The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-04
The Sickles and the Seward Man.
sions on Lafayette Square
in Washington.
A Locality That Was Made Fa-
nous by the Killing Of
Barton Key.
History of q Domestic Scandal and Trag.
edy in Which President Nearly
Became Involved.

Especial Correspondence OF 1dE lNDEfENDEN1'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-Of all the houses
with their domestic skeletons and social
ghosts, two by the constant iteration of the
Washington guides have come to bear a
vicarious load of scandal and tragedy.
These are the Sickles and Seward mansions
on Lafayette square. 1t was on bright
sunny Sunday morning, almost the last day
in February, 1853, that these two houses
were dedicated to the great Sickles scandal
and tragedy. Gen. Sickles was then 81
years old and member of congress from
New York City. He had been printer.
then lawyer, at twenty-four leader in
the state legislature, then James Buchan-
ans secretary of legation at the court of
st. James. In New York he met the pretty
daughter of Antonio BaRioli, singing
teacher, and he soon made her his wife.
She went with him to London, and her
tact, cult ire and beauty made her favor
lite. 10 the American minister, soon to be-
come president of the United States, she
was especially pleasing. and between the
genial old bachelor statesman and the
pretty young wife there was friendship
that willing tongues afterwards tried to
magnify into scandal.
On thai February Sunday Dan Sickles,
man, whose intimacy with the president
made him the envy Of his fellows, sat in the
club house looking out OF the second story
windows of the building since famous as
the Seward mansion. Suddenly Slckles
was observed to give start forward. He
clinched the arm of his chair and grew liv-
id. Across the park, where now are tall
elms and oaks, it was then possible to see a
carriage stopping at the Sickles house. The
door opened and a lady alighted. She took
a step or two, and the startled husband saw
it was his wife. The carriage rolled on
around the park drew up few PAGES below
the club house. Sicklos, who had been pre- |
pared by doubt, suspicion. occasional hints
OF something wrong, rose and dashed down
to the walk. In less than half minute
Baton Key. was dying, shot through the
braces of this beautiful wretch of wife to
a swift and just retribution at the hands
of the Infatuated husband. Sickles had
asked him: where have you been with
my wife?' To which Key replied: That's
not your business" 1t was charged at the
knew Of the relation in which Key stood to
his wife, and only shot him upon discover
ing that they had become society gossip.
Sickles was tried for murder; his wife
wrote confession, admitting her crimi-
nality with Key, and, after long, most
cACltluk dAu IuOsG painful UIlhlS Ju0 Ucf
PENDANT was acquitted.
Subsequently Sickles condoned his wife's
ofense and again took her to his home and
hearth. 1t is stated, however, that the poor
creature-she was represented rs weak
though cultured and beautiful woman,
who loved society and the admiration OF
the other sex-never got over the terrible
affair, and finally died broken hearted.
"Old Buck" came near being caught in
the Sickles scandal. No president, unless
it was Andy johnson in his relations with
Lucy Cobb, the tobacconist's wife, ever
had so close shave. When he became
president Buchanan was very intimate with
the Sickles family. Whenever he was tired
he had the habit of slipping out of the
white house and walking through LAFAYETTE
park for chat with General Sickles and |
his wife. Saturday morning Mrs. Sickles
came over to the white house and called |
upon the president to tell him that she had |
received some very nice buckwheat -four
from fennsylvania, and that she
was going to have some hot cakes |
for theie Sunday breakfast at the |
sickles residence. She invited the presi-
dent to come eyer to breakfast. When |
Harriet Lane heard of the invitation she |
advised the president not to 60. Al this !
time Washington society understood fully |
the nature of the intrigue being carried on |
between Key and Mrs. Sickles. General
Sickles and Buchanan were the two last
mon W learn OF the scandal. Miss Lane
was asked BY the president to give a reason
for his declining to go to breakfast. Said
she: II do not care to give my reasons.
Act upon my Judgment and you will not re-
gret IT." Buchanan was more impressed bv
her manner than her words. When the
tragedy took place buchanan fairly shud-
dered at his escape. If he had been at
breakfast he would have been with Mrs. |
Sickles Mt the time of the shooting of Kew.
The world would have believed him one Of
Mrs. sickles' lovers. He would surely have
been dragged into the scandal,
The saddest chapter in this noted TRAGEDY
connects itself with the daughter of the
recreant wife. She was reared by her
grandmother and her father carefully
shielded her from all knowledge of her
mothers disgrace. 1t was not until she was
nineteen that she knew the dreadful story.
She was at boarding school in Baltimore
One day there arose quarrel between her
self and girl from Washington, Miss
Slckles apologized for what she had said.
but the other girl refused to meet her hal.
way, and in revenge tainted her with her
mothers disgrace. The whole story had to
be told. and the poor cir. was heart broken.
From this time on she changed greatly and
led rapid pace in the society world. finally
clipping from Paris with stranger, She
was as beautiful as her mother, and highly
educated.