New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-04
LEIGHTON TO BE HANGED.
HOW HE RECEIVED THE JURYs VERDICT.

HOW HE RECEIVED THE JURYS VERDICT.
FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE
THE MURDERERs FORTiTUDE BEFORE THE
JURY-THr STORY or THE MURDER.
Augustus d. Leighton was found guilty Of muir
der in the first degree in the Court OF Oyer and Ter
miner yesterday for the premeditated and delib-
crate murder of Mary Dean. June 49, 1880. The
Court officers were busy as carly as 10 o'clock
yesterday morning taking care OF the numbers
of white and colored persons who tried to get
access TO the courtroom The statements in
the morning papers that the jury had been locked
up for the night had increased the interest in the
case, and it is long time scenes of such strong
excitement have been witnessed in the Court
House. The prisoner was brought to the Court
House about half-past 10 O'clock, followed by
rude crowd He walked composedly into the prls-
oners box and allowing his hat to remain on
az the Court was not yet open, began
talking in an off-hand manner with those around
her. Among these was Emma Peterson. the young
colored woman whom Leighton was calling upon ut
half hour before the murder. and who. both as
witness and by her attendance upon him at every
possible moment, has shown a strong devotion.
Leighton talked with her for several minutes in
low tone and at times almost gayly. Once or twice
there was nipple of laughter from the group of
young colorcd women who surrounded Them
Justice Brady. Mr.. Bell and Mr.. Spencer, the
counsel for the prisoner came in at 1 O'clock and
then Leighton was brought to the chair beside the
counsel's table which lie has occupied during the
trial. He began an earnest conversation with Mr..
Spencer, which was interrupted by the announce
ment that the jury ready to bring in the YER
dict The Jury had indeed. come to an agreement
as early as o'clock III the morning. At that hour
W. II. Ricketts,, the Court crer in charge of the
hv no
was very pale as he said in q husky voice. We
have agreed upon our verdict The jurors. how
ever, were obliged to remain in their until the
Court opened As they filed in Leighton fixed his
sharp black eyes first on and then on another.
until all were seated. At the direction OF the cierk
to stand up the prisoner arose aud firmly faced the
twelve Judges of his crime.
"Gentiemen. have you agreed upon your
dictp
"How do you find; is the prisoner at the bar
guilty or not guilty !"
Guilty" go 90
"Of what ~ asked Mr. Sparks. while breathless
Stiffness settled upon the courtroom
Guilty of murder in the first degree"
This answer was given in a low tone, 50 thai those
in the back Of the room could not tell wha, TIE an
swer was. But when Mf. Sparks repeated: 8" You
say you find the prisoner at the bar
guilty of per the b sS9 of f' words
that ran around the room grew loud and distinct.
Leighton bore the ordeal with surprising fOrttude.
When Mr. Sparks put TO tne jury tuS Hndl question:
that was to determine his fate. he seemed to draw
himself together az II 10 steady MS nerves. lie
stood almost tp-tOe braclng himself Tor the
worst. When the foreman announced the
fatal decision the prisoner with a sudden
and peculiar movement turned from the jury to
Justice BIady the bench. His face became
shade palrr but that was the only change apparent
IN his demeanor cOuntenance. His turning to-
ward the judge was done as Il he expected lmne-
date sentence When he saw that jstlce Brady
DID or said nothing Leighton looked Inqulilhgly at
Colonel Spencer
The counsel asked that the jury be polled.
is that YOUR verdIctF' inquired Mr. Spares;
and asked the foreman iirSt ana then
each juryman in turn, answered YES" Lclgnton5
quick eve glanced to the next ono as II to catch
some ray of hope. " hen this was over Mi. Dei,
who seemed TO be aleried by the verdict said that
he did not DIES re to ask for sentence ~ One, aud
would request that II be postponed until next Mon
day This request gran ed.
The crowd did not seem willing 10 leave tie
courtroom, but fingered to watch the prisoner.
When he was taken out ana carried to tho IOmDS
large nun RS followed him.
Inc murder for the commission of which Leighton
was convicted was revolving. His victim, a married
mulat 20 woman, had been living WITH nm as us
wife in q disorderly house kept by her mother. \
few days before the murder Leighton was turned
out of doors by the mother and TINS enTaged nm.
He made several threats that in revenge he would
mark Mamie for life " or do some injury 10 The
her mother the quarrel. After friendly call on
another voung cOOTed woman on tho night of the
murder. he went to Mary Deans home She womb
Let admit him. Through the open window &c told
her he wanted bis OyerCOat which was there. she
SAID 1t was not. He sad he would wait until
morning. She came to the door with a curling
IRON IN her hand, and shaking 1t III his lace asked
HIM why ne had talked as Ire had about her ana
her mother. Some hot words passed between them,
when he whipped n razor from his pocket, a1d stri-
king Ter the face aud throat severed the jug
ular vein She died in a few utes. He ran away
to Ncw-Jersey, aud day or two aiterward dchy-
cred himself up 10 the authorities.