The times., 1897-08-15

les, NJ. c., from New York, lived and en-
tertained with his wife Teresa on the west
side OF SiXteen-and-a- half street. Their
home was commodious and handsome, aud
located i it was nearly midway between
the Avenue and Gen. Beales house, society
had not far TO GO IL 1859 Mrs Sickles
was twenty-three years of age, and singu
larly beautiful. She was OF Italian origin,
with the Italian depth and iuster of eye,
united with a delicacy OF figure, an active
n ind and charming vivacty She was
the daughter Of Ba slioli, the composer and
teacher of music, then located in New
York Mr Siekles had loved her from boy
hood, and when he went to London as sec
letary of the American legation under
Buchanan's Administration she accompa-
MED him there as his wife. Universal ad.
miration was accorded her. A short time
after the return to New York Mr.. Sickles
was elected to Congress. This, of course,
brought the wife to Washington also.
Philip Barton Key, the friend of Sicliles,
was at this time a man TO excite interest,
even more, in a susceptible woman's breast.
He was the son of Francis Scott Key, the
author, and brother of the wife of Chief
Justice Taney. His social position in con-
sequence was high; his office OF district
attorney gave him additional influence;
he was only forty years of age and of fash
ionable and of agreeable appearance. He
missed being handsome only through the
existence of a facial pallor brought on
through heart affection OF several years
stan ding While to men he was often pee
Wish and fretful, sometimes eccentric, to
women he was ever gallant. In debate he
was calm and deliberate.
For some months previous to the shoot
ing all eossiping Washington had been busy
linking together the names OF Mr.. Key and
Mrs. Sickles Significant glances went the
rounds of the clubs and lobbies whenever
either's name was mentioned They had
been seen together many times In the
Sickles carriage; they had been seen to
meet, apparently by Encouragement, in a
cemetery When Mr. Sickles was known to
be en- gagged at the Capitol Key had been
seen to enter the Sickles home But, while
the servants winked and ioked about these
meetings the husband trusted. Or fcourse he
was aware that his wife displayed much
interest in his friend, for he was always
invited to her receptions, and was often
asked to dinner But he had seen only
woman, perhaps little vain, taking pleas
uTe in exercising & harmless influence over
man of distinction.
naniel E. Sickles wa a wa kened from his
dream OF happiness on February 25,1S59,
through the receipt of an anonymousle letter,
in which he Was told that his wife was in
the habit of meeting almost daily Philip
Barton Key at a house on Fifteenth street.
in a negro neighborhood, and that the
writer had been informed that Mr. Kew
had rented the house from a negro man,
but did not occupy it at any time excepting
when he was met by Mrs. Sjckles The
writer described the DIRE SIS which Mrs.
Sickles wore on her last visit to the house.
After investigating the neighborhood, and
satisfying himself that at least a part of
the story was true, the husband confronted
his wife with the facts. At first she de-
MED everything, weeping violently, but
on having the dress she last wore TO the