Augustus D Leighton I found no family information about him. The newspaper wrote he was of black decent but had white features and light skin. He was very tall. Straight hair and reddish mustache. He had broad features.
19 May 1882
HANGED.. LEIGHTON Expiates the murder of Mary DEAN
THE CLOSING SCENES IN THE YARD OF THE TOMBS PRISON THIS MORNING --LAST NIGHT
OF THE MURDERER ON EARTH--PREPARING TO MEET HIS DOOM--A CAREFUL TOILET.
Augustus D. LEIGHTON was hanged in the Tombs' yard a little after 8 o'clock this morning for the murder of his mistress, an octoroon, named MARY DEAN, by cutting her throat with a razor, on June 14, 1880. At 6 o'clock
under Sheriff STEVENS arrived at the City Prison and inspected the preparations made by the hangman, which were pronounced perfect by the veteran who has officiated at scores of executions in New York. The Rev. Dr.
MORGAN and Colonel SPENCER, the condemned man's counsel, came soon after, and the former administered spiritual consolation of LEIGHTON in his cell. The murderer seemed very penitent. He ate sparingly of a breakfast of boiled
eggs, rolls and coffee, and after his meal carefully attended to his toilet. He wore a suit of black broadcloth, standing collar and black necktie, and his shoes had been polished under his own supervision. It is said that he was
so scrupulous about his last appearance in public that he sent back, yesterday a coat and trousers to the clothier which were misfits. Having dressed, LEIGHTON again listened to the ministrations of DR. MORGAN, and at this time his handsome coffin was brought into the female prison, in front of which the scaffold had been erected in the old corner sacred to innumerable death scenes.
At 8 o'clock the deputy sheriffs, clad in black and carrying their staves of office in morning, entered the yard and formed line on either side. The death warrant having been read in the condemned cell the procession
started for the gallows, Dr. MORGAN reading the service for the dying. LEIGHTON glanced quickly at the scaffold as he came out of the prison, but his eyes instantly fell. The executioner's assistant fixed the end of the noose which hung around the murderer's neck to the loop which dangled from the crossbeam. The black cap was pulled down over the face. Under Sheriff STEVENS gave the old signal with his handkerchief to the executioner, who was watching him through the augur hole in his box on the right of the scaffold. The thud of the falling axe was heard and LEIGHTON'S body shot into the air. His struggles showed he was being slowly strangled. In 5 minutes the body was
lowered so as to allow the attendant physicians to hear the beating of the heart. In 12 minutes there was no perceptible pulse. In 15 the heart stopped beating and life pronounced extinct. After hanging for 12 minutes more the
body was lowered into the coffin, an inquest was held with the usual verdict, and the remains were moved to an undertakers wagon to be interned in the Evergreen Cemetery on Sunday.LEIGHTON spent his last night on earth on the same couch as that occupied by SINDRAM? in the padded or hospital cell, to which like SINDRAM he was transferred as a measure of precaution against suicide. He protested at
first through superstitious dread, but finally became reconciled to the transfer and slept peacefully from 12:30 to 5:30 a.m., when he woke and on being told the time remarked: "Well I suppose I might as well get up."
The murderer was a young and good-looking colored man and his victim was an octoroon of remarkable beauty. LEIGHTON killed her in front of a house of ill-repute in West 26th. street, she having refused to have anything
more to do with him. His case went to the General Supreme Court, and was decided against him. he was respected by the Governor, but efforts to save him were in vain. he showed rare intelligence for one of his station in life when
his case was before the courts.
Suggested edit: SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE
Strangled to Death.
New York, May 19th. Augustus D, Leighton (colored) was hanged at 8:47 this morning, for the murder of his mistress, Mary Dean. When the trap was sprung the noose failed to slip under his ear, and caught under the chin. Then commenced a sickening struggle, which showed that Leighton was strangling to death. His fingers clutched convulsively; the legs were drawn up, and the victim's agonized heavy breathing was awful to hear. In seven minutes he was pronounced dead by the official physicians; but, as the body was partially lowered, convulsive heaving of the chest were plainly discernible. Another physician declared him dead eight minutes after the first announcement. The body was removed to Evergreen Cemetery for burial.
Oakland Tribune, (Oakland, California) 19 May 1882, Fri, Page 3
HIs Find A Grave Memorial:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21241530
Augustus was engaged to Georgia Mary Dilworth and ended his relation with Mary Dean, who was very upset over it. If he would of just stayed away and left his coat, that day would of turned out so different for so many people. An old friend of his Margaret de Cordova paid for his trial lawyer and bought him new clothes to be hung in.
He was executed 19 May 1882, a Friday.
The trail:
The Verdict:
New Trail Denied:
The Hanging:
19 May 1882
HANGED.. LEIGHTON Expiates the murder of Mary DEAN
THE CLOSING SCENES IN THE YARD OF THE TOMBS PRISON THIS MORNING --LAST NIGHT
OF THE MURDERER ON EARTH--PREPARING TO MEET HIS DOOM--A CAREFUL TOILET.
Augustus D. LEIGHTON was hanged in the Tombs' yard a little after 8 o'clock this morning for the murder of his mistress, an octoroon, named MARY DEAN, by cutting her throat with a razor, on June 14, 1880. At 6 o'clock
under Sheriff STEVENS arrived at the City Prison and inspected the preparations made by the hangman, which were pronounced perfect by the veteran who has officiated at scores of executions in New York. The Rev. Dr.
MORGAN and Colonel SPENCER, the condemned man's counsel, came soon after, and the former administered spiritual consolation of LEIGHTON in his cell. The murderer seemed very penitent. He ate sparingly of a breakfast of boiled
eggs, rolls and coffee, and after his meal carefully attended to his toilet. He wore a suit of black broadcloth, standing collar and black necktie, and his shoes had been polished under his own supervision. It is said that he was
so scrupulous about his last appearance in public that he sent back, yesterday a coat and trousers to the clothier which were misfits. Having dressed, LEIGHTON again listened to the ministrations of DR. MORGAN, and at this time his handsome coffin was brought into the female prison, in front of which the scaffold had been erected in the old corner sacred to innumerable death scenes.
At 8 o'clock the deputy sheriffs, clad in black and carrying their staves of office in morning, entered the yard and formed line on either side. The death warrant having been read in the condemned cell the procession
started for the gallows, Dr. MORGAN reading the service for the dying. LEIGHTON glanced quickly at the scaffold as he came out of the prison, but his eyes instantly fell. The executioner's assistant fixed the end of the noose which hung around the murderer's neck to the loop which dangled from the crossbeam. The black cap was pulled down over the face. Under Sheriff STEVENS gave the old signal with his handkerchief to the executioner, who was watching him through the augur hole in his box on the right of the scaffold. The thud of the falling axe was heard and LEIGHTON'S body shot into the air. His struggles showed he was being slowly strangled. In 5 minutes the body was
lowered so as to allow the attendant physicians to hear the beating of the heart. In 12 minutes there was no perceptible pulse. In 15 the heart stopped beating and life pronounced extinct. After hanging for 12 minutes more the
body was lowered into the coffin, an inquest was held with the usual verdict, and the remains were moved to an undertakers wagon to be interned in the Evergreen Cemetery on Sunday.LEIGHTON spent his last night on earth on the same couch as that occupied by SINDRAM? in the padded or hospital cell, to which like SINDRAM he was transferred as a measure of precaution against suicide. He protested at
first through superstitious dread, but finally became reconciled to the transfer and slept peacefully from 12:30 to 5:30 a.m., when he woke and on being told the time remarked: "Well I suppose I might as well get up."
The murderer was a young and good-looking colored man and his victim was an octoroon of remarkable beauty. LEIGHTON killed her in front of a house of ill-repute in West 26th. street, she having refused to have anything
more to do with him. His case went to the General Supreme Court, and was decided against him. he was respected by the Governor, but efforts to save him were in vain. he showed rare intelligence for one of his station in life when
his case was before the courts.
Suggested edit: SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE
Strangled to Death.
New York, May 19th. Augustus D, Leighton (colored) was hanged at 8:47 this morning, for the murder of his mistress, Mary Dean. When the trap was sprung the noose failed to slip under his ear, and caught under the chin. Then commenced a sickening struggle, which showed that Leighton was strangling to death. His fingers clutched convulsively; the legs were drawn up, and the victim's agonized heavy breathing was awful to hear. In seven minutes he was pronounced dead by the official physicians; but, as the body was partially lowered, convulsive heaving of the chest were plainly discernible. Another physician declared him dead eight minutes after the first announcement. The body was removed to Evergreen Cemetery for burial.
Oakland Tribune, (Oakland, California) 19 May 1882, Fri, Page 3
HIs Find A Grave Memorial:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21241530
Augustus was engaged to Georgia Mary Dilworth and ended his relation with Mary Dean, who was very upset over it. If he would of just stayed away and left his coat, that day would of turned out so different for so many people. An old friend of his Margaret de Cordova paid for his trial lawyer and bought him new clothes to be hung in.
He was executed 19 May 1882, a Friday.
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