Years ago, I compiled a list of all legal executions that happened in Ouachita Parish. Earlier this month, I was going through the online papers of Edward Livingston in the collection of Princeton University Library. Livingston was an early political and legal figure in Louisiana History. His papers are fascinating! He corresponded with the leading figures of the day and some early Ouachita parish figures. I may have found a breakthrough in a question I have had concerning the Filhiol family, but I have to have someone translate a letter from Jean Filhiol from French to English! Very exciting! Among his papers I found a list of those who had been executed in Louisiana in the early 1820’s. Russell Brooks’ name was on the list, which I have written about before. There was a second name that I have come across in my early career, but I never knew whether he was executed or not! John Leslie, execution date of Oct. 1825.
When I was transcribing obituaries from Monroe papers in the late 1990’s, I started with the earliest newspaper I could find, The Washita Gazette of 1825. There were three articles written in the papers that mention him and the case. I have written about the trial before, in the column, “A Northern Man’s View of Monroe’s Judicial Process”. Here are the other two articles:
The Washita Gazette, November 1, 1825, Page 2, Column 2
John Loslo, aged 79 years was found guilty of murder during our District Court last week. -It is said that he fought at the battle of Bunkers Hill – that the tenor of his life has been that of an inoffensive honest man.
The Washita Gazette, November 15, 1825, Page 2, Column 1
His Excelency [sic] Gov. Johnston, will shortly be here, when it will be his duty to determine the fate of an unfortunate veteran of the revolution, age 79 years. The following certificate the original is in the possession of the prisoner.
I certify that John Luslo has been one of the first inhabitants at the post of Cape Giredeaux, that he has long resided here and conducted himself as an honest quiet good citizen, given under my hand at Cape Giradeaux the 27th of April 18, 1805.
There is satisfactory testimony that he fought at the battle of Germantown, Princeton, Trenton, Brandywine, RedBank, Mud Island and at York, at the taking of Cornwallis and finally securing our independence, he not only faught [sic] but was so destinguished [sic] for bravery that he was frequently selected for hazardous enterprise – he was the soldier that was selected and actually did fire and burn all the hay and forage that was provided for to winter the british soldiery, he was ordered to do it or never return; it was expected he would do it but that he would die for it, but he escaped. This was an act that ought to have immortalized him. Mr. Klady dec’d. a wealthy planter and honest man; always received Luslo as a brother because he knew his revolutionary services, and himself to be an honest man. Mr. Luslo has long lived the life of a hermit had about 4 or 5 acres of land cleared and a small stock.
Common report say that Laslo held 5 or 600 dollars, this accounts for a young robust man entering the hermitage of this old man. The man for whom Laslo has to die for was first known in Monroe by the mae of Wm. Jeffrees, after he was apprehended as a deserter from the U.S. army, he was known by the name of McNeir, it is said that his true name was James Finnillay. It is said McNeir was in the act of robing [sic] Luslo of his horse and saddle when Luslo shot him.
Subsequent issues of the Gazette advertise an auction of Mr. Luslo’s property to pay for his trial expenses.
The first thing that is glaringly obvious, is that John wasn’t executed in October of 1825. He was still alive when Gov. Johnson was due in Monroe that November. So, did Loslo/Luslo/Leslie eventually pay with his life? I can find no further newspaper articles about the matter. I’ll keep searching though! You never know when that tiny bit of information will crop up! It would be incredibly ironic that the very country he fought to establish at the risk of his life, would then take his life for allegedly protecting his property!
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 