The trial of Daniel Leonard for the murder of his shipmate, Anton Klowitonski, on board the bark Archer, while at sea in December last, was continued yesterday before Judge Benedict, in the United States Circuit Court. Carl Anderssen's cross-examination was finished, and then Assistant United States Attorney Fiero put Deputy Collector Wynkoop on the stand, to prove that the bark is an American registered vessel. John Hausen, a sailor, was next examined for the Government, but his testimony was not specially interesting. Thomas McMahon, the next witness, testified that he was in Leonard's company just before the latter stabbed Klowitonski, and that he had parted with him only a few minutes when he heard angry voices in the forecastle. An instant later the Russian cried out, "Knife! knife!" and McMahon ran forward in time to prevent the wounded man from falling to the deck. As he staggered out of the forecastle, Klowitonski pointed to Leonard and said: "Dan stabbed me with a knife." McMahon saw the knife produced in court in Leonard's sheath when the latter was taken to the lazaretto and confined after the tragedy. McMahon also said that he saw Leonard sharpening the same knife three hours before the stabbing. After the prisoner was in the lazaretto McMahon went down and talked with him, and asked him if he was not sorry that he had not let the Russian alone, and so taken McMahon's advice. Leonard said, yes, but it was too late then to think of it. The next day he went again to talk with Leonard, and told him that the Russian had died at 10:45 o'clock the night before. Leonard asked, "What am I to do?" and said that he had heard a kind of a splash that morning, as the body of his victim was cast overboard. Leonard also asked McMahon if he did not think that he [Leonard] had better jump overboard. McMahon next related numerous instances where Leonard had threatened Klowitonski, and said that he was continually seeking and forcing quarrels on the latter. McMahon often remonstrated with Leonard about it, and told him it was wrong, that the Russian wouldn't harm any one, and was a quiet, inoffensive man. Leonard responded on these occasions that he would "fix" Klowitonski, and once when he made this threat the Russian invited him to fight then and there, but Leonard said: "No, I'll watch my own chance to fix you." The trial will be continued to-day.

Source:

Unknown, "Daniel Leonard's Trial," The New York Times, New York, N.Y., Wednesday, 17 March, 1880, p. 8.