The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-10

attorney. and United States Marshal
w. E. Sterne, accompanied by two
newspaper reporters, went to the coun-
ty jail yesterday afternoon to talk the
matter over with Leach and explain to
him what would be results of his plea,
should he be allowed to do as he said
he wanted to. AS stated in the State
Journal Thursday, Leach had express
ed a determination to plead guilty, and
sent for the federal officers.
Leach was in a cell by himself on
the second floor of the Jail, and Jailer
Carl Lawson brought him down to a
cell on the main floor for his interview
coat which was a part of his army uni
form, but his trousers are simply COM
mon overalls.
Il understand that you wish to enter
a plea of guilty to the charge against
YOU" said Mr. Bone, after the entire
party had shaken hands with Leach.
Yes, SIR answered the prisoner, Il
am willing to do anything to get away
from this place"
You have been having a row in
here. I am told said Mr.. Bone
Yes" answered Leach, "a Dutchman
here has been trying to pick a fuss
with me for some time. 1t began quite
awhile before 1 was taken over to
LeavenwOrth. He had been picking on
me, but left him alone until yesterday
afternoon, when he started in again
and kicked me- Leach exhibited a
bruised place on his shin where he said
the kick had taken effect.
He is a big man, about six feet tall,
I should judge" Leach continued, land
I had to defend myself. L picked up
bottle and threw it at him. They
tell me here that they will use this
fuss against me and that I haven't any
chance anyway so I am ready to do
anything to get out of this jail
Perhaps you do not realize what a
plea of guilty would mean,' said Mr..
Bone. Under the law, if you should
plead guilty the only thing the judge
could do would be to sentence you to
DEATH
Il know that" said Leach. But
would rather die than stay in this place.
I'm ready to torture myself to death
or to starve rather than stay here.
This is the first fight I have had
since I have been in here the pris-
oner went on. But they impose on
me until l can't stand it any longer. If
L could be moved somewhere else 1
would not mind it so much, but would
rather plead guilty and die than have
to be kept here. 1 am not guilty of
what 1 am charged with, but 1 will
plead guilty to it and be hung before
I'll stay here and stand what have
to-
It was evident from the way Leach
talked that he had wrought himself up
greatly over his wrongs. and that he
greatly overestimated the impositions
against him.
Il don't see how you can be taken
anywhere else" said Mr.. Bone. This
is a much better jail than the one at
LeaVenW and your trial viii be
here in Topeka in November. Besides,
your attorneys asked to have you kept
here. and they can consult with you
whenever they want to now, while if
you were over at Leavenworth they
couldn't
Il don't see what my trial was put
off for" said Leach. L am as ready
for it now as 1 will be at all, and 1
don't see any use in postponing it"
Your attorneys probably understand
your case better than you do yourself
replied Mr. Bone. Il am confident that
the judge would not set aside the con-
tinuance and allow you to plead guilty
at this time unless they gave their
consent, and 1 doubt if he would let
you plead guilty at all. If you did
that he would have to sentence you to
hang, while if you are tried by jury,
the jury can suspend the death penalty
and you will only be confined. Then
you might stand some chance some
| time of obtaining a pardon through
friends at Washington"
This seemed to be new phase of the
matter to the prisoner, for he immedi-
ately frightened up and said: 81 might.
I've got cousin who has been a guard