The Assassination of Philip Barton Key
Unresolved: A True Crime & Mystery Podcast
Unresolved Productions
4.5 • 190 Ratings
🗓️ 30 June 2019
⏱️ 46 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Daniel Sickles was a young Congressman from New York, who had the favor of President James Buchanan himself. To outsiders, Sickles seemed well on his way to having a lengthy career in Washington. Since moving there, he had befriended many, but none were as close to him and his wife as U.S. Attorney Philip Barton Key.
Key, the son of American icon Francis Scott Key, was one of the most charming and handsome men in the region. But on the evening of February 24th, 1859, Sickles would receive a mysterious letter, alleging that Key - his trusted friend and political ally - was having an affair with his wife...
Written, hosted, and produced by Micheal Whelan
Special thanks to Chris DeRose, author of the book "Star Spangled Scandal," for agreeing to speak to me and for all of his assistance in making this episode happen. Please make sure to grab a copy of his book online or at your nearest bookstore. You can learn more by checking out his publisher's page at https://www.regnery.com/books/star-spangled-scandal-sex-murder-and-the-trial-that-changed-america/
Producers: Maggyjames, Ben Krokum, Roberta Janson, Quil Carter, Peggy Belarde, Matthew Brock, Laura Hannan, Astrid Kneier, Evan White, Katherine Vatalaro, Damion Moore, Amy Hampton Miller, Timothy Stratton, Scott Meesey, Steven Wilson, Sara Willemsen, Scott Patzold, Kathy Marie, Marie Vanglund, and Lori Rodriguez
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Music Credits
Rest You Sleeping Giant - "Leaving For Chicago"
Lee Rosevere - "Breathing"
Alan Spiljak - "Harmony"
Graham Bole - "Away An Wash Yer Hauns Ya Clatty Article"
noiseonport - "spectre"
Alan Spiljak - "Empty Days"
Mystery Mammal - "Leer"
Other music created & composed by Ailsa Traves
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You know what's really interesting? |
| 0:03.0 | If you're familiar with the Shakespeare play of Fellow, where you have everything set in |
| 0:07.2 | motion by Iago. |
| 0:10.2 | He sets up a fellow to be destroyed, but not before Othello kills his wife. |
| 0:16.7 | Just destroys all these lives. |
| 0:18.5 | In the original source material, William Shakespeare found a motive. |
| 0:24.2 | Iago wanted Othello's place and position in the military. |
| 0:30.2 | He erased the motive from his own play because he knew that Iago was more terrifying as a |
| 0:36.3 | villain who had no motives and who was simply acting out of malice and simply trying to |
| 0:44.0 | destroy people's lives for the sport of it. |
| 0:47.8 | And you know, we sort of have our own Iago in this story and we don't know what possibly |
| 0:53.7 | could have motivated them. |
| 0:54.7 | You know, other than, it looked like they were trying to get both key and sickles out |
| 1:00.4 | of the way. |
| 1:02.4 | February 24th, 1859. |
| 1:05.3 | A Thursday was one of the last days that the United States Congress would be assembled |
| 1:10.2 | that month. |
| 1:11.5 | Several members were prepared to head back to their respective states and districts, but |
| 1:15.6 | for Congressman Daniel Sickles, this was just like any other Thursday. |
| 1:20.3 | Sickles. |
| 1:21.3 | Sick, native and representative lived in Washington, DC with his wife, Teresa and his daughter, |
| 1:27.2 | Laura. |
... |
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