The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-27
LOCAL MATTERS.
ABDUCTION OF AN INFANT.
CRAZY FATHER STEALS HIS CHILD
FROM ITS MOTHER AND STARTS
WEST WITH 1T.
IT DIES AT THE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS
AND DROUGHT TO RICHMOND
AND BURIED.
Light Thrown on n Somewhat Mystic.
rfOus Affair.

On Saturday afternoon Detectives Knox
and John Wren arrested a man named
Myron Leasure, charged with being, a suspi-
cious character and having no visible means
OF support or ostensble business ia this
city. He was at the time standing oD Frank
lin street in front of the Ballard house, where
lie was boarding, and was dressed genteely
in black and had quite clerical air. He had
been seen several days before at hotel in
Staunton with little. sickly child. The
child appeared. to be much afraid of
him, and bis conduct was such as TO eX-
cite remark, which was afterwards height
ened by the fact that be stole away from
the hotel and left his bill unpaid. From
Staunton he went to Copipgton and from
Coyington to the White Sulphur Springs,
and there the child died, and he then came
to this city and buried it at Hollywood.
All of his movements seemed mysterious,
and his arrest was justified. Many people
who heard something and guessed a good
deal about the man came to the conclusion
that he was one Of the parties who assisted
in the abduction of Charley Ross from his
home in Philadelphia. A rumor to that ef.
feet soon spread over Main street, and very
general interest in the case was thereby cre-
ated.
Upon being taken to the First Station
house Leasure's baggage and clothes were
examined. In his valisc vas found several
pieces of baby clothes, some medicines, and
powders, and one or two dozen photographs
of himself. In one lot of photographs be
was taken dressed in fantastic robe around
his waist was sash, and in his hand was
book, which he was supposed to be reading.
There was also found among his possessions
the following newspaper extract, published
in October last: .,-
lFrom the Albany Journal
"Many of our city readers will remember
having seen j crack-braned, l0ng-haired,
Enthusiastically. dressed individual on our streets
at various times, bearing the name of Myron
st. Leisure, who larangued small gatherings
on the street corners and in other public
places on temperance, the second advent, and
various isms. He now turns up in Sammon-
vile, near Fonda, Montgomery county, N.
Y, ia new character-that of baby.thief.
About year ago he induced very foolish
woman to become his wife. The husband has
been straegling round the country until last
week, when his wife became the unhappy
mother of fine baby. Leisure secretly de-
termined to steal the child, and ran away
with it to bis mothers, who lives in Jetfer-
son county. He made his plans by gettinga
bottle of milk, and also some candle. wickiug,
with which TO nurse it, and at midnight he
took the babe from its mother and locked her
in the bedroom. lie then locked the out
side door also, and being favored by dark.
ness, was easily concealed. An alarm was
soon given by the half.distracted mother,
who feared that the child might be killed by
this strange parent.
"The neighbors were aroused, and as soon
us daylight appeared search was CON-
menced. They got out warrant, and before
noon the fellow was found near 4ost station.
He expected to take the first western train,
which stopped there, and kept the child in as
good condition as possible; but it nee. ed the
care of mother, and the latter was over.
joyed when it was restored to her arms. Lei
sure was then notified to leave Sammonville
within an hour under risk of coat Of tar
and feathers, or something of the kind
Leasure is evidently more than halt crazy,
but from statements made by him, and part
" confirmed by others, it appears that he
took the child from its mother-from whom
he has been for some time eparated-about
three weeks ago, and went to Baltimore,
where he has brother residing. From
Baltimore be started for Dayton, Ohio, uiG
the Valley road and Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad. The child was only ten months
old, and he found it necessary to fix up a
sucklipg-bottle, with which apparatus he
managed to keep life in it for some time, but
it daily grew weaker and weaker, and at
Staunton it had convuIsions, and he was
forced. to call iD physician, under
| whose ministrations it sufficiently i'm
proved to allow the father to start with it
| to the White Sulphur. At the White Sui.
phur it was attended by Drs. Caldwell and
| Lake, but it died on Tuesday night last.
| Leasure was cautious enough to obtain from
Drs. Caldwell and Lake statement of the
| manner of the child's death and certificate
that it had had no contagious or infectious
disease, and with these and the body. which
| had been put in coffin, took the train, he
says, for Baltimore, intending to tare the
child buried in his brothers. section there.
| According to his statement, be was not aware
| that he had to change cars at Gordonsyille,
and was consequently unknowiDgly and un-
| willingly brought to Richmond. The body
he took 10 Hollywood cemetery. Being told
there that he would .flave to have a burial
| certificate. he left the body with Mr.. O'Keefe
and returned to the city. He then went TO
the Ballard House, told the clerk he was a
| preacher, registered his name, and got q
room. During Thursday morning, the day
of his arrival, he visited Rev. John
Z. Edwards, D. D., and his son, Landon b.
Edwards, NJ. D., and told them his
story. Upon the evidence of the document
signed by Drs. Caldwell and Lake, DR.. Lan-
i Son Edwards gave the burial certificate and
DR.. John E. Edwards accompanied Leasure
to Hollywood and read the burial service at
the grave. Before the coffin was lowered,
it was opened at Leasure's request, and Dr.
rdror5s ca sp tho child and lie satisfied that