The New York herald., 1879-11-17
IN THE GRASP OF AN ASSASSIN.

coLoRED MAN DESPERATELY ASSAULTED
EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING sHor TWICE
WHILE ESDEAvoRING TO ESCAPE BLACK
JACK LEONARD ACCUSED OF THE CRIME.
John Leonard. colored man. is well known under
the sobriquet of "Black Jack Leonard" in the
section he infests. He resides at No. 4eS West
Twenty-eighth street. Since 1871. whom he was
arrested for robbery and convicted in the General
Sessions. his life is said by the police to have been
long succession of lawless acts. He escaped the
consequences OF first offence by the suspension Of
the sentence and good fortune to have abided
with him throughout his subsequent career In 1873.
he the proprietor OF saloon in Twenty seventh
street which bore an evil name. and which was
brought into still notoriety the following year.
when it was made the OF murderousyat
tempt Calvin, the burglar. who is now serving
twenty years in State Prison. carried Of the
place in an almost dying condition one night with
Leonard's pistol. No punishment however. visited
him, and in the following year he was accused OF
In tight in rwenty-sxth street he shot
down, as was alleged, three men and then
tired for a space till the affair ''bew over"
But Leonard not the man to hide his light
under bushel for any extended period and in the
following year he WAS arrested for burglary. The
evidence against him i'll this instance too direct
to be eyaded and imprisonment for two years and
six months was fixed his portion. In August.
1878 he was arrested for till tapping Being lib
Grated he secured sufficient funds open the
"Burnt Rag in West Thirty-seventh street. which
was for time regarded by the police as notorious
resort. During the past year he has only been
heard from occasionally, until yesterday morning.
when as is alleged. he performed the crowning exc
plot Of his career.
SUNDAY MORNING FRAY.
Frank Watkins, colored man. residing at NO. lot
West Twenty y-seventh street, going to his home
a little after midnight when, as he tells. man
sprang upon him from a dark hallway near Eighth
avenue. threw his arms about him and began to
drag him into the shadow of his hiding place. Wat
kluS struggled himself, but aSea1l8ut was
q apowerful fellow and he could only Tree one arm.
He had stoutcane his hand, though, and as he
the others jaw. The blood began to stream
from his mouth ut this, and with o dread.
ful oath he pulled out revolver and discharged
1t at Watkins head. The latter. freed for moment.
made use OF his time by springing to the sidewalk
and rushing away. But his assailant was not going
to let him escape so easily. He bounded after him.
pulled trigger twice again, and only stopped when
he saw his victim stagger and fall to the ground He
turned and made off then just Detective Cairns,
who had heard the shooting, came hurrying along.
There one in sight but the wounded man
when the detective reached the place, and as the
latter's hurt seemed to be serious he stopped to
render what assistance he could and telegraph for
ambulance. BY the time one had come from the
New York Hospital crowd had collected on the
spot where Watkins lay and there fair sprink-
ling of people of his own color in it. As he was
lifted into the ambulance the face OF OF them
caught his eye and he at once started up from his
his face working with excitements "There he Ii, >"
ho cried aloud. There's the man who shot mel'
LEONARD ACCUSED THE SHOOTING.
Detective Cairns turned rs he said 1t, and caught
sight OF the back OF q man who was sinking away.
He sprsng after him. caught him by the shoulder
and turned him about to disco yer that it was Black
Jack Leonard he had hold of. Watkins was sent to
the New York Hospital whore his condition was pro.
nounced quite critical. Yesterday morning Leonard
ia strongly built negro, with square jaw and face
indicative of determination. He we'll dressed,
too and seemed to carry himself with an air OF self
conscious dignity. Justice Flammer committed him
to await tho result Of Walking injuries.