The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-07-06
A MURDERER'S MISSIVE.
John 7. LeabO Writes an Inter
esting Letter to His Son
i'm California.
Notwithstanding He Must Swing
He Still Maintains that
He is Innocent.

Clinton, No., July This morning
John I. Leabc asked Constable Galloway to
request Democrat reporter to call on him,
as he had something he wished to say to
the public The reporter visited the Jail
and found Leabo in good spirits, and after
hearty hand-shake gave a lengthy state
ment, the substance of which will be pub
lished soon. He also gave the reporter q
letter to his little boy in California, as fol-
lows:
CLINTON, July LIST, 1886.
Ny Darling Little Johnny Boy:
These two books present to you as
present and token Of my love for you.
VIII you accept them as the same, and
may they e,er be fresh In your memory,
and when you are looking at these books
think of one who so carefully arranged
them for you. The picture book is for
you to look at and to amuse yourself while
the presidents marriage In is for you to
keep TO remember that our president was
the first man that was ever married In the
White House. He was married on the
second day of June, 1886, and about the
first of April of he same year your Grand
pa Leabo took you to California to live
with your Aunt Belle Price, and on June
2lst, 1886, the supreme court affirmed the
decision of the lower court at Butler, Bates
county, NO., where / was charged with
numbering my wife, your mother, which is
wholly false and put up Job on me. She
committed suicide by taking a dose of
laudanum and then jumping into a well
and drowning.
lou was Just one year old two days be-
fore your mothers death. You was born
the 18th day of December, 1888, and the
day after your mothers death i was ar
rested, charged with murder in the first
degree and was convicted. Then / took
the case to the supreme court at Jefferson
City there the case was argued and sent
back to Butler for a new hearing. The
case was tried again in June, 1884, which
resulted In hung Jury. Then the case was
tried again in November, the Jury rem
dered a verdict of guilty of murder in the
first degree. Then / took the case to the
supreme court the second time, which was
affirmed.
Johnnie, my darling boy, believe me as
l viii give you true and correct state
ment of the death of your mother. She
was deraDged at times, and when so she
often tried to kill herself Her own
mother acknowledged on the witness stand
that she was Just in time to keep her
from drowning herself in her own well
at Butler before we we're married. and
| was Just in time to save her from hang
ing herself about two weeks before
she drowned herself in the we'll. i could
tell you a great deal more in regard to
this sad affair, but / think that have
told you enough to convince you that i
am wrongfully accused. But come what
may, my darling boy, l shall meet it like
man. They can take my life, but they
cannot take my soul. j have no fear Of
being punished in the next world TO come.
for what is charged against me here.
And now | will say to you, my darling
If we never meet each other again in this
unfrit ndly world, be good boy and always
tell the truth, and promise me that you
will never drink, swear or use tobacco, and
God will ever bless you. / will now saw
good bye, my darling little boy, and re-
member that | love you.
From your papa,
JOHN T. LEABO.
Leabo has encouraging report
from Butler that strong potion will ask
the governor to commute his sentence.
Attend the free ten mile race and fourth
OF July celebration at the Park to-morrow.