Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-03-28
Romance i'm Real Life.

Leonard, of Louisiana. at Havana,
recalls the reports published touch
ing the purpose of his visit to Cnba.
After his departure from New \ 4ork !
it was announced that Judge Leon
ard was sent to Cuba by the Pres.
ident to inquire into alleged kid
mapping of colored citizens of the
United States, and their convey
ance to Cuba, where they were sold
into slavery. 1t was further alleged
that Judge Leouaud was commis-
stoned to visit New Orleans for the
purpose of representing to Gov
Nichols the views of the Presiden:
with reference TO the prosecution of
members of the Louisiana Return
ing Board. These stories were with
ont the slightest foundation in fact.
The visit of Judge Leonard to
Havana was purely personal and
private. and was of q peculiar in
terest, delicate, and romantic char
ac'er. Some time ago, at the city
of New Orleaus, be met young
lady, Il native of Cuba, who was
siSllIuS tHIS COuuiG VIII uCl pa
rents, and between whom and
Judge Leouard warm attachment
sprang up, which ripened into love.
A marriage engagement was tho
result, but the parents of the young
lady, in consequences of her youth,
opposed the match, aud Judge
Leonard was not permitted to see
the object of his affections except
in the presence of her parents
When the time arrived for the de-
parture of the Cuban and his fam
lily from New Orleans, the young
lady manifested some reluctance to
return home, but an arrangement
was finally made by which she and
Judge Leonard were to be permit
ted to hold FREQ and unrestricted
correspondence through tue mails
After her departure, Judge Leon
which no answers were received,
which naturally annoyed him very
much, and gave rise to the suspi-
cions that his letters had been in
tercepted and the young lady pre-
vented from communicating with
him. After long interval. he re
ceived brief letter from the lady
which simply stated that she had
not heard from him since her re
tu,n to Cuba, and that she could
not hear from him. This brief let
ter bore evidence of having been
a
} and soiled condition led Judge
Leonard to suspect that it had
been carried some distance by a
negro to be secretly mailed. After
Writing other letters and waiting
anxiously for replies, lie became
convinced that the parents of the
lady were not acting in good faith,
and he determined 20 visit Cuba.
A week or two before his depar-
ture lie called on the President,
and, informing him of his trouble
requested the President to write a
personal letter to the Consul Gen
, eral requesting him to ascertain. il
possible. the situation and wherea-
bouts of the lady, The President
did so, and Cue time Judge Leon
ard received cable dispatch from
: Havana, which informed him that
I "M Maria had been sent 10 Il planta
J ton in the country" The dispatct
] was not signed by the Consul
f General, bnt bore tho name of !
S party unknown TO Judge Leonard
: This added to his perplexity, ano
he determined to set ont at once
5 tor Cuba He called on Senol
! Mantiila, the Spanish Minister a
e WashinSton, and making known tc
him his trouble, obtained {! lettel
from that official to- the Captain
General Of Cuba, recommending
him to do whatever was proper t,
aid Judge Leonard III his delicat,
mission. The mpathies of Mme
: Mantilla were also enlisted iu be
{ half of Judge Leonard, aud tha
: lady wrote such Il letter as a lad,
II would write in such case, orgin;
e the Captain. General to do every
e thing possible to unite the lovers
a With these letters Judge Ieonar,
Is sailed for Havana, where he dul
IS arrived. Nothing has been hear,
S, from him directly until to-day
IS when IL friend in this city received
) letter written by hint from Ha
= vana on March Z, in which lie sal,
If he had seen the lady in presence 0
@ her parents. No details as to til
r. success of his mission were fur
q nished, but from the general ton
IN of despondeEcy persading the let
:. ter his FREUD believes he failed t
. obtain the consent of the parent
- to his addresses to their daughter
q The announcement of his death wa
" a painful surprise. Judge Leonar
% was 81 years of age, and was Dor
81 at Chester, Penu. He graduate
Is at Harvard in 1867, studied civ
Or law in Germany, and received th
~ degree OF Doctor of Laws from th
J. University OF Held elberg. He wa
is, widower,. and has two childre
now at school In { ermany.