The Washington herald., 1912-10-13

Ioudest in the wild chorus. On all sides
men were weeping like children.
Sickles was carried trumphantly to his
home, and both he and his counsel were
serenaded. For some time he was a
popular hero.
In less than a year after his acquittal
Sickles' heart softened, and he took back
his erring wife and their baby Laura
This act resulted in q revulsion of popu-
lar sentiment that offers a fruitful field
for ethical consideration. He had SEEM
ed to have q promising prospect Of being
returned to Congress. hut his closest
friends now deserted him. In condoning
his wife's offense, II was intimated, he
also condoned the offense OF the man
he had killed. and thereby made the
killing cruel and wanton. Mrs. Sickies
was Stunned by former friends and ad-
mirers. and only a few months after
she had been taken back to her hus-
bands arms she died Of a broken heart
At the end of his term in Congress
Sickles returned to New York and tried
| to establish a law practice.
Son Attempts Reconciliation.
Stanton Sickles. the son, persuaded
Mrs. Sckles to return TO New York four
years ago. and since then has made re-
peated efforts to bring about a recon-
ella ton between MS parents.
There was a fortune Of several million
dollars left by the father Of Gen. Sickies
when he died in 1887. Gen. Sickles was
to receive one-eighth and his two chill
dren. Eda and George, each was to
| have one-eighth. Three half-sisters Of
the generals also were equal heirs. Spec
uIitions that proved Improbable are
said to have depleted the generals
large resources. but some of his relatives
! believe he still has property of consid-
cradle value. Some unkindly gossips as
sert that the chief interest in the gruff
and MANNED old warrior is due to the
possibility of financial gain when he
| dies On the other hand. the wife has
been credited with a genuine desire TO
regain her place in the heart Of the hero
OF Gettysburg. She came from Madrid
! in August of 1875 and opened the cam
paign with stanton Sickles as field mar
shall She established herself at the Bre-
| wort House, only a block from the gen.
| erals house, which is at % Fifth Ave
| nue..
Gen. Sickles was at his desk in his IL
| brary when his son entered. escorting
an unusually plump but rather attractive
| woman.
| Father. do you know this LADY, STAN
ton asked.
| Tho old general studied the face mo-
ment and replied:
| "She looks strangely familiar"
| This lady is your wife and my mother.
general" said Stanton impressively.
| Gen. SickIes extended trembling
| hand
| II am glad to see YOU he said. but
my. how fat you have grown
Good nature ruled the meeting. and il
ntIf faf tN, had
/ been effected Mrs. Sickles. however. re-
mained at the hotel and the general in
| his apartments among his books and
| typevrters and records of battles. Later
she moved into a house around the cor
ner in Eighth Street. which was placed
at her disposal by the general. From
this point of vantage the siege was con-
| tinued. but the general never surren-
dered.
I Heir I" Large Fortune.
| Early in September of this year it be-
came known that Gen. Sickles was hard
pressed by creditors. To satisfy a judg-
ment of $500 the sheriff ordered sold a
collection of objects of art. antiques
books, and furniture Mrs. Sickies' next
move may be termed a coup detat, for
she subverted the authority of the sher-
in by paying the amount of the judg-
ment against her bellicose husband. TIC
obtain the necessary money she pawned
! the jewels that were tokens of the happy
| days when she was a belle at the Spanisi
| court. In the story books they should
| have lived happy ever after; the sor
and mother We're again confident of a
| reconciliation. but Mrs. Sickles demand
ed that her husband dismiss his house
keeper Miss Eleanor Earle Wilmerdins,
I ~ fOr hnY
| fifteen years. At this time Stanton
Sickles made II appear that the han
ding Of finances had something to dc
| with the family troubles
| When the generals father died. said
Stanton. he left 100000. or this the
general received one-eighth: I received
| one-eighth. and my sister. Mrs. Eda
Crackenthorpe. Of ENGLAND. received one
i eighth. When my sister and l became
| twenty-one years old I'VE made the gen.
i eral trustee. For two years / have re-