Daniel Sickles This is the true story of a self-taught lawyer whose never-before-used defense not only saved him from execution, but turned the entire judicial system on its head. On the afternoon of Saturday, February 27, 1859, the nation's capital was thrown into a state of excitement over an incident which took place at Lafayette Square. At 2 o'clock, two distinguished gentlemen met each other on the square. One offered his hand for a handshake, the other refused. Instead,