The Washington correspondent of the Philadelphia Bulletin
writes concerning the trial of Mr. Sickles, as follows:
“The plan of the prosecution will be for the District
Attorney to first prove the killing of Mr. Key, and then rest the case. The
defence will then be, most probably, to make the homicide justifiable, and to
do this, evidence of character will be admitted, involving the circumstances of
the illicit connection which will subject witnesses to a rigid
cross-examination. It will them be incumbent on the prosecution to introduce
evidence touching the character of the defendant. Should this be carried out
there will be some startling details. Mr. Sickles father, quite a fine-looking
old gentleman, is present in court every day.
“The grand jury two weeks ago made a presentment
against Mr. Sickles for the murder of Mr. Key, and it then became the duty of
the District Attorney to prepare an indictment, and place it before them for
their final action. This he did on the 24th instant, which it was
returned by them as a true bill. The reason for the delay is understood to be,
that they might, meantime, have opportunity to examine additional witnesses,
more particularly relative to Butterworth, so that, if they discovered sufficient
cause, they could indict him jointly with Mr. Sickles.
“Messrs. Stanton of Pittsburg, Magruder, and
Ratcliffe, accompanied by the father of the accused, came into court and asked
that Monday last be set for the trial; but after a conference with the Distract
Attorney, Monday next was agreed upon for that purpose.”
SOURCE: The National Era, Washington, D. C.,
Thursday, March 31, 1859, p. 2
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