The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-11-28
A FAMOUS INTRIGUE.
"Reminiscences of the Famous SicISles-Key
Scandal.

Two houses below this is the old club
house, now used for offices, in which
Payne tried to assassinate Seward, and
where Barton Key was taken after he
was shot by Gen. Sickles. 1t is big
double brick house of three stories,
with two old-fashioned brick chimneys
rising like sentinels from its either end.
From the second-story windows Barton
Key used to wave his handkerchief to
Mrs. Sickles, who lived in n great pal
ace on the other side of the square.
She would reply with her handkerchief
when the coast was clear, and the
two thus carried on one of the most
famous intrigues in our history. Lafa-
yette square is now so full of luXuriant-
ly-leaved trees that such signals could
not be seen if they were made to-day.
But in 1851 the trees were small, and
in time this open signaling attracted at
tention. Gen. Sickles had married his
wife in New York. She was the daugh-
ter of an Italian music-master in that
city, and at the time of Sickles' mar
riage to her insidious remarks were
made about her in the papers. She was
very beautiful, and was, when she mar
ried Gen. Sickles, only 16 years old.
The advent of the couple to Washing
ton inauguratcd n wild and fashionable
life for this Italian girl, and no money
was spared in her husbands entertain
ments. The house in which they lived
was elegantly furnished, and it is still
Il fine mansion. At present the Span
ish embassy are using it, and its rent
must be. should say, $4,000 year.
Barton Key, though he had lovely
wife at Baltimore, fell in love with Mrs.
Sickles, and the intrigue was carried on
for months before Gen. Sickles sus.
pected anything was wrong.
AT last he discovered the intrigue,
and found that Key and his wife were
in the habit of frcqucnting n little
house on Fifteenth street in q negro
neighborhood and that Key adrented
the house for the purpose. Ga Friday,
FeH22, Mrs. Sickles and Barton Key,
by prearranged signals, went to this
house and staid there two hours. That
night Sickles charged his wife with her
guilt, and she broke down and confessed
the whole crime. Sickles was terribly
broken, and he made her write out her
confession and sign it in the presence
of witnesses. These things transpired
between Saturday and Monday. On
Monday Barton Key, knowing nothing
of this expose, again signalcd Mrs.
Sickles from this house. Gen. Sickles
saw the signal. As Key started to
come over to his house Gen. Sicklcs
went to meet him. They met on the
corner of the square just below this
house. Key put out his hand and said:
''How are you, Mr.. Sickles," when the
latter, refusing to take it, replied: "You
have dishonorcd my home and family,
and you must die"
He then drew revolver.
Key threw up his arms, and begged
him not to shoot.
Sickles shot, and the ball lodged in
Keys groin. +tti - ttt
Key staggered TO u tree, which has
been since cut down for relics, and fell
upon one knee. Sickles shot him again
and again, and Key fell crying "Mur-
der!'
Sckles then walked of, saying, il
was reported: Il think the scoundrel is
dead" He was arrested that night
and tried, some of the most notorious
lawyers in the country taking part i'm
the case. He was freed, and lived to
do brave service in the late war, and is
now practicing law in New York.
Barton Key was carried bleeding and
dying into the old club house, and
from thence his body was taken to Bal
timorc for burial. He was q finc-look-
inc man. and his father was the author