The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-09-22
NARROW ESCAPE.
PECULIAR EXPERIENCE OF T..
MISSOURI HORSE THIEF.
He IL Nearly Hanged for a Crime
Committed In Kansas While He
Was in Jail NJ Yankt0n, South
Dakota.

Yankton, s. D., Sept. Is. w. H.
Leonard, alias w. II. johnson, was in
Yankton today. Leonard enjoys the
unusual distinction Of having been IN
der sentence Of death for murder al
legged to have been committed in Kan
sls while he was in jail III Yankton for
horse stealing. Leonard was born in
Clay county, Mo, the birthplace of the
James and Younger brothers, and when
eighteen years Of age fell in love with
Il farmers daughter. He had no means
and the girl refused to marry him until
he could provide her a home. TO do
this he stole q horse and buggy and
sold it, but before the wedding could
be effected he was arrested, tried and
sentenced to three years Imprisonment
in the Iowa pcniteE;iary. He served
his time and removed to ELK Point,
this state. In April, 1883, he came to
Yankton, hired a livery team and drove
to Creighton, Neb. From there he
started West. He tried to sell the
team, and was finally brought back to
Yankton and INDICTED for horse steal
ing. He was in Jail here from April
to November, 1853, when. he was re-
leased on his W recognizance. From
Yankton he went to Missouri, stole a
horse, vas again convicted and SEN
fenced to five years in the Jefferson
City ~penitentiary.
Here began the strangest part of his
career. In the Jefferson City pcniten-
tiaiy he became acquainted with many
noted criminals, n of whom disclosed
to him the details Of a railroad robbery
on the Santa Fe road, near Garden
City, Kan, in July, 1883, in which one
ma was killed AID two or three
wounded. Leonard thought he could
use this information to secure his re-
lease from prison, and he devoted him
self to rehearsing the details of the rob-
berry as described by his fellow con-
vict until he could describe the Incl
dents connected Herewith as readily
as though he had actually participated
In the robbery. He then made q state
ment of pretended confession, in which
he implicated himself in the robbery,
but declared he had no hand in the
killing Of the express messenger. AS
anticipated, he was taken to Garden
City and indicted for murder. He was
Cfleu, convicted anu SeuleliCcA W Adii6.
One man testified that Leonard was the
man who shot him, and others testified
that Leonard was tine man who did
the killing. His protestations of inno-
cense and aftidavits from Yankton de-
claring that at the time the Santa Fe
train was held up and robbed Leonard
was an inmate of the YankIOn county
Jail were in vain. Gov. Humphreys of
Kansas and the railroad company
wanted Leonard hanged, and the jailer
in whose charge he was at iankton
was sent for to identify him, If posi-
ble. When Henry Bradley, the jailer,
arrived at the pcnitentiary he found
500. convicts drawn up in line. Out Of
this number he had no difficulty In
placing his hand on his old prisoner.
This delayed the execution of the sen.
tence still further, and when Gov.
Lewelling was elected he became con-
WINGED Of Leonard's innocence and
pardoned him, after he had been for
seven years under the sentence OF
death for a crime that he did not COM
NIT. Leonard is but thirty-four years
of age now, and says that hereafter he
will avoid criminal pursuits and settle
down to honest life.