Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-02-23
Leonard Executed

The Englishman who was known as Wm
Leonard, but who said that was not his right
name, was hanged in Frederick City Jail
yard on Friday morning last. His crime
was murder. His victim was Jesse Ander-
son, respected workman on the Baltimore
and Ohio track repairs, whom he shot with
musket, September 5, 1903. His motive
was revenge, aroused by his having been told
that Anderson had reported that Leonard
was on spree.
The drop fell at 1870 O'Clock. Leonard
was pronounced dead at 1871. His neck
was broken by the fall. About Il hundred
persons witnessed the hanging, and three
hundred men, women and children were
outside Of the Jail grounds.
Thursda Leonard babe good bye to all
the prisoners in the Jail These were moved
10 another part of the prison and did not see
Leonard's departure from life. The con-
demned man sent for the sheriff Thursday
and thanked the officer for the kindness he
had shown.
To the sheriff he said "Bracc up and do
not be nervous to morrow"
Leonard retired at 1890 O'Clock and slept
soundly all night lie was awakened by his
request at O'Clock Friday morning, when
he dressed himself and said he desired TO
have some soft-boied eggs, buttered bread
aud q cup OF tea for his breakfast These
were furnished him Z o'clock He ate
heartily, and about an hour later he drank
glass of beer.
He then carefully arranged his attire, re-
marking 10 his death watch, at seems funny
To fix up so much to be hanged" His
spiritual advisers were with him shortly be.
fore 10 O'Clock.
Sheriff Zimmerman at a few minutes OF III
o'clock showed Leonard the rope with which
he was to be hanged and tried il on his neck,
asking him il he would rather have il ad-
justed before going to the scaifod or alter
he got there.
Leonard replied, al don't like the idea Of
being led out with rope around my neck
like bullock going to the slaughter
would rather go to the scatfold unshackled."
The sheriff acquiesced.
AT IL o'clock the march to the scatfold be-
gan. Sheriff d. p. Zimmerman and his
deputy, Mr.. A. G. Mcbride, led the way
down the corridor to the basement and out
to the northeast corner of the jail-yard,
where the scafold stood. The procession
was otherwise composed of Duputies Crum
and Croft, the condemned man, the priests,
ard Messrs. Derr and Keeney, wh0 had been
the death watches.
Leonard walked with firm step, mount.
ed the steps leading to the platform without
tremor and carefully placed himself in the
head at the hook to which the rope was 10
be attached. The rope was put up, adjusted
to his neck and he then repeated Il prayer
after one OF the priests. His feet were tied
and the black cap was placed over his head.
The sheriff touched spring and Leonard's
body dropped through the opening,
The scaffold was well constructed. The
drop was five feet and half, and the deadly
work was done without hitch. The body
was buried in the Catholic cemetery at Fred.
erick, and his pail bearers, who were select
ed by Leonard on Wednesday, were rom
among the officials OF the Jail.
On Tuesday morning, september 8, 1898,
at Lime Kiln, Frederick county, about three
miles south OF Frederick city, Md, William
Leonard shot Jesse Anderson. Leonard had
been working up to the saturday night pre-
vious at a Buckeystown cannery. On Sat.
urday night he began drinking heavily. On
Monday, while he was still drinking, some
one told Leonard that Jesse Anderson had
told Mr., Grant Hardy about Leonard spree.
Mr.. Hardy lives at Lime Kiln and Is the
telegraph operator AZ Washington Junction,
lie then had charge Of Leonards two chill
dren. Leonard was Infatuated by the report
about Anderson, whom he did not know
He called at Mr.. Anderson's house and
asked Mrs. Anderson where her husband
was, and went 10 look for him among
gang OF repair hands on the railroad, carry.
ing the gun which he had borr0 wed at Har-
dy's house, saying he wanted il TO kill o
squirrel for his little girl.
Nine men were in Anderson's gang -
Leonard asked the first man if he was An
derson. When told no, he went to two 9th.
ers with the question until Anderson was
pointed out.
He said, Anderson, are you armedr'
mo-" replied the trackman.
81 am sorry for you" said Leonard. "You
have been lying about me and am going
to kill you"
Anderson then grappled Tor the gun, but
Leonard discharged ii, MORALLY wounding
Anderson. Leonard told the men In the
gang that il they followed him he would
shoot them. He went to Buckeystown, hid.
ing the musket in color0d mans hut. He
was arrested at Buckeystown, tried at this
place, and convicted OF murder in the first
degree ON the Goth Of November last His
defense was claim that the gun was acct
dentally discharged.
Leonard being British subject, efforts
were made To get the British Ambassador at
Washington to ntercede IN his behalf, but
they were Intellectual, as were the appeals
to Governor Brown
Leonard said his name was not William
Leonard. Withholding his name, he said,
was why his lawyers could do nothing for
him with the English officials, who could
not find that name in their records He said
he had an uncle and six cousins in Fhila
delphia, one cousin having place in the
custom-house at Philadelphia. "If had
written 10 them" he said, 81 could have got
money ami assistance, but | would not dis
grace them by exposing my right namc