The Butler weekly times., July 21, 1886, Image 1

About The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918

Image provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO

                
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BUTLER, MISSOURI. WEDNESDAY JULY 21. 1886
NO. 34
'ftoopfoftelimes
Leabo's Story as Taken
from the Lips of tne Pris
oner by our Special
Reporter.
It lnterriew of Four Hoars in
. Which a Foil Statement
is Made.
not let her have that one. (at this J it did not suit her. Powers and I
juncture the qui'I driver reached for j loaded the machine into the wagon
a knife to sharpen his faber, but I and while I was tvin; it in the wagon
Leabo insisted that lie use a pencil she came to the door and said:
Shai'Ptner which lit! nrndticed from 'Tnh'i i nn arp nnt rrnin.r rJf iv!:lmnf
f I - T . . . - w a V vi .l.li.VUl
Home New Points in the History
of the Case.
Fervent Hopes of Commutation.
'
Iy, July 23d the Day Fixed for
the Execution.
' Presents the Times with His Photo.
Sunday morning a special reporter
ot the Times made a trip to Clinton
t
the purpose of interviewing John
I. Leabo, now under sentence to be
banged nt this place on Friday next.
Through the kindness ot Sheriff
W. E. Elliston and Jailer Harkcr,
fere permitted to have a talk ot some
tour hours length with the prisoner.
lcro seems to be taking things very
' toolv and spoke well of the treat-
nent received at the hands of the
Henry county officers, lie scemei
to appreciate the call ot your re
porter and signified his willingness
lobe interviewed for the Times, a
though he thought he had received
about advertising enough. After
passing the formalities of the day
and some general mterogotories, the
. reporter queried:
Well, Leabo, have you heard any
thing Iron) petitition to the governor
tor commutation of sentence?
Not a wor J.
What are your hopes for executive
clemency ?
I still have good hopes : I think
the governor is all right. He has
y keen at Sweet Springs for some time
; tod upon his return 1 hope and ex
pect a favorable action upon my
petition.
What is your version of your wife,
EU's, death?
I am satisfied that she drowned
trtelf in the well of her own accord,
What are your reisons for think
BjfSO?
-t She left a note in which she stated
flat she had taken laudanum; but
- laid nothing about jumping in th e
; Well. I suppose she thought the
laudanum was not sufficient tn nro-
duce death and resorted to the latter
method to accomplish her design.
'' r
vu vou give me itie circumstan-
'w ot the whole affair beginning at
L time previous to her death or as
jou say suicide ?
Yea. A$ I have stated to several
hfr reporters (here the prisoner
"wged a complaint against the papers
. publishing only a part of his
Omenta instead ot all) on the Sat
"dV before her death she was very
Wwfll and asked me to go to town
nd set her some medicine. I went
to German doctor at Walnut (I
JW'I ca'l his name) to get such med-
as she had been taking, but he
ot heing at home, I got Dr. Wil
liams to prepare some medicine for
. While at Walnut I got a letter
M Ella from her mother, m reply
to one which she had written m re
Jrd to getting her organ. My wife's
' had moved to Kansas a short
.hmtbeiore, without our knowledge
"d taken the organ witfi them. In
jk.ktter Ella's mother said : ' hen
nt to let you have the orsra- I
""W YOU knnvv
among the trap., in his cell,) Fro
ceeding he said: Alter telling he
this she seemed reconciled and said
nothing that evening. On Saturday
morning when we got up she said:
I am going away to-day, I asked
her where to. she said : 'Where no
one will eyer hear from me. Every
body is against me' I asked her
how I could keep house and take
care ot the babv without her, to
which she replied: 'You can get
some one else to do that for you,'
and still peisisted in the idea ot
leaving. I then went up to Pa's to
get some water and told him how
she was acting, and told him to get
'Squire Wilson to come over and
talk to wile and try to persuade her
out of this notion. Wilson was a
good neighbor of ours and could ex
ercise much influence over my wife
Pa went up after breakfast, hut Mr.
Wilson could not come until after din
ner. About 9 or 10 o'clock, after' we
had gotten the house cleaned, she be
gan to prepare to leave. I plead with
her not to go, and so did Mr. Powers,
the man who lived with me. Our
talk had no t-tlect. She persisted
that she must go and, put on her
cloak and bonnet. She wanted the
baby to kiss her, but he, being in my
arms at the tune, refused to kiss her
She then said : 'It is easier for me to
go now, baby won't kiss me.' I told
her not to think hard of baby as he
was little. She then asked me if I
would kiss her, and I told her of
course I would. She kissed me and
started to the door. When she got
to the door she stopped a few mo
ments and came back, and said: 'I
must kiss baby once before 1 go.'
The baby again retued to kiss her
and she kissed me a second time and
started off to the south. She went her shoulders, uncared for
say
an overcoat are you?' I said, No.
She met me at the door with coat
and said: 'Ilu rv back Tohn. I will
have dm.ic! ; . the ti-ue you get j
back.' I told Powers to go to the
houe, tend to the baby and keep
fires for E!!a while I was gone.
When he went in she was wrapping
up the baby and preparing to leave.
Said she was going where no one
would hear of her again. Powers
insisted on her not going, telling her
it was too cold to take the baby out,
but she could not be influenced to
stay and started as before, toward
the south. Powers went to Pa's and
they told him to go tor me, which
he did. I met him on the road and
we drove home very fast, horses
running most ol the way. Powers
cared for the team and I started out
to search for my wife. Traced her
part of the way by the skim of snow
which was on the ground. I met
Mr Wilson and asked him if he had
seen my wife, and was informed by
him that she was at his house Said
he saw her wandering down a ra-
1
orga
This affected
v lfe ry much. S he could not
war the idea of K m
Ws - - A
i . l tried to recono.e
r telling her that I would get
addressed in
way by her mother and almost
I trit
about a halt quarter and stopped,
looked about in ail directions, but
looked upward most of the time. I
did not intend to let her leave the
premises and was watching her all
the time. She turned then and went
northwest some 200 yards and acted
in the same way. She then came to
the house, coming in at the south
door. I said: You have come back
have you Ella ? She replied : 'Yes.
I was not ready to go. Told her I
was glad she had changed her mind
and had come back to stay with me
and baby. She sat by the stove a
little while but said nothing. ' Here
Leabo narrated conversations and
incidents between himself and wife
up to the time they had finished din
ner, saying: She seemed to enjoy
dinner very much and seemed in her
right mind all the balance ot the ev
ening. About this time Powers cime
and told me 'Squire Wilson was at
Pa's. I slipped off from Ella, tell
ing her that I was going out to the
barn, but went to see 'Squire Wilson
ind explained to him why I had sent
for him, told him that Ella was act
ing strangely and I wanted him to
talk to her and get from her the
reasons for acting so. The 'Squire
said he had heard ot her strange ac
tions and that something had to be
done or she might hurt herself or 1
child.
He further said he would have a
jury sumwoned and the case investi
gated. When I got back to the
house she was iiursing the baby and
was at her rieht mind" as much as
ever. Monday night she was quite
restless ; complaint of her head hurt
ing. She always complained ot her
iiead. Tuesday I went to Walnut
for a see ing machine which I had
bought on trial. That night she was
real sick and did not get up until 10
o'clock the next morning and I had
to get breakfast. I5y 11 o'clock she
was feeling much better and request-
vine in liai'.ey's field and after some
talk succeeded in getting her to go
to his house with him. Said wife
told him that she was going to her
brothers, who lived northwest ten
miles, near State line bridge in Kan
sas and inquired for mam road lead
ing in that direction. Wilson told
her she was going in the wrong di
rection, that it was too late to go that
evening mid that he would have me
take her there in the wagon the next
day.
He further said that she seemed
frightened, ami looked very strange
ly out of her eyes ; that her bonnet,
though tied, was hanging around
her neck, and her hair hanging over
When
I went into Wilson's house T found
her standing up in the back part ot
the room and asked her why she had
come there but she made no reply
I repeated the question without get
ting an answer. 1 then said: "Ella,
I teel sorry for you, indeed I do,"
and asked her why she had gromis
ed me to have dinner ready upon my
return and then left before I got
back. Then she said: 'John, you
know very well what I am doing
here.' To which I replied: "Why,
no, I don't, Ella." I then called
Mr. Wilson to one side and asked
him what was best to do. Told him
that she was getting worse all the
time. He suggested that I send for
her father and brother. I told him
that her father was in southwest
Kansas and that she and her brother
were not on friendly terms, but that
under the circumstances I would have
her brother come. After Mr. Wil
son assured her that her brother
would come the next day, she con
sented to go home, saying to Wilson :
'Well, if you promise me that, I
will go back, hut I had rather lie in
the church yard than to go back.'
She talked b-ut little on the road
home, except to ask me if I thought
Mr. Wilson would do what he said.
When we got home the first thing
she said was: 'John, do you want
get supper anyhow, if
wouldn't. '
When Wf C1 tr r - T !
ed the meat and gave Powers a piece
and then helped my wife to a piece.
She looked at it and began crying
and said: 'You have given me the
best piece on the plate.' Told her
she was entitled to it, she reply.ng
I am not entitled to anything.'
She gave half of the piece to
the baby, and the cat having got
ten that piece from the child, she
gave him the other halt. I asked
her to have another piece but she
declined, saying she was not hungry
and left the table and took a seat
near the stove. I cleared oft the
table after supper. Ella said nothing
during the whole time and seemed
to be 'ery sad about something. I
went and milked the cows and on
my return she strained and put away
the milk, washed the bucket and
placed it on the table. By that time
it was dark. We sat up until usual
bed time. She had nothing to say
for some time. I fixed the baby for
bed and she said she would gb to
bed too. I told her that was best,
that if she could go to sleep she
would feel better. We went to bed
and I fell a sleep 111 a short time.
I slept soundly until after part ot the
night, when EU.t awoke me com
plaining ot her head hurting her.
I asked her if I could do anything
for her and she said no. This was,
as near as l could
FECIAL NOTICE.
GASH!
asm 1113!
We are offering extra Bar
gains during our
rand
Clearance Sale
and only will sell goods at
the prices we are making
For Cash. Respt.
SAMUEL LEVY & CO.
as 1 could guess, 2 or 3
o'clock. I went off to sleep again
and was aroused a second time by
her complaining of her head hurting.
She got up and told me not to both
er about her,to care for the baby. She
went into south room and closed the
door. I heard her in there for some
time, until finally I dozed off to
sleep again, and was aroused by the
baby. 1 called for my wife, telling
her that baby wanted her. I called
for her a second time but heard
nothing of her,
I got
up, tried to
any supper?, I said : Of course I do,
I have had no dinner. She said:
'Well, if you want any supper you
will have to get it yourself. I don't
intend to get it. ' I told her all
right, I cculd get supper, and began
sifting flour. My wife then spoke
and said: You are the funniest man
1 eyer saw 111 my lite. You don't
nay any attention to what I do say
or do. Most men would knock my
head off for acting the way I do.' I
told her I was not that kind ot a man
and would not hurt her lor the
world.
Then she said : 'Ycu are so good
pacify the child, and went out to
south side ot house and called again
for Ella. Not getting any reply, I took
the baby up to Pa's and told them
that my wife had gotten up and left
again. 1 then got a lantern and
started out in search of her.
At this junct
ure the prisoner detailed at length
and in minutia all the circumstances
ot the search ; telling how he had
sent out for assistance ; where he and
they searched for his wife : how they
found her apron and a small phial
on the well curb. That he and his
sister Laura found a note in the milk
bucket which read about as follows :
"1 have taken laudanum. I am
tired of living. Luei.t.a Leabo
And then entered into a full c
scription of how they discovered the
body in the well and proceeded to
get it out. After listening attentive
ly and noting down his full state
ment of this part of his story, which
on account of length, we omit, the
"faber pusher" asked:
Were there any marks on the
body when drawn from the well ?
There were two or three scalp
wounds on her head and some bruiS'
es on the side of her neck as though
she had been clutching her throat
either before or after falling.
How long had you been married
Since October, 1SS1, her deat'
occurred Dec. 19th, 1SS3.
How long had you known yon
wife before your marriage?
Had known the family ever since
I came to the county, but never saw
them ottener than once in three or
tour years.
at one time L!.: choked herseit until
black in the face, and that tier hands
had to be forced from her throat.
Also that she talked of running a
butcher-knife into iier heart and of
jumping out ot a window at another
time. 1 hat Airs. 1 oakum, her
mother, prevented her from drown
ing herself in a well at I3utler.
How did you and your wife get
along together?
The very best kind. She often
said, and even wrote to a lady friend
in Iowa, that it every woman had as
kind a husband as I was, there would
be no room to grumble.
Do you think you had a fair tria',
Mr, Leabo?
Not by any means. It I had, I
would never have been convicted.
The State witnesses testified to things
which they knew were false, and my
witnesses withheld things which they
could have testified to which would
have cleared me.
liow about the juries in your
trials? Do you think they were
biased?
Can't say what their minds were.
They weie all strangers to me, I
think they would always decide ac
cording to the last speech on side
of the prosecution. I certainly had
evidence sufficient to leave a doubt
of my guilt in the minds of any jury.
How were you treated by the
prosecuting attorney r
lie treated me very well through
out. Always spoke very politely to
me. Don't think he had any malice
toward me. It was his duty to con
vict if he could.
Do you think, then, that he over
exerted himself in your prosecution ?
Yes, 1 do.
Are you satisfied with the efforts
ot your own attorneys?
Yes. I think they did all they
knew how to do- It might have
been that they did not kno
how to fully handle the case.
How were Judge Gantt's rulings ?
He never said anything to me.
He ought to have granted me a new
hearing at the close of the last trial.
I hold no malice against anyone,
however.
How has the press treated you in
vour troubles ?
Sometimes rather rough on me
and at other times very fairly. Your
paper,the TiMES,did me an injustice
in several statements in the article
which appeared therein just after the
jupreme court had atnrmea my
case.
Mr. Leabo, are you religiously in
clined ?
Yes. sir: 1 joined the C. P. church
when 1 was 17 years
-. 1.
e never uniieu wun a
either before or after jumping in the
well. This was nothing new for
her to do. At one time she lacerated
her tiiroat so 111 this way that she
had to wrap it with flannel.
"Leabo then related several inci
dents in his wife's lite which he said
v ere not proven at the trials, and
went to show her suicidal intent.
Well, Leabo, it the worst comes,
have vou anything to fear and how
are you going to take it?
I have no fears and I shall stand
it like a man. 1 am innocent of the
charge and it will be an outrage
upon the people to treat a man m
any such way.
At the suggestion of the reporter
oe then explained the insurance
policy which he had upon his wife's
iite, saying in substance, that they -both
had their lives insured through
one Steele, in Rich Hill, some time
in September, iSb3, or rather that
they made application tor insurance
and paid their money, but never got
their policies. That in November
he chanced to see Dallas &. McPeak
in Walnut, who were agents for
I same company, and told them of the
failure on the part ot the company
to send the policies. That they
wrote to the company and in reply
received a letter in which it was
stated that Steele had never forward
ed applications or money, but that
he might make new application
with Dallas & McPeak and get poli
cies through them without additional
cost. This they did and policies
arrived shortly before death of Mrs.
Leabo. Leabo says he was opposed
to taking policies, but that Steele,
who was an old acquaintance of ht.
father, persuaded his Wife into the
notion and the two together influenc-'
ed him. He was also very emphatic
in denouncing the statement to the
effect that he was in a hurry to bur
his wife, but says the contrary was
true. Says that he sent for her
brother and telegraphed her father
and mother in Kansas. That he
did not make arrangements for a lot
in the cemetery until the Friday after
her death, on Thursday morning.
At the end of the interview the
prisoner asked several questionv
about matters in Bates. Expressed
a desire to see Sumner Holcomb ac
quitted, and showed us a small scrap
book which contained the various
newspaper notices ot his case, saying
he was saving that for his little bo
now in California.
Upon leaving he gave the scribe a
cordial grip, handing him at the time
one ot his photos, which had been.
recently taken.
an organ if her mother would I ed me to take the machine back' as I to me that I am o:ng to help you
V:is vrmr wifft subirf tr those
spells before she was married. 'in. if?"..'.
I have been told so Did not know church s;nce I came out here on ac
this before trial. . count of being inconveniently located
Who told you ? j I never had any trouble with anv
il was testified to on. the witness
stand. This was the first knowledge
I had of her being in this condition
prior to our marriage. It was stated
was alwnvs mv
on the witness stand m the trial that
one and my word
bond.
How do you account tor the finger
marks upon your wife's throat?
As I stated before, I think she
clutched her throat with her hand,
The following- letter wu received by Sheriff
Hanks from John T. Leabo Mondaj:
Jclt 16tb. In!.
Mr Hank dear sir I have a reqneat to ask r
you and that U thia providing the governor eoia-
mctea my wntnee please let me May meare u
or next weak at least and If it Uent immaterial
with yon I would like to stay longer than mtxt
weak so that ray Brother & aisters can vUit n
I will notify tnem as soon as I beare from tb
govenor I also have a Bother request to ak of
yon if my sentanc Is commoted please take tee
to Jef in day time as I would rather go i
daylight than to go down at night please grait
my reqaest providing I have to go thare pleae
let me hetre from yon
Tours respectful ley