The Washington herald., 1912-10-13

, conversing in several languages, but frail
as mortals are frail. Sickles was re-
garded as a man about town. equally at
| home at the swell clubs and among the
Bowery FOUNDERS. He had a good prac-
tice and was prospective heir to a large
fortune. Soon after the marriage James
Buchanan. then Minister TO the Court Of
st. James. asked that Sickles be sent to
him as secretary Of the legation. The
appointment was made and for some
time London had much to say about
Sickles and his young wife. Sickles
started in his diplomatic career by ap-
pearing at a Queens ball in the uniform
of the New York militia. His wife was
presented to the Queen and was an OBJ
ject Of envy at many OF the great social
!! functions OF the British capital. While
admired for her beauty. her tendency to
coquetry was voted exceedingly indis-
Greet by leaders in superior society.
While they were in London their daugh-
ter, Laura, was born, whose life and
death added somber chapter TO the
Sickles family history.
II was while filling the Office Of secre-
tary of legation at London that Sickles
met Philip Barton Key, member of a
distinguished Maryland family. related
to the Floyds, Lees, Calhouns, Pendle-
tons and other famous southern families.
He had been married and was then 4
years of age, but childless. and for many
years had been a widower. He was over
and graceful. He had ample means. was
well educated, a great favorite with
men and. in the language of one who
knew him well. was the idol Of the
women Of Washington
The Death of Key.
Buchanan was elected President of the
United States in 1856 and Sickles was
sent to Congress from New York City.
Sickles was reelected two years later
and soon gained a reputation for his
oratory. He maintained a home almost
opposite the White House. Mr.. Key
was then United States district attorney
for the District of Columbia and at once
became a welcome and a frequent visi-
tor. He was one Of the most conspicu-
Gus figures in the streets Of the capital.
He had dark iron gray hair and rode
dark iron gray horse with consummate
grace. His route always lay past the
Sickles house and he was often seen to
raise his hat or wave a handkerchief to
some one within. In addition to visits
to the house he was frequently seen
driving with Mrs. Sickles. II is reported
that the wife had been left much alone
by the husband. whose faith in his own
attractions precluded the idea Of his
wife being untrue to him. His jealousy
was aroused by gossip and anonymous
letters. Detectives employed by him
confirmed his suspicious
On the day that he killed Key. Sunday,
Feb. "a. 1859, instead of leaving home
after 10 o'clock. as had been his habit,
Sickles remained in the house. He sat
near a front window and saw Key pass
on foot and wave a handkerchief in the
direction of the house. He had previous
" accused his wife and obtained from
her a confession. He dashed across the
street pistol in hand, and. confronting
his victim. shouted:
Key, you are a scoundrel.
Sickles fired at once, the first shot
wounding Key in the groin. Key seemed
for a moment dumfounded. He made a
desperate effort to disarm his enraged
assailant. The men were equally power
full, but Sickles was In a blind rage, tore
away from his victim. and fired two
more bullets into his body, one Of them
landing near the heart. Key was taken
to clubhouse by persons attracted to
the scene and died a few minutes later.
Cyrus Mccormick. the famous Chicago
inventor, was a witness to the Staying OF
Key and was called by the State to tes-
tify. Edwin NJ. Stanton. later Secretary
of War. was among the brilliant lawyers
that figured in the case. The prosecut-
ing attorneys were Robert Ould, newly
appointed district attorney in Keys
place. and James s. Carlisle. Both Of
these were able lawyers and both took
prominent parts in the civil war on the
Confederate side. but they did not rank
with the splendid galaxy Of legal talent
that shone around the defendant. Fore
most of these, as they were then rated.
was James T. Brady. and next to him in
power as a criminal lawyer was John
Graham. of New York City. Mr.. STAN
ton described as loud. truculent, and
forceful. was next, and then came
Thomas F. Meagher. the brilliant refu-
gee from Ireland. and finally Messrs.
Chiffon, Radcliffe. Phillips & Magruder.
notable attorneys of that time at the
Washington bar. Judge z. H. Crawford
presided at the trial.
Calm at Famous Trial.
Sickles was seemingly as calm as when
about to make a speech in the House of