Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-11-25

xn0 o1o otuO mouse IN W610fu4tOO
now used for Offices. in which Payne
tried 10 assassinate Seward. ard whore
Barton Key Vas taken after be vas shot
b. Gen. Siokles, 10 big double brick
house Of three stories. with two old
fashioned brick chimnsys rising Ike
sentinels from its either end. From it's
second story windows Barton Key used
to wave his handkerchief TO Mrs. Eickles,
vhs lived In . great palace on tho other
side Of the square. She would reply
with her handkerchief whether the coast
vas clear, and the two thus carried on
one Of the most famous intriRues In our
history. Lafayette square 10 now 90 full
Of luxuriantlv-leaved trees that such
signals could mot be seen IL they were
made to-day. But In 1851 the trees we're
small. and In time THE open signaling
attracted attention. Gen. Sickles had
married his wife In New York. She vac
the daughter Of an Italian music mas
ter In that city, and at the time of the
marriage Of Sickles to her insidious 70
marks we're made about her in the pa
pers. She was very beautiful, and Vas,
when she married General Sicklss, only
sixteen years old. The advent Of the
couple 10 Warrington inauQurated q
Wild and fashionable life for this Italian
eirl, and NO money vas spared In her
husband's entertainments. The house
in which they lived was elegantly fur
nished, and 10 ID still fine mansion.
At present the Spanish embassy are
using II, and its rent must Be, should
say. 5000 Q year. Barton Key, though
be had q lovely wife in Baltimore, was
smitten With Mrs. Sickles, and the pair
carried on an intrigue for months b.
fore Gen. Sickles suspected anything
was wrong.
At last ke discovered the intrigue, and
found that Key and his wife we're in the
habit Of frequenting Q little house on
Fifteenth street, In negro neiehbor-
hood, and that Key bad rented the house
for the purpose. On Friday, Feb. 22d,
Mrs. Sickles and Barton Key, BY pre-
arranged signals, went to this house and
stayed there too hours. That night
Sickles charged HE wife with her guilt.
aad she broke down and confessed the
whole crime. Sickies was terribly bro
ken, bat be made her write out her con-
fession and sign it in the presence Of
witnesses. These things transpired be-
tween Saturday and Monday. On Mon
day Barton Key, knowing nothing Of
thig exposure, again signaled Mrs. Sick
les from this house. Gen. Sickles saw
the signal. Az Key started to come over
TO his house Gen. Sickles went to meet
him. They met on the corner Of this
square, Just below this house. Key put
out his hand and said:
"How are you, Mr.. Sickiest" when
the latter. refusing 10 take the hand,
aYou have dishouored my home and
family, aud you must der
He then drew @ revolver.
Key threw up his arms, and begged
him not TO shoot.
siekles shot, snd the ball lodged in
Keys groin.
Key staggered to q tree. which has
since been cut down for relics. and fell
upon one knee. Sickles shot him again
and again. and Key fell. crying Mur-
der!"
Eiokiss then walked Oh, saying, IL wal
reported: II think the sooundrsl ID
dead.
He vas arrested that night and tried
some Of the most noted lawyers IN the
country taking part in the oase. He va
freed and lived 10 do brave service In
the late war, and ID now practising lau
| in New York.
Barton Key Vas carried bleeding and
dying into the old club house. and from
thence bis body Vas taken 10 Baltimors
for burial. He vas . 6ne-lookino man
and his father vas the author Of Thu
Star SpAngled Banner" He was Z
nephew Of Chief Justice fancy, Who
Was On the bench q the time. and he had
. brother Who had been killed before
this In duel over Q woman.
Il was in this old club house that thu
caterer, Wormley, vho died the ofhsI
day, did some Of his frss epiourear
| cooking. After KEYS death In IL the
house fen into disfavor, and the cluk
moved from it. Il Vas then rented "
WIN. II. Seward. Who lived here durine
the var a. Secretary Of State. Before
IL was used ~ club house Chief Jus
ties fancy lived in IL while be Vas Jack
sons Secretary Of the Treasury, and 4
vas baiit years before shat BY Commo
d0re Rodgers, who vas then called thu
Nestor OF the Navy. II vas . high
toned boarding house during Tyier'l
time, when John Spencer, member o.
the Cabinet, lived IN t. After his ~
tempted assassination Gov. Seward "a
sick in this house for many months b
| fore he recovered from the e6ects Of tn
wounds inflicted By Payne. After b.
Isft Il General Bsiknap occupied IL q
Grants Secretary Of War, when u aoatl
saw continuoos round OF eaiety anti
the great Relknap scandal occurred. ana
il again doeenexAted into boarding
houss. II % nor occupied By govsrn'
4 ~f1~az