The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-27

a reprieve for twelve days,and the old man
who imbrued his hands in fellow beings
blood, and who was counting the rapidly
running sands of life, will slumber more
peacefully tonight, for hope has come to
him again. Governor Budd during those
twelve days will inquire into. the recon-
mendation for mercy made to him by the
citizens of Monterey County.
William Leary is native of Ireland.
He came over the waters just before Gen
eral Scott marched to conquer Mexico. and
he joined the army of the United States,
fighting all through the war under the
starry banner. In 1850 he turned his face
toward the setting sun and drifted to Cali
fornia, settling in Sonoma County, and
became citizen of the United States at
Petaluma October 5, 1868. Then he re-
moved to Monterey and came into posses
sion of the Hallway House, between Sa-
linas and Monterey towns, which came to
be landmark. The land on which the
tavern was located belonged to David Jacks
and six years ago the latter succeeded, by
the aid of United States Marshal, in forci
bly, dispossessing Leary and tearing down
the old rookery after throwing its contents
into the road. Leary then opened saloon
at Castroville. In July, 1893, Swiss came
into Leary's saloon. Leary was in a
friendly humor and entertained the way
| farer, showing him among other things a
collection of coin. The stranger and the
| saloon-keeper became involved in an argu-
ment which resulted in the use of harsh
language and threats, and ended by the
! C,,-icc i1;p ~ ,,.I;
! tearing out handful of hair. Two months
later there came to Castroville in search OF
health another Swiss, named Martin b.
netti. In his wanderings about town he
went into Leary's saloon.
| Leary, as soon as he beheld the stranger
thought he recognized in him the man
who had so rudely treated him two months
before, and at once began TO abuse him.
Bonetti protested that it was case of mis-
taken identity, but to no avail. So finally
he sought safety in flight. Leary was still
| in high anger, and after Bonetti had gone
the saloon-keeper started out to hunt his
supposed assailant to punish him. He
| looked for him all over Castroville, and
! finally located him in Michael Walsh S
saloon. He approached Bonetti in men.
acing manner, and the latter, now thor.
oughly alarmed, begged to be let alone
This only angered Leary, who rushed al
Bonetti and struck him with his clenched
| left fist
Bonetti staggered and that instant Leary
thrust dagger to the hilt into Bonneti's
body straight through the heart, and the
Swiss fell dead. This was on September
2S, 1893.
The killing of Bonetti caused great ex-
element in the county, both by reason Of
the nature of the murder and the good
reputation of the victim. Leary was
arrested and arraigned. The trial occu.
pied nearly two weeks, the defense being
insanity from alcoholism. He was
promptly convicted of murder in the first
degree and sentenced by Judge N. A. Dorm
to be hanged on March 80, 1894 An appeal
to the Supreme Court was taken, the sen.
tence was affirmed and Leary was again
sentenced by Judge Dorm to be hanged
| March 20, 1896
| Leary has wife and five children
living in this county. During the last
few weeks a petition had been circulated
| by his wife to have his sentence committed
| to Imprisonment for life.
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