Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-16

that his wife was left very much alone
The absence of the husband, however, does
not seem to have weakened the attractions
of the Sickics mansion to one of the WIS.,
itors, and that visitor was Philip Barton
Key. The jealousy of Mr. Siekles was
aroused, but his faith in his own attrac-
tions, being even stronger than his faith in
his wife. comforted him with the belief
that she could not be false to him.
At this time Mr.. Key was one of the
most conspicuous figures in the streets of
the capital In the mornings he dressed
in dark gray suit. He had dark iron gray
hair and rode superb iron gray horse
with consummate mastery and ability His
route always lay past the Sickles mansion,
and observers noticed that in going by the
house he always raised his hat or waved
his handkerchief as signal to some per-
son whose attention he wished to attract.
In addition to his daily visits to the
Sickles residence, it was also noticed that
Mrs. Sickles and Mr.. Key We're frequently
seen driving together. Anonymous let
tiers were sent to the husband, telling him
that his wife was in the habit of meeting
Mr.. Key at well known designation
house in the negro quarters, on Fifteenth
street.
Mr.. Sicklcs employed detectives to watch
his wife and Key, and their stories excited
him so much that he disguised himself and
accompanied them to verify their state
ments. The result of this Investigation
was to confirm the truth of the ANONYMOUS
letters and to intensity the jealousy and
hate of the husband.
1t has been said, and we again affirm we
know not the reason for tho statement,
that the intimacy between Mrs. Sickles
and Mr.. Key began in London, and. that
the husband then had equally strong proofs
of his wife's infidelity presented to him,
but that he had ignored them.
On the 9th day of February, 1859, Dam
Tel E. Sicklcs, instead of leaving home
after 10 O'Clock, as had been his habit, re-
manned in the house. He sat near the
front window and had not been long there
when Mr. Key passed on foot and waved
q handkerchief in the direction of the
house, which might or might not have
been signal. Half an hour before this
time Sicklcs had confronted his wife in
her own room and charged her with inf
deity. At first she strenuously denied it,
but when he named the places and the
times she cried out:
"My God, am betrayed! What you
say is true. I love you, but have been
false!'
Before taking his place at the window
to watch Sickles had armed himself with q
revolver.
Key had not yet returned his handker-
chief to his pocket when Sickles, throw
ing on his hat us he rushed through the
hall, dashed across the street, and pistol
in hand, confronting his victim, shouted:
key, you d--d scoundrel! You have
dishonorcd my home, and you must die!'
Key, who was undoubtedly brave man,
was for the instant dumfounded. 1t was
claimed by the defense, though not proved,
that he tried to draw pistol. Sickles fired
at once, the first shot taking place in Keys
groin. Key, who was as powerful man
as Sickles, leaped forward and tried to dis
arm him. Sickles got away, then leveled
his pistol again, and with fatal effect fired
straight at Keys heart. With groan Key
fell to the ground and was carried into a
clubroom near by, where he died within
two hours.
Sicklcs delivered himself up and was
sent to prison. The coroner's jury brought
in u verdict charging him with the murder
of Philip Barton Key, and the United
States grand jury subsequently indicted
him for the same offense.
Up to this time there had not been a
murder in the United States that created
such an intense sensation. At first an at
tempt was made to show that the cause
was sectional, and that Sickles represented
the north, as Key did the south; but, for
tunately for the good sense of the people,
this failed
Sickles was released on bail, indicted
Thursday, March "a, 1859, and the trial
was set down for Monday, April 4, of the
same year.
A majority of the characters who took
part III this famous trial aftcrward became
distinguished in the civil war. Judge T.
H. Crawford of the criminal court of the
District of Columbia presided. The dis
trict attorney, Robert Ould, was afterward
a commissioner of exchange for prisoners
and one Of jefferson Davis most trusted
friends. He was ably assisted by j. NJ.
Carlisle, who, when the civil war broke
out, took the side of his chief
Scores of the most prominent lawyers of
the north volunteered to defend Daniel E.
Sickles. From these he selected three
men then well known to the American