The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-14

ENTENSE excitement filled the public
mind when the tragic news was her
IN aided from Washington that the
Hon. Philip Barton Key. the district at
torney for the District of Columbia, had
been shot in one of the streets of Wash
ington by the Hon. Daniel e. Sickles,
member of Congress from New York, be-
cause, as he claimed, Mr. Key had alien
ated the affections of Mrs. Sickles.
This horrible homicide took place on
Sunday, February 81, 1859, and notwith-
standing its sanguinary and deplorable
character, was almost universally viewed
as the inevitable sequel to relationship
of guilt between the two parties.
OF the three individuals Immediately
involved in the transaction. Mr.. Key was
the senior in years. He was man of
fine appearance, tall in stature and win
ming manners. He was a son of Francis
Scott Key who had composed the song.
''The Star Spangled Banner" At the time
of his death Mr.. Key was a widower
Mr.. Sicl1les had for some years been
a prominent New York lawyer and poll
tican, who in 1858, had married Miss
Teresa Bagioli, the daughter of an Italian
music teacher. Mr.. Sickles lived partly
at Washington and partly at New York
At Washington he lived in the most fash
ionable section of the city and entertained
extensively, at which Mrs. SiclSles was
the soul and charm. Her being a uni
versal favorite did not blind the eyes of
those around her to the particular at
tention paid her by Mr.. Key. Long be-
fore the final tragedy this intimacy be-
tween the two had not only been remarked
in society, but had led to notes between
Mr.. Key and Mr. SiclSles.
I When Mr.. Sickles had sufficient proof
of her guilt, he required her to put her
confession in writing, which she did.
After all the facts were laid bare-and
they were of the most discriminating char
acter-Mr. Sickles was like mad. lie
sent for his friend, Mr.. Butterworth, who
found him almost beyond self-control and
exclaiming continually: "I am a dis
honored and ruined man, and cannot look
you in the facet Mr.. Butterworth coun-
seled moderation, and on leaving the
house for a few minutes he was informed
on his return that Key had just passed
the house twice, waving or twirling his
handkerchief three times as signal.
Shortly afterwards Mr.. Sicllles left his
home and had not gone very far when
he overlook Key. to whom he said, in
loud voice: You scoundrel, you have
dishonored my house-you must die!"
Sickles shot him and the wounds were
mortal.
After Mr.. Sickles' arrest and conveyal
to Jail he maintained a perfectly calm
demeanor. He seemed to feel that he could
have pursued no other course. Mr.. Sickles
had many callers while in JAIL including
members of the cabinet and of Congress
ard other official dignitaries. President
Buchanan sent a message of coincidence
to him.
On the 4th OF April, 1859, Mr.. Siekles
was put on trial for murder before the
criminal courts of Washington, Judge
Crawford presiding The public prosecu-
tor was Mr.. Ould. and associated with him
was Mr. Carlisle The prisoner had quite
an array of criminal lawyers to defend
him. The excitement during the trial was
most intense, and extended to the re-
motest parts of the land. A great amount
of evidence was put in, the discussion
and arguments of the learned array of
counsel were listened to by crowded audi
ences, and profound solemnity marked
every countenance.
The main propositions. constituted the
sumbstance of Mr.. Sckles' legal defense,
namely, that the adulterer may be slain
with impunity by the injured husband,
and that at the time of the homicide
Mr.. Sickles. goaded by evaporation, was
in such state of mind that he was not
accountable for his acts Nor did the
jury fail to be impressed when the pa
thetic appeal was made to them, in the
closing argument, to place an estimate
by their verdict on the purity of the mar
riage vow.
On the retir ry to deliber-
ate as to whs lsll their verdict
many of the ai'15s ed around the
dock to cheer that pregnant
moment of his wore on. each