbury being the opposing can
didates. The friends Of Waterbury prepared cir
cular addressed to voters, which was enclosed with
ballot in an envelope, and taken to the Broad
way Post-ofice for delivery. 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 post-of6ce. He charged the
building, captured it, and tearing open the mail
bags, carried off the obnoxious documents. He was
arrested upon charge of robbing the mails, butt as
usual, the matter was hushed up and never came
to trial.
In 1855 Sickles was elected to the State Senate.
He took a conspicuous part in that body in fight
ing 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 follow
ing year at the rate Of $4,000 per annum,
which was remarkable change for one who had
been comparatively poor but short time before.
His Senatorial career was cut short by his nomi-
nation by the President as Secretary Of Legation
to London. 1t is understood that Mr.. Buchanan,
then Minister to England, solicited this appoint,
ment, and it was made against the protest of Mr..
Marcy, the Secretary of State, who, as an old New
Yorker, bad had occasion to know great deal
about the appointee. The new Secretary of Lega-
ton carried his characteristic falings 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 Treasury at the time Mr.. Guthrie, refused to
honor these drafts, and when at last Mr. Buchan-
an was obliged to send Sickles home, the disap.
pointed creditors, among whom were some lord
lings and men of fashion, followed him. and in vain
importuned him for payment.
Upon reaching New York from his foreign ex-
ploits, Sickles again plunged into politics. He
procured the nomination and election to Congress
from one of the lower districts Of this city. His
opponent contested the seat and it was charged in
the public prints that Sickles imported voters from
Brooklyn, and afdavits to that effect were printed
He WAS distinguished for nothing during his first