The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-29
IN. Y Xorld1


Ign is will which tells story of love,
romance and tragedy such as fiction
seldom equals. 1t brings to memory
events OF half . century that stirred 60
ciety and the nation Woman's frailty,
woman's faithlessness, mans treachery
and mans revenge-all are revealed in Its
two brief pages. 1t tells of broken homes,
wrecked lives. and still above it all. like q
halo, shines the glory of distinction at
tanned. of brave deeds done.
In an upper room of q modest house at
IL Debevoise- place, Brooklyn, the maker
of this will died on May %. A woman
almost friendless, who once had received
the adulation of dignitaries and crowned
heads, died as an outcast.
Laura b. Slckles at one time could have
claimed the hand of the bravest and best
in America or Europe. Daughter of man
of distinction, wealth and power, there
was nothing the future might not have
brought to her. While still in her teens
she reigned with queenly sway at the
court of Madrid. Cavaliers with the
bluest blood of old CASTLE bowed before
tinted, but some " here afsr off was dark
speck, menacing blot upon her heritage.
Laura Sickles was not girl one would
call beautiful. though her mother Was
gifted with radiant charms of feature and
person. Her father, too. the famous Gen.
Daniel +. Sickles, was and still is 8
splendid specimen OF physical manhood.
His seventy years are carried with &
dignity, majesty even, from which his
crutches cannot detract.
Gen. sioHI.E Marriage.
1t was away back in 1858 that Daniel E.
Sickles, then in his thirty-frst year and
corporation attorney for New York City,
was married to Teresa Bsgioli. She was
only seventeen and the daughter of A..
Bagioli, an Italian music teacher of this
city. Beautiful as dream of an Italian
morning was the bride of the rising young
lawyer politician. She was accompli she ed
as well, brilliant conversatiOnist in sew
sral languages and in every way fitted to
grace the home her talented husband
rave her. The young lawyer had met
ner when he was studying Italian
under Lorenzo Daponte, the librettist of
Verd's most celebrated opera. The elder
Sickles one of the richest men in New
York of those days, had carefully educated
his son, but the youth was self-willed and
there had been a quarrel. The son could
get along without his father and the old
gentleman was pleased at his rapid adj
vancement. The beautiful Teresa was
self wilied also. Her busy father could
not devote much time to her moral educa-
ton. and left TO herself she grew to woman
hood full of the choicest of feminine phys
ical charms but deficient In those beauties
of soul which elevate woman above the
sphere of ordinary humanity.
James Buchanan, already a power in
the politics of New York, was sent to Lon
don as minister from the United States.
His political acumen and knowledge of
men led him 10 accept young Sickles as
secretary of legation. In London Mrs
Sickles was the rage. She was presented
to the queen and at many of the great
social functions in the English ca piial and
at the country houses of the aristocracy
she was the observed of all observers.
1t was while her father was in London
In 1901 that Laura was born at the old
Sickles homestead in B.oomingdale. Laura
Bagiol Sickles she was christened The
next year the handsome secretary of lega-
ton returned to this country to help
elect James Buchanan president of the
United States. At the same election he
was chosen as q state senator, and the
next year he was sent to congress from
this city. He made his home In LAFAYETTE
square, then one of the most fashionable
sections of the capital. Husband and wife
were petted members of Washington's
best society.
Among the chosen friends of both was
handsome Philip Barton Key, son of
Francis Scott Key, the author of THE
Etar-Span0led Banner" Kew escorted
Mrs. Sickles 20 the opera, and was q de-
voted admirer and attendant of hers at
the receptions at the white house and the
legations. Mrs. GrundV began to whisper.
and finally things were told Mr.. Sickles
Il was on Feb. p, 1859, that Congress-
man Sickles killed Key, then the u.
s. attorney for the District of Colum-
bia. He had two Derrin9ers on his per-
son and FIVE shot revolver. Mrs. Sickles
had previously confessed her sin to her
husband in writing. Sckles walked up 70
Key, told him TO prepare to die for dis
honoring him, and put three bullets into
the body of his erstwhile friend.
Gen. siokIes Acquitted of Murder
The trial is a matter of history. It
lasted twenty days, and among the law
yers for the defense were Edwin NJ STAN
ton, afterward Lincoln's secretary OF war;
Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher, James A.
Brady, John Graham and other LAWYERS of
national reputation. Sickles was acquitted.
His wife, whom be had sent back to her
.ether, was almost heart-broken. Public
sentiment was with Mr.. Sickles, but be-
ore long there was revulsion. In obe-
Hence to the eadings OF his little daugh-
;er Laura and his own love, he took his
beautiful wife again TO his arms 1t was
not for long. though, and she soon died OF
> broken heat, stunned by her former
friends and admirers.
Then came the war, when President
Lincoln nominated Sickles as brigadier-
general in 1861, after he bad been re-elect-
ed TO congress from the Third district of
New York and had raised the Excelsior
brigade. How he gained distinction at
at Williamsburg. Fair Oaks. Malvern Hill
and finally Gettysburg; how he rose in
rank and was retired as a major-general
are matters of history.
Little Laura had been growing apace.
and when the general was appointed min
lister TO Spain by President Grant she was
fifteen years old. She went with him to
Madrid, and there learned what il was 10
receive the homage of mobiles and princes.
The military hero and diplomat was little
fitted to nurture and direct a growing
young lady. She inherited the stubborn
will Of her father and the impetuous nat