The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-21
A pLucKY WOMAN FARMER.
Los AnRelea Trihnne.

town. Her reputation as a plucky little woman stands high among her neighbors. She knows how to handle firearms, is crack shot with re- volver or shotgun, manages her farm of 320 acres without assistance, and is not afraid of anybody. As litigant she has her hands full of lawsuits, in which she figures both as a plaintiff and a defendant Her litigious troubles grew out of attempts which have been made to dispossess her of her ranch and the action of her hus- band, Dr. Leffingwell, to sever the marital tic.
 A Tribune reporter called on the little lady yesterday to give ear to her story of her business and domestic sorrows. Mrs. Leffingwell was neatly attired in dress of black silk, cut in the latest style. A little red ribbon bow tied under her chin was the only shade of color worn by her. Her dark hair was banged over her fore- head, and the only jewelry in sight was the gold wedding-r ring upon her finger. Her manner was unaffected, quiet and retiring her voice low and soft, and her conversation that of a we'll bred and cultured woman. There was, in fact, nothing about her to show that she had the courage and strength to do the work of common farm laborer, nor to indicate the pos- session of those qualities which have enabled her to frequently repel the brutal attacks of rough men to drive her from her little home. Neverthe- less Mrs. Leffingwell is full of nerve, as the sequel will show.
 A little more than year ago the little woman came to Los Angeles from Santa Barbara. She and her husband had not lived together in ten years. When she arrived here her surplus cash capital could have been covered by trade dollar. She To- cated 320 acres of school land in sec- 16 of township in this county, near the Ventura boundary line, built a little house on the place. and began to improve it. She sowed a crop of wheat and barley and planted some vegetables When the crops were about ready to be harvested her first trouble began. Manuel Leonise, rich cattleman who had lived in this country for nearly thirty years, and who had enjoyed during all that period free pasture in the valley for his stock, claimed the right to turn the cattle loose upon Mrs. Leffingwell's land. He sent vaqueros with big herds to her place, but she stood them off. She could talk Spanish, and in soft and sweet Castilian phrases threatened to kill the trespassers. The herders re- treated every time, but invaribly left the cattle to trample down her grain. The little woman's time was much taken up in driving off the cattle. She held the fort with such persistence that Leonise finally called to his aid a well known desperado, one Manuel Domingues, and the two men went together to her place and seized her while they drove the cattle into her corral.
 Mrs. Letfingwell, in the encounter, claims that she was handled so roughly as to sustain serious bruises. She was at the time armed only with breomstick, and that weapon was ineffective in her hands. The cattle were driven over her farm and tram pied down and utterly ruined her crops. Then Mrs. Leffingwell pro- cured the arrest of Leonise and Domingues for assault and battery, and their trial on that charge will be held before Judge Austin on the 28th instant. Miguel Leonise next brought an ejectment suit against her, his brother Juan Leonise being made the plaintiff in the case. Juan, it is said, is in dying condition, and his depo- sition is to be taken to-day. The ejectment suit will not come up for trial until some time in April, Hor- ace Bell being Mrs. Leffingwell's at torney.
 The lady says that last Septem- Der, Leonise, through his attor- ney, J. Roberts, paid her fifty dollars for the privilege of pas turing his cattle upon portion of her grounds, and she considers this to be good proof that at that time Leonise conceded her claim to owner ship of the ground.
 Mrs. Lefingwell, by way of retail ation on her persecutor, has brought a suit for $5,OO0 dammages against Manuel Leonise for destroying her crops and for the assault committed upon her. This suit she says she will prosecute to the bitter end.
 Mrs Leffingwell says the object of her present visit to Los Angeles is to testify to-tomorrow in Judge OMerveny's court in the divorce suit which her husband has brought against her on the ground of deser- tion. She ayers that Dr. Leffingwell is insane, and has been so for many