John Leasendora

John Leasendora Killed in Fracas At Casper Sandbar

John Leasendora, 52, formerly of Lusk, died at 8:30 Wednesday morning at Casper of head wounds received in an altercation at 233 West B, the Sandbar district late Tuesday night.

Held by Casper officials for investigation is Army Stewart, 51, who has been implicated in the fight that is believed responsible for Leasendora's death, It was reported he attacked Leasendora because of some money owed.

W.L. Bustard, coroner, said an inquest will be held according to information received by The Herald Wednesday afternoon.

A man, Reuben Case, 76, is reported to have seen the fight. Leasendora was reported knocked down several times, and later dragged into 233 West B. A physician was not called until this morning, but the man was already dead.

MAN CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN LEASENDORA DEATH

The Lusk Herald, October 23, 1947

Armie Stewart, 51, 251 West B Street, Casper, was charged with manslaughter Tuesday in the death last Wednesday of John Leasendora, 52, of Casper and formerly of this community,

An inquest was held at Casper Tuesday afternoon by County Coroner W.L. Bustard, after which the manslaughter charge was filed.

Stewart, arrested Oct. 15 on charge of assault, fighting and intoxication, was confined several to Memorial Hospital, ill with a severe throat infection. He was discharged from the hospital Sunday and removed to the county jail.

Leasendora was believed to have died of injuries received in a street fight with Stewart early that morning according to police and Natrona County sheriff department officials who investigated.

Funeral services were held from the Peet Chapel in Lusk at 2:30 Saturday afternoon, with Rev. Father Miller in charge. Pallbearers were Lee Penn, Fred Hansen, Harrison Coen, Henry Jordan, R.V. Pfister and Jack Gartrell. Interment was in the Lusk cemetery.

Mr. Leasandora was born in Rome, Italy March 15,1896 and came to this country as a youth of 17. He lived five years in Pennsylvania, then came west to Crawford, Nebr. where he met Mrs. Dorothy Jones and married her Sept. 12, 1912 at Chadron.

The family moved to Lusk in 1927 where Mr. Leasendora continued his employment on the section of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

Mr. Leasendora left Lusk in 1927 for Lander where he continued to work for the Northwestern.

Surviving besides his former wife, Mrs. Dorothy Leaesendora, are two children, Mrs. Bertha Beard of Los Angeles and Jess of Lusk. Other survivors are a step-daughter, Mrs. Marie Wilkins of Bonneville, Wash., and three grandchildren, Billy and Benny Beard of Los Angeles, and Juanita Hovet of Bonneville. One son, James was killed in an auto accident near Lusk Aug. 31, 1933.

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