Leonards is a former shipmate of Frederick Hale’s, known to be a scoundrel. When Frederick is trying to leave Milton undetected, Leonards happens to be in town and identifies him at the train station. Frederick somehow pushes Leonards off the train platform, and Leonards dies from the combined effects of the fall and a previous internal complaint. Margaret is nearly implicated in the affair, but Thornton, the magistrate who took Leonards’ deposition, calls off the inquest to protect her.