Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-11-23
Double Murder in Michigan.

at COldWater, Michigan, WHICH look
place on Saturday evening, November
Sd. The persons murdered were
Mrs. S. K. Leach and young man
named George Brown. The murder
er was the husband of the former:
"The causes which cOnspired to
bring about this sad affair have been
in operation for long time. The
murdered woman was Leach's second
wife. They were married about
twelve years since, and had two chill
dren. For time they lived happily
together, but about six years ago an
enlargement began between them.
Bitter FAMILY quarrels ensued, in which
/ Leach sometimes used violence and
made dark threats. His wife received
the company of gentlemen against his
wishes, while the tongues of idle Cos
sips were busy. She lived with her
father, and Leach was engaged N
business that led him much away
from the city. The breach kept
growing wider, and the quarrelS more
bitter, until about a year ago, when
Leach was driven from the house;
and since then his wife has refused to
, have anything to do with him, treat
t ing him with public contempt on all
I occasions.
q On the husbands part, he las
: watched her every motion with ieal.
D Gus eye, following her footsteps, going
n into her store, quarrelmg with hel
# and ordering her men away when he
d CHANGED to find them there, all the
p time throwing out dark hints Of the
terrible tragedy which has since
transpired. OF late, young Brown
had been frequently with her, and haC
- been watched by Leach, who warned
1. him to desist, threatening the lives 0
d both unless the intimacy stopped
!, Brown was also cautioned by Others
II but failed to heed it. Mrs Leac
- was frequently warned Of her nus
1t bands threats, but they had been $
he common and long continued as to b
disbelieved.
,s During the last week Leach ha
IT. been turned away from his room q
20 the Michigan Southern Hotel. at tn
in instance of Mrs. Leach. and on Satu
m day afternoon she had him arrcstc
be for assault and battery. On hi
o. promising to appear for rriai. the off
Nd. Ger permitted him to 90 al lalyc. all
m within a few hours the terrible dee
IN was committed
he On saturday night, after olosir
il her millinery and larcy goods stor
in Mrs. /. started for home in compal
ii with her father, Mr. I. Doughcrty.
nd sister, Mrs. PickcnS, and a you
nh man, Mr.. George Brown. On arri
. ing within a short distance Of hon
nd they were met on the walk by VI
ed Leach Mrs. Leach and Young Brow
he were in advance. and Immediately
f d hind them on the walk were N
til Dougherty, who had stopped to spc;
to Mr.. Bowen in front of his rcsidenC
.th Mrs PicIlcns asked her father
.lv come on, and as he did not come, :
ire FASTENED overlook the offers, al
be took the arm of Mr.. Brown
Is Leach addressed Mr.. Doughert
IN asking him who it was with his wi
-er On being told he turned and hasten
~; after them, followed by Mr. Dough-
md .ty. As Leach came mp with the
tine one of the ladies said, Leach is
his lowing us" Mr.. Brown turned pa
ad. ly around, and, as he did so Lea
er- shot him with a pistol, the bali ent
his inc his left side Almost at the Sa
hat instant Mrs. Leach turned arou
mo and he fired at her. the ball taxi
re- effect in the breast and passing
hal rectiy through the heart. The
and shots followed each other as clos
mel as they could be fired from a revolv
;ub- When Brown was shot he turned
ON Mrs. Pickcns and exclaimed, i
and shot dead: but never mind me, \
With lie He staggered against the feI
,ino and stood a moment, and then, W
he the assistance Of Mrs. Pickens, wall
and to the house, a distance OF about Ell
DON rods. Here she assisted him tC
who chair and then ran back for he
and After sitting a few moments he
ous forward upon the floor, grooming p
ously, and blood issuing from
mouth, which for a time led to
a.. belief that he had been shot in
INV Wv moath By this time the neighb
o" began to come in. Mrs. Bro
I -, stopped beside him and asked if tn
- 80 VI was anything she could do for h
49, His lips moved in a vain attempt
49,, ,T speak, and, with q gurgle in his thr(
IN, he expired This was within
ZOO minutes Of the time he was 81
~ When Mrs Leach was shot she 5;
' AZ down dead on the spot withou
oun, word or a struggle; and it was
'no' until the return of Mrs. Pickens fl
~ . the house that it was known she
49, been shot at all. Mr. Dougherty
.1 ,,'e about two rods behind when the 81
were fired. He paid no attention
Mrs. Leach, but followed on and
cured the murderer. AS he was
> - ihg Leach to jail they stumbled c
10 = = the body Of Mrs. Leach on the "
nnn Soon after passing the body they
wy wy Mr.. NJ. 5. Bowen, who took the ;
''-' Of Leach and started with him for
, u Jail. On the way he was excited,
i00l at intervals would seem to be ia
ere and would fall backward for a 1
' we. w. ute, and then recovering would |
''"'- on again. On one of these Occasi
~. ne"' he said: 1 am not so much of a l
me- !. as | thought | was At another
ui0- said, 4 have killed her, but love
al yet Mr.. Bowen said to him: i
,: ui' haps not; she may be only stun
~? and may recover He replied, i
us useless tn talk The hand that c