JOHN M. LEARY November 24, 1897 John M. Leary, who died at Jerome last week, had led a checkered career for several weeks prior to his death. He was engaged in the shoe business in Tombstone up to 1893 when he moved his stock to Albuquerque NM and opened a store, later on moving to larger quarters. He drank heavily at times and was very quarrelsome while on a spree. Intervention of friends alone prevented his getting into trouble but one day he displayed his nature to the extent of cutting a saloon man which eventually placed Leary in the pen. His conduct in prison under restraining influences was most exemplary and led to the granting of a pardon by Acting Governor Lorion Miller. On coming out Leary found his business in a bad shape. He went about straightening things up and entered into a partnership with Alphonse Simpier,Leary turning over the remnant of his stock for an interest. The partnership lasted but a few months and then Leary went to Butte, into California., Mexico and back into Arizona. When the writer met him he was in Congress and he had just emerged from a week's spree. He then went to Prescott where he again took to drinking, picking up a few dollars for labor performed on the bench and from the sale of leather. Two months ago he went to Jerome where it would appear that he continued the habit that led to his taking off. He frequently told the writer that he had money on deposit in the Bank of Commerce, Albuquerque, this accruing from sums paid over by parties who owed him. It is understood that he has a sister in Wisconsin. Leary was of a pleasant temperament and while in Albuquerque had a number of close friends. His great fault was his disposition to drink. The distance of going to prison evidently had much to do with his course in the last year. January 6, 1898 Says an Albuquerque paper of January 2: Old residents of the city will remember J.M. Leary who five year ago kept a shoe store there. a short time ago he died in Jerome. The authoriites refused to ship his body to his friends and his sister made a trip west to made final arrangements. She returned as far as Albuquerque where she took a room at the HIghland and today will call upon her brother's old friend. A. Simpler and thereafter proceed east. Leary formerly did business in Tombstone. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. submitted by burns@asu.edu