Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-25
N STERY IS SOLVED
identity OF MexicaEs Killed by
Mate Breen Entirely
Cleared Up.
The Fathers Name Was Joseph
Taseart and He Was q
Missourian.
Had Led a semi-Cr;minal Ca
reer and Was ST. pected Of
Murder.
'pecial to Times Republican.

Davenport, July 25.-The mystery
surrounding the identity of the MeSl-
cans who We're killed a few days ago on
Ete steamer Dubuque in an altercaloh
with the mate Dan Breen has been
cleared up by the Denver Post, in which
city the elder Leonidas had left an un-
cnviable record. The elder Leonldas had
a checkered career in Colorado. Den
yer was the scene of his operations Oil
and on for many years, and the victims
Of his successful fakes include some oil
the leading business men and clergy
men of the city.
His real name was Joseph Tasgert
and his birthplace Missouri His Den
Yer derelictions soon made that city UNI
healthy so far as Mr.. Taggert was per-
sonally concerned and he left there, GO
ing into Old Mexico. He spent some
time in Chihuahua, and from there
went to Jesus Maria. where he became
a .penitente." His long. flowing hair
reaching to his waist. his erect. COM
handing figure and soft etieminate
face, together with his ver-tongued
manner, brought him at once into pop
ularity among the relisiously inclined.
He protested supernatural power ana
crowds flocked to hear him speak and
to receive from him the laying on OF
lands" He got to be such a craze
among the people of that section of the
country that miners left the mines in
idleness and women neglected their
homes to follow him and the religion in
which he professed belief Here he met
Francis Schlatter. the healer, and the
two worked" together for a time.
Taggert himself Went back to Denver
in 1890 as an attraction at Sacketts
Wonderland Theater in Curtis street.
Sackett advertised him as Il Persian
hermit and as belonging to a religious
order that conversed only by signs. one
Of his professions of belief was that the
hair of man should not be cut because
It WAS ungodly to do so. He drew Well
nj the museum. and Manager Sackett
fairly coined money on the Persian
hermit"
His next venture was to start in bust
ness and place on the market an alleged
Fair restorer. Many drug stores and
barber shops We're induced to sell it,
and as he was supposed to be walking
example of what the tonic would do for
Il person. the trade nourshed for some
time. tho the preparation was found by
the purchasers to be a bunco game pure
had simple. The long-haired. long
bearded inventor of the tonic exhibited
himself in drug store windows. The
same Year Taggert turned up as a
soul saver He succeeded in interest
ing some prominent clergymen in an
eNangelistic scheme with surprising re-
suits from Il financial standpoint
With the money he collected Taggert
started n dance hall in Denver one of
his leading attractions was Alois ku-
hene, a 17year-old girl of good family
whom he lured here from Mexico, Mo
7 aggert was virtually driven out of
Denver.
He faxed around for awhile In Gem
trail City, Idaho Springs and other
towns. and finally landed i'm CHEYENNE.
He took the kuhene girl with him, and
enc morning the girl was found MUIR
dered. Taggert was arrested and
charged With the crime, but no direct |
evidence WAS secured against him and
he WAS turned loose
From that time Taggert COMPLETELY
dropped out OF sight asfar as Colorado
was concerned, and the next heard of
Dubuque the other day.