Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-11-17
IN Old TRAGEDY RECALLED
Killing of Philip Barton Key
by General Daniel
E. Sickles.
HISTORY OF THE TRIAL.
|, Excited World Wide Interest Be-
cause of the Prominence of the
Parties involved.

u
The marriage of Miss Sickles and Mr..
Cayrell Crackanthorpe is announced.
1t is impossible to refer to an event
which so closely concerns General Sick
les without recalling the memorable
trial in which he was the chief actor.
That trial established for Americans
the rule that husband who kills the
DESTROYER of his domestic happiness
will not be convicted of murder.
General Sickles went further and es-
tablished for himself the rule that
husband may forgive an erring wife
without dishonor.
1t was on Sunday, February 27, 1859,
that Daniel e. Sickles shot Barton Key
de; d in Washington street,
Sickles, whose career began in New
York, was already a lawyer and politi-
clan OF note. In 1853 he had married
Miss Teresa Bagioli. daughter of an
Italian musician living in New York.
She was seventeen years old, beautiful,
with the grace and fire of the Latin
races in her figure and in her nature.
When Buchanan was appointed Min
lister to England he took with him rs
secretary of legation Sickles, who re-
signed the office OF Corporation Attor-
ney of New York City. He took his
bride with him, and she was the ad
miration of the English, Russian and
French courts. Her residence in London
was an uninterrupted social triumph.
She received most aattering attentions
from Lady Palmerston, Lady Claren-
don and other persons not only aris-
tocratic but famous.
When Mr. Sickles returned to America
he was elected member of Congress.
He went to live in Washington. His
house was in Lafayette square, then
the centre of fashion. His hospitality
was generous His wife added charm
to it
In Washington the betrayer entered
the Sickles' home. His name was
Philip Barton Key, name famous and
honored in the land, for this ones
father, Francis Scott Key, composed
The Star-Spangled Banner"
Philip Barton Key was District-At-
torney for the District of Columbia.
He was a brilliant ornament of Wash
ington society. PHYSICALLY he was tall,
we'll made, and handsome. In old
fashioned parlance, they called him "a
great ladies' man" 1t is mild express
sion. He boasted that po woman could
resist him for more than twentyfour
hours.
Mrs. Sickles did not resist him long.
She was the most tempting bait in sight
for this bird of prey. He was much
older than Sickles-almost old enough
to be Mrs. Sickles' father. That fact
caused him no shame.
The sinners were audaciously indis-
Greet Their meetings became the talk
Of Washington. On February "a Mr..
S.ckles had dinner party at his house,
after which he and his guests went to
a dance at Willard's Hotel AS he was
going out he received letter which he
thrust unopened into his pocket.
On his return home he read the letter.
1t was anonymous and revealed to him
the relations between his wife and Key
1t specified their meeting place, a house
in Fifteenth street. between X and L
streets, leased from a negro.
The husband sent an intimate friend
TO watch the house. He returned to
confirm the allegations. Mr.. Sickles
accused his wife, and she at once con-
fessed everything. She made long
written. statement, in which she con-
fessed without reserve all that had hap
pened between herself and Key.
This confession Mr.. Sickles laid be-
fore his friend, Mr.. Butterworth, and
asked his advice. AS they were talk
ing, another friend rushed into the
room and announced that Key was AZ
the moment making signals with a
handkerchief toward the house.
The advice of Mr.. Butterworth was
knowledge, there is but one course left
for you. You need no advice
According to the subsequent testi
mony of Butterworth. he then left the
house. On the street he met Key,
whom he greeted. He turned to leave
him, and saw Mr.. Sickles coming from
his house. Mr.. Butterworth then
heard Mr. Sickles exclaim in a loud
voice:
ky, you seoundrel, you have dis
honored my house. You must diet"
Key attempted to hold Sickles, who
freed himself and drew pistol. AS
Key was backing away Sickles shot at
him. Altogether he fired three times
wounding Key twice The wounds
were mortal.
Mrs. Sickles regarded her husbands
action as the only one he could take
IL letters to him she expressed the
deepest admiration for him and contri.
tion for her sin. He treated her gently
but took away her wedding ring ant
wedding presents. In response to {
heartrending appeal he returned thu
wedding ring, but it was broken.