New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-06
lowing quotation shows
THE MURDER OF MARGARETLEONARD.
F,om The NelO. Or,eaa, Pieayuae, OF ~

F,om The NeS. Or,eaa, Picaypae, OF a.
The murder of a sister by q brother is 80 strange
and unnatural deed that il cannot be believed with.
out testimony of the strongest posi- Die character Aud
vet Jury OF nquest has arrived at the deliberate con-
clusion that Margaret Leonard was cruelty murdered
bv her brother Joseph Fitzgerald. fes OF the par
tcu!ars Of this most revolving case we mott ed IN our
edition Of yesterday, and further details we now pro
coed 10 give.
Margaret Leonard was a widow, aged about twen-
ty6ve years. and generally she lived with her three
trobers jose PHI or Joe, as he was commonly called,
Tom and Augustus Fitzgerald Tom was the Oldest
of the brothers, but joe the second one, vas thick
set, bravny buIly bravo who used generally to lord
it over the rest Of the family, frequently beating the
net which they rented from Mr.. Higginson, who re-
sides in a portion of the premises on Gravler
street. near Bolivar. They were ell more or less ad'
ccted to drinking, and we're emphaiically 10 sci.
Sometimes one and sometimes another OF the family
would be hired out TO DO jobs here and there, but they
always squsDdered in drink the proceeds OF their
earnings.
On Saturday last the widowed sister returned home
during Joes sbsence, in company with another WON
an, and when Joe returned aud found the stranger
there he flew into passion and drove the intruder
ont Of door, His rage was SO violent that 10 order 70
escape fiom it, his sister, Mrs. Leonard, went INTO
Mrs. Higsin room. Joe, however pursued her,
and catching her roughly by the hair, dragged her
back into the Fitzgerald apartment. When there he
beat her most violently, until che became faint, aud
cried Enough enough Tee sound OF the bows
house in which Mrs. Higginson lived; but as blows
among the Fizesrads were by no means OF unire-
auent occurrence, these were little thought OF. Toe
next day Mrs. Leonard or Mag the brothers called
her went into Mrs. Hpginson's room and showed both
Mr. and Mrs. Hikgtrson q portion OF the bruises
which Joe had inflicted on her person. Her eyes sere
black her ears were bruised ano bloody her head was
covered with scars or Jumps, and her breas, was
large blue spot which Uus have resulted from mo
fearful blow. To Mrs. Higginson she also showed
other and still serious bruises and declared that
Joe had murdered her
On Sunday night she became worse, and next morn
il 2 she was in great pain and commissions, and was
vholy incapable OF art!culating clssrly And so she
continued groaning and moaning ttl Thursday a.
O'Clock n when she died. Daring her lines. Joe
refused 10 procure doctor take her 20 the Charty
hospital alleging that she would no, 20 there. When
told by Mrs. H. TO go for pest he also refused, OBJ
serving that he was ashamed 10 bring pri-st there
as Nargaret's face was in such condition.
At length on Thursday morning, Mr.. Higgnson IN
sisted that either doctor OF pres. should BE- sent
for or that she should be taken the Charity hospital
TIE latter alternative was eventually sgreed TO- and
MIR. Higsnson himself went TO get the money where
with 20 pay for cab for her removal Before be re-
turned however, the poor victim OF frat9rnAl cruelty
had passed il to The long, long sleep OF death.
ice then began TO make preparations for an inne-
dse funeral and Of the other brothers got hearse
and coffin. burial certificate was, however, neces-
sary srd Joe got somebody to write one, to the eec
TIA, the deceased had died Of diarhea." This they