Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-11-17
End Of n Bad Life.
Dodgeyille Chronicle.


Many people in this community were surprised
ana shocked on reading dispatch in Tuesdays
Chicago Times stating that John p Leach had
been shot and killed in an alteration with his
room of the depot at Alexandria, Dakota, at
L.; so o'clock on Monday morning, and that
Lewis had surrendered himself 10 the authorities.
The news soon spread and aroused universal
interest among our citizens, both parties to the
sad affair being well known here, Lewis being
the and Leach the sou-in-law of VIM. L.
Lewis a well known and highly respected farm
er of this town. At first it was hoped the report
might prove untrue, but on Wednesday all doubts
were dispelled by the receipt of letter from
young Lewis himself giving full account of
John ?. Leach was raised in this town. Though
of n respectable family, from boyhood he was
possessed of a rather ugly disposition, and as he
grew up he became regularly addicted to drink
ing and fighting, which finally eliminated in
his killing Vim. Robbins in fight here on the
night of the presidential election in 1876. For
this crime as our readers will remember, he was
sent to state prison for two years and served out
his time, After his return from state prison he
seemed completely reformed, and some time
later he wooed aud mnfTied Miss Mary Lewis,
daughter of Nm. l.. Lewis, above mentioned,
and about two years since took his family and
moved TO Dakota, settling on farm near Alex
andria, in Hanson county:
II seems that Leach had some time since re-
lapSed into his former bad habits and become
very abusive TO his family, the following note
from Mrs. Leach having been received by her
father on the 9th ult:
Dear Eather:-I want you to came out TO
| fetch me. am hurried, and want to come home
20 die. Come qu1ck."
Mr. Lewis being unable to leave at the time,
sent his son, Vim. F., who started for Alexandria
the next morning, and il seems that when he
was on the point OF returning home with his
sister the unfortunate alteration occurred which
resulted in Leachs death.
The following Is Lewis's account Of the sad
affair. SIS given by him, in letter TO his brother
| in-law u. I. Williams, of this place.
| We'll, Dave. have had big trouble since
have been out here but the end has come al
/ Leach was abusing her brutality. So i said
would take her home, 70 which he consented,
| thinking she would he afraid to so. But when
he found she was going, he wenrup town and go
| drunk, and loaded his Winchester rife, and said
| he would shoot me at first sight and ordered me
| out of the house.
Afer dark Mary ran from the house 10 the
1 hotel where was stopping, and hid her there,
| There was young fellow there, going east on
| the same train AS we were, 50 about clever
| o'clock he asked me ii would help him TO ge
| his trunk TO the depot and said yes. After vi
| there was Leach, standing with a club in hi,
| hand, waiting for me to come out We jumped
back in the depot and he came in after me. Hs
| looked black as the devil at me and told me 4
come out, that he wanted TO talk to me. told
him he could talk to me there. He went for me
/ then and knocked me down, and then com
menced shooting. and called for help. bnt wha
| men were there ran out He caught me by ths
face .srst, and got his finger in my mouth and
bit il od ] kept shooting until he dropped. Ht
| hung to me and kept pounding until he fell
went and gave myself up. They held an In IN
Don't tell mother that killed hint u,
poor motherl Everybody Is in my favor. de
4 will be buried to-day.
From Your Loving Brother, WILL LEWIS