The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-19

DEPRAyED CONDITION INTO WHICH DEBAUCH'
cry DROUGHT ONCE RESPECTABLE FAM
[Phlladelphia Times. ]

DEPRAvED CONDITION INTO WHICH DEBAUCH
ERY BROUGHT ONCE RESPECTABLE FAN
lily.
TPhIladelphia Times.J
The office OF Deputy-Coroner Powers
was filled yesterday by a throng OF curious
people, morbidly attracted to the Inquest
npon the body OF Edward Leonard, Oh,
man who. after sacrificing both genius and
fortune to his appetite for liquor, died mis-
erably upon the bare floor OF his own
home. Agent Dutton, OF the Society for
the Protection OF Children from Cruelty,
and Clara, eldest daughter OF the dead en-
gineer. testified rs to his habits Of life aud
the circumstances attending his death. But
there was little need Of evidence, and the
jury readily found that death had resulted
from the excessive use Of alcohol.
A visit to the home OF the dead man. PA
south Eleventh street. last evening. re-
yealed strange scene OF mingled luxury.
wretchedncss, and squalor. Stretched
across two old chairs in the room in which
he died lay the casket containing the body
OF the former man OF fortune. In the
library adjoining his gray-haired vile was
lust recovering from the stupor Of pro-
longed dcbauch. Hardly realizing her hus-
bands death. she was listening abStractedly
10 the advice OF DR.. O'llsra and Father
Lane, who were present-the one 20 min
ister 10 her physical and the other to her
spiritual needs.
CONDITION OF THE HOUSE.
The house was i'm wretchcd disorder.
Just before the tenants death his landlord.
iustigatcd by the neighb0rs' complaints,
had ordered him out Of the premises and
preparations for moving were already well
advanced. I'm the room where the body
lay stood several pieces Of furniture once
elegant, but uOw broken. dilapidated. and
covered with dirt. Strevn about the floor
and over the tUmhled bed-clothes, where
the diving engineer had suffered in his last
deilium. were the confused relics OF Il
$1,000 library. many Of the fine octayos torn
and soilod. In an upper room We're found
the scattered evidences OF the dead
mans former usefulness. Plans and
drawings, mechanical designs. draft
inp instruments and the various Sp-
pliances OF an engineer and inventor lay
about the floor. covered with dirt and cob
webs. II was the room where Edward
Leonard used 10 work before his abilities
were ruined by dissipation. The psrlor
windows and curtains aud the room was
furnished in walnut and scarlet plush. ON
the mantel stood beautiful crystal wine
service in cabinet extensively inlaid. IL
was LeOnard's giit 10 bis wife on his return
from Europe two years ago. In strange
contrast with these evidences Of luxury
was the general air Of decay and neglect
peryading the house, the bare patches upon
the walls, where the bright wallpaper had
been wantonly torn of and never replaced;
the dirty crockery and glassware. and moi
some odors that filed the place from the ac-
cumuatcd dirt and refuse in the cellar and
rooms.
The gloomy picture was heightened by
the iorlorn appearance Of Leonardo three
children. given over to the watchcare II
the undcrtaker's female assistant while
their mother slept OF her debauch. Clara
is . bright and intelligent 1rl, fifteen years
old. and Florence and Eddie are pretty
children, but all bear sad evidence, Of pa
rental neglect.
WHAT LEONARD HAS BEEN.
George II. Wallace. the ,hOp-hcepGr I'M
mediately below Leonard's apartments,
threw light upon the life and character Of
the unfortunate man. Edward Leon
ard" said he, "camc here from Vermont
i'm 1877. He was the inventor OF a patent
Grc-cNtngui,her and various other ma
chimes. from the sale ~ which he derived
a larcc income. lie lived in excellent
STYLE. and maintained three servants in his
home. When sober he was an ailablc and
pleasant companion. Drink was his curse,
and when intoxicated be was like ma
Mac. He became worse and worse,
until no servant would live in his
house FOR any wages He ceased
working at his profession entirely, and
he and his wife seemed 10 abandon them
selves to drunkenness. They were fire.
quently very noisy. and neighbors COM
planned Of them to the Society for the Pro-
lection % Children from Cruelty. Finally
Leonard went 70 Baltimore. IL vas said, TO
enter rci0rmatory institution, but three
weeks ago he came back aud has rayed ever
since until his death. Neglect has rem
dercd the atmosphere OF the house so foul
thai | waS on the point Of notifying the
Board " Health az the nuisance. On
Monday heard him as he fell TO the floor,
but II was nothing unusual, and did not
suppose he had died. | saw little Flo
renee at the front door and thought she
looked tired and hungry. Upon inquiry
found she had eaten nothing all day. The
lardcr was empty. gave her money, with
which she BOUGHT some rolls and cakes for
their supper The children once had
money in abundance. | have seen Clara
start to buy candy with a ten-doilar bill in
her hand. Leonard was always willing
to sign check II he was able to
DO so, and his drafts were Away,
honored, but during the last few days
he and his wife have been almost
helpless, and he could not possibly have
signed his name. So The children went
hungry. What little c,re the house r.
ceiyed was given BY Clara. OF late no
food has been cooked I'm the house, and the
family haye Subsisted upon crackers and