Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-03-30
LEONARD SWINGS AT LAST.
John Leonard, the rIurderer, Pays the
Penalty of His Crime.

launched John Leonard, the murderer
of Jacob Malmquist, into eternity.
Unusual activity prevailed at the
courthouse all Friday morning, crowds
OF men and boys filling the corridors
of that large structure and the sheriff
office. Some were there to importune
the sheriff for admittance into the in
closure. Others who had no hopes OF
that were anxious to get glimpse OF
the prisoner, or some of the paraphra-
MALTA. The sheriff was courteous to
all, but firmly refused to depart from
any of the original plans.
At noon Deputy Sheriffs Treff and
| Matlock cleared the court house OF
all except the visiting sheritfs and
deputies, newspaper and medical men.
The great crowd at once took their
position outside the enclosure. Those
who held invitations were admitted,
the doors fastened and guards were
posted. Nearly all those on the out
side had good view of the scaffold.
About 1890 Deputy Matlock invited
the visiting sheriffs to inspect the
scaffold and rope, and pass their
opinion upon their sufficiency. Sher-
ifs Dempsey of Spokane, Baldwin OF
Garfield and Sheriff Thompson and
Deputy Gibson of Adams county re-
sponded.
AS these men appeared upon the
scaffold a hush fell on the great crowd,
who for the instant felt that some
thing was about to happen. Every
thing was found to be all right, except
the knot in the rope, and on sugges-
ton of Sheriff Dempsey. new knot
was tied. The rope was treated to a
liberal application of soap by Deputy
Matlock and all went down again.
One o'clock was the time which had
been appointed for the hanging to
take place, but owing to some extra
preliminaries in the Jail, it was delayed
almost half an hour.
At about 1915 the hearse that was
to take the body to it's last resting
place, drove up to the front of the
court house, but on being informed
that the corpse was alive, the driver
tookthe hearse away.
Just about that time Sheriff Sims
appeared at the door leading to the
scatfold; behind him came Deputy
Matlock and the prisoner, Leonard,
and Father Kerns, Leonard leaning
heavily on the arm of Matlock. Sheritfs
Dempsey, Baldwin, Thompson and
Deputy Sheriff Gibson fell in next;
then came representatives of the Col
fax press and reporters from Spokane
and Pomeroy.
As soon as the scaffold was reached,
Father Kerns read the following:
ITO you who have assembled here
to witness the end OF my existence my
last words will be: Thanks to all
those who during my imprisonment
have tried to help me, but whose efforts
have been fruitless. am now ready
to pay the last penalty for the crime
charged against me. l proclaim be-
fore you and before my God that / am
innocent of willful murder. My life
has been better one than this end
ing would indicate. forgive all those
who have sinned against me, and may
God forgive them with me. One word
more: Goodbye. May l meet you
all in more just world than this.
JOHN LEONARD"
While the priest was reading, Leon
ard glanced quickly around over the
throng of people and then turned his
back upon them and his eyes rested
on the sky, but he seemed to be STAR
ing vacantly. When the reading had
} ceased Leonard said: ~ am an inno-
cent man."
Sheriff Sims motioned for him to be
placed on the trap. Deputy Matlock
adjusted the straps that bound Leon
ards hands and feet. While this was
being done Leonard said "Brothers
and sisters, goodbye. Goodbye every
body"
Father Kerns suggested that Leon
ard would like to shake hands with
those who stood about him. His
right hand was accordingly loosed and
three or four shook his hand, to whom
, he said, goodbye" He then kissed
the crucifix, which he had held in his
hand all the while, and gave it to the
priest. Sheriff Sims, assisted by
Sheriff Baldwin, then put the black
cap on Leonard and adjusted the
{ moose.
About this time, Charley Bass, Of
the Advocate, who was on the plat
, form, turned pale and as he looked uI
at Deputy Sheriff Gibson said, "Goshp
| and started down the ladder. On the
second step he turned and said, Good
bye, Jack" Leonard replied, "Good
hive. Charley"