, 1866-11-08
THE MURDER At COLDW ATER,

ala ~ AE uoA SHGNtulY lAhG 10 Ills QGtlS.
ssquealing and yelling. then We can't make j
Yankee guess.
THE MURDER AT COLDWATER,
a FnN Account OF the Awful Tragedy
sketch OF s1le Jealous Husband, his
Etddy Wife, aud her sBenu u,,-coro.
ner's Inquest on the Corpscs-Public
Opinion about tho .Anair.
icor. OF the Detroit Advertiser and Tribuue.1
ColnwATEB- Mich, November 5, 1866.
On Saturday night our usually quiet city
was thrown into state OF the most iptcnsc
excitement by one Of those appalling t1age-
dies which are becoming SO aiarminejy isc
quent throughout the country. In this case.
an old resident OF the place shot his wi,e md
2 young Man who was ACCOMMODATING her ia
her residence, killing thtm both almost
Instantly.
Mrs. s. E. Leach was The owner Of millf-
Southern Michigan Block, md resided with
her father on Cnicago street in the eastern
part Of the city. On Saturday night. after
closing her store, she started for home In
company with her fathcr, Mr.. r. Doughcrty.
q sister, Mrs. Pickcns, and young man, Mr
Geofgc Brown. on arriving within 8 short
dislaHce OF home they were met on tie wav
by Mr. Leach, Mrs. LEACH and young Bruwn
we're IN advance, and Immediately behind
them on the walk were Mr.. Dou.hcrty. Mt
rlckens and Als. u. :. Bowen. LEACH passed
the couple in front and halted to speak to sir.
Dougherty, who had just that moment stop
ped to speak at the gate with Mr.. Bowen In
front Of his residence. Mrs. rickcns asked
her iathcr to come on, and as he did moi come.
che hastcned, overlook the others, aud took
the arm OF Mr.. Brown.
Leach addressed sIr. Doushcrty, asking
him who 1t was with his wfGs On. beini,
told lo 1trnr3 a nd ht.s n uaH ~
lowed BY Mr.. Dougherty, AS Leach came
up with them, one Of the ladies said, Leach
Is following u.s." MI. Brown turned partly
around, and Its hc did 80, Leach shot him
with pistol, the ball entering his left side.
Almost at the same instant Mrs. Leach
taking effect in the breast, and passing d.
rectly through the heart. The two shots
followed each other us closely Us they could
be fired from revolver.
u, When Brown vas shot, be; turned to
.,an; Mts; fickens and exclaimed. ~ am shot
were the last words he uttered.
lie staggered against the fence and
stood d moment, and then, with the
assistance of Mrs. Pickcns, walked to the
house distance Of about eight rods. Here
she assisted him to chair, aud then ran
back Tor help. After sitiln: IL lew moments
he ie!l forward upon the hoor, groauiug
pitcously, and blood Issuing from his mouth
which for time led to the belief that he haI
been shot In the mouth. By this time the
netghbors began TO come In, and at the in
stance Of Mrs. Brown, he was turned upon
ifthere was anything she could do for him
Ills lips moved In vain attempt to speak,
and with Eurgle In his throat, he Instantly
expired. This WAS within ten minutes ot the
time he was shot.
When Mrs. Leach was shot, she sank down
1n1A oY,* Goa viii
gle; and It was not until the return Of Mrs.
Pickens from the house that it was known
she had been shot ut all. Help WIS soon got
and The body was carried to tile house.
Leach, after firing the second shot, raised
LIS hand toward Mrs. Pickrns, when she
ground. He then passed on townrd the
house, making no attempt 10 escape.
Mr. Dougherty WIS about two rods behind
when the shots were tired. lie paid no at
tention to Mrs. Leach, but followed on to Sc
cure Gu ~, tue murderer; in fact, not knowing at
been shot. In the meantime, Mrs. Pickens
hurried to the house with Brown, aud, re-
turning, met Leach as she WIS running for
help.
just then Mr.. .Doughcrty came up aud
seized the murderer and demanded the
pistol. Leach replied that he had not got IT,
Mr. pougherty then took hum to the house,
Leach making no attempt to escape or COM
NIT further violence. Mr. Doughertv now
bethought himself that the jail was the more
appropriate place for the murderer, and
startcd back With him, stumbling over the
body Of Mrs. Leach on the way.
Soon after passing the body they met Mr..
Al. 5. bowen, who took the arm Of Leach
and started with him for the jai1, distance
Of nearly half mile, 31r. Doughcrty return
ing to look after the murdered ones. Leach
walked quietly along with Mr. Bowen for
Mr. Perkins, who took his other arm and
vent with them to the Jail. Previous to
meeting Mr.. Perkins Leach walked along
quietly and firmly, manitesting little or no
excitement. After that he WIS more excited,
anu at Intervals would seem to be faint, and
:. covering would pass on again. On one Of |
these occasions he saId : :" am not SO much |
of man as thought I was" At another
he said :"1 have killed her but love her |
get" Mr.. Brown said to him: Perhaps
not-sae may be only stunned and may re.
The hand that sped that bullet knew its
mark too we'll" Said he: Kill 1ne, Bowen
shoot me-don't take me to jail-set out q |
crowd and hang me. I am ready"
After he was put In jail search WIS made |
Tor the pistol, and 1t was found lying on the |
ground about twelve feet from the spot |
where the bloody deed was committed It !
8as mcdium-sfzed fve.shooter of Beal's |
patent. It WIS cooked and three charges re-
nainlng In it.
4 coroncr's inquest was Immediately held.
md the jury brought in verdict in accord
ancc with the facts mere stated.
Leach, on his way to Jail, never once mcu-
lioned young Brown, though he spoke ire
quently Of his wife. Brown WIS about
twenty .fTeiyears ofage. He was a gradu-
ate Of the Law department Of the Michigan
University, and was connected with his
uncle, E. G. Parsons, ESD, in the law busi-
ness in this city. He was an orphan, and
has always lived with his uncle, Nj. Parsons.
The causes which conspired together to
bring about this sad af1lfr have been In
operation for a long time. The murdered |
woman was Leach's wife. They were mar
'ied about twelve years since, and had two |
For time they lived happily to- /
gcther, hut about six years ago an estrange-
1ent began between them. Bitter family |
luarre1s ensued, In which Leach sometimes |
Used violence and made dark threats, His !!
wife received the company Of gentlemen
'Eatnst his wishes, while the Tongues Of idle
sossip6 we're busy with her fair fame. She
lved with her father, and be neach) was en-
;aged in business that led him much away
rom the city. The breach kept growing |
sider, and the quarrels more bitter, until |
lbout q year ago when Leach was driven
rom the house; and since his wife has re-
used to have anything to do with him, treat |
" NAo WILL puuI4C CouLCMpL On All Occ4- |
ions.
On the husbands part, he has watched |
very motion with Jealous eye, following
leE footsteps. going inio her store, quarrel.
ing with her, and ordering other men away
yhen be CHANGED to find them there, nl1 the
While throwing out dark hints Of the terrible
zagedy which has since transp,red.
Of late, young Brown has been frequently
nth her, and had been watched bE Leach,
rho warned him to desist, threatening the
ives OF both unless the intimacy was stopped,
'rown was also cautioned By others, but flil-
d to heed it. Mrs. Leach was frequently
rarned Of her husbands threats, bnt they
ad heen so common and long continued that
he disbelieyed them.
As usual in such cases, all sorts of wild
MINORS are In circulation. The sympathies
the public arc very much divided; some
enouncing the murderer in the seyefest
arms, others claiming that he has been
ounded on to tue crime, aud that there is
mplc apology for the bloody deed.
FROM OSWEGO, \. T.
destruction Of an Extensive Eieyntor-Loss
Of 10000 Bushels Of Grim.