A letter and a watch were two small clues that solved a crime.
Mystery of the
by William T. Brannon
Illustrated by Elmer Smith
R. F. LEIGH, known throughout Van Buren
County, Ark., as Old Man Leigh, was found hang
ing from a rafter in the attic of his modest frame
house in the hills near Copeland.
But it was no suicide. Raw, red spots on the
bottom of his feet indicated torture.
The house and outbuildings had been ransacked,
and Sheriff Jim Hatchett knew why: for years
there had been persistent rumors that Old Man
Leigh had a fortune hidden around his place. This
convinced the sheriff that the killer was somebody
who lived in the community and was acquainted
with the victim. The sheriff wasn't so sure, though,
that Old Man Leigh had a lot of money, as
.rumored. Maybe he hadn't told his tormentors
anything because there was nothing to tell.
Since his wife had died two years before, Leigh
hadn't got around much. But for years, he had
helped those in need and that included many
people in the community. Now, sorrowing neigh
bors demanded that the sheriff find the killer.
Among those most insistent were Aaron Moody,
Jesse Hardester, and Elton Reves.
Reves produced a letter given to him a year
before by the victim, to be opened in case of his
death. Now, Reves opened it. Inside was a note
from Old Man Leigh and a sealed letter addressed
to the American Red Cross.
The note directed Reves to mail the letter to the
Red Cross, then get Ben Russell to help him.
"Guard my place with your lives until the people
from the Red Cross come," the posthumous letter
read. "They helped me when I needed it."
"Old Man Leigh was good to me," said Reves.
"I'm going to mail this letter, then guard the place
like he said." Ben Russell was informed of the
strange request and he immediately joined Reves
in the 24-hour vigil.
So now it seemed that the victim had hidden
money around his place. Had it been stolen?
The sheriff recalled that Leigh had an old fash
ioned, 21-jewel pocket watch with a deer head on
the case. It was the sort of watch seldom seen any
more and would be conspicuous if it ever showed
up. It apparently had been taken by the killer.
It was a few days after Christmas, so Sheriff
Hatchett checked on former residents who had
returned to the hills to spend the holidays. Several
had brought their families, but one man, Jim
Jones, had come alone, though he had left home
with his wife and children. He had been in the
community when Old Man Leigh was killed.
Jones was brought from his home in an adjoining
county for investigation. He protested his inno
cence, but was lodged in the Van Buren County
jail while Sheriff Hatchett checked his story.
Mrs. Jones said she had wanted to spend the
holidays with her folks; Jim wanted to visit his
relatives. They had compromised and each had had
his way. Jones' time throughout his visit was satis
factorily accounted for and he was released.
"But I'm not leaving," he told the sheriff, "until
I help you find this killer."
The sheriff welcomed help and made Jones a
special deputy, then told him the facts of the case.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Red Cross
appeared with Old Man Leigh's letter. It directed
him on a treasure hunt of the Leigh farm that
netted more than $6,000. Leigh had died rather
than reveal the hiding place of the money.
Weeks passed, and one day Jones appeared with
his younger brother. "He's got the evidence," Jones
said. "Aaron Moody is your killer."
Moody was arrested and implicated Jesse Har
dester. The two confessed they had tortured the
victim and finally hanged him when he refused to
tell where his money was hidden. They had ran
sacked the place and found only $9. They went to
trial Feb. 21, 1933, were convicted of murder, and
sentenced to life in prison.
Jones explained the trap that netted the killers.
His younger brother had let it be known that he
was in the market for a good watch. Dozens of
watches were' offered to him. He examined them
all but said they weren't quite what he wanted.
Then Aaron Moody offered him a 21-jewel
pocket watch with a deer head on the case. Moody
didn't suspect until he was arrested that Jones
actually was looking for the watch stolen from
Old Man Leigh.
18
Family Weekly. March . 1959
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Man Leigh was found hanging,
but it was no suicide.