Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
CAPTURE A MURDERER.
Man Wanted for Killing Chicago Ac-
tress Caught in Wausau.

an actress was found dead in her room
in the Grand Palace hotel, cheap
hotel of shady character situated in
one of the ''red light districts of that
city The victim was Mrs. Margaret
Leslie. She was found lying across her
bed with a chloroform bottle by her
side, and the first impression was that
she had committed suicide and cor
oner's jury rendered a verdict to that
| effect. The father of the woman, how
ever, stated that she was possessed of
about 50 900 worth of jewels, and when
these could not be found in her room an
investigation was started. Howard
Nicholas, "a profigate theatrical pro-
moter, who had been paying the
woman his attentions, was arrested,
but later dismissed, as no evidence
could be secured against him. A few
days afterward he pawned some dia-
monds, and the police were notified of
the fact and he was re- arrested. He
was put in the "sweat box and this
time confession was drawn from him,
the details of which we will briefly
relate. He said he and a young drug
clerk, Leonard Leopold, had planned
to murder the woman ana secure her
jewels. They gained entrance to her
room and smothered her cries, while a
towel saturated with chloroform, of
which drug Leopold had provided a
bottle, was applied to her nos
trils, and when she ceased breathing
they laid her on the bed and theu made
search of the room. They found the
diamonds and divided them and then
separated, each taking a different
course in leaving the hotel.
After Nicholas arrest, Leopold got
out of the city and successfully eluded
police officials ever since, until Thurs
day evening. His picture and printed
description of him were sent broadcast
over the country. Like VIM Tascott,
he was reported to have been seen here
and there at various times, and it was
reported few days since that he was
surrounded in Spring Valley, H., and
his arrest was but question of few
hours. Ferrit-like he got away.
The police officers, knowing that the
man had relatives living in Wausau,
informed the officers here to be on the
lookout for him, and to watch certain
places here where it was thought he
might visit.
On Tuesday evening last young
man arrived in the city from the west,
on late train, and sought lodging at
the Northern hotel for the night He
registered under the name of Gale
Henry, Montello, Wis. Next morning
he disappeared without eating any
breakfast, but Wednesday night came
back and engaged another room. He
took breskfast and supper that day and
got into trouble with the clerk for at
tempting to smoke cigar in the dining
room while waiting to be served.
Thursday he was seen in various places
spending money freely, and in the
evening turned up at Aug. Kroening's
place on the west side. There he began
playing slot machine and it was dis
covered later that he had used slugs
instead of nickels. He left the saloon
and after the discovery the proprietor
sent Frank Genrich out after him, and
the man was located and informed that
he was under arrest, and was brought
back to the saloon. He could not of
course be held for putting lead nickels
in gaming device, and succeeded in
patching up the affair with the proprie-
tor. Over indulgence in ardent liquors
loosens mems tongues and proved TO be
the means which resulted in Leopold's
arrest. He stated to Mr.. Genrich that
he at first thought he had been arrested
for serious crime committed in Chi
cago. This remark aroused Mr. Gen
rich's suspicious and he went out and
summoned two police officers, Green and
Hogan. Although the man had left the
saloon they soon located him and
placed him under arrest He denied
that he was the party sought. Next
morning he again denied his identity,
until informed that his relatives would
be brought down to identify him. He
then admitted that his name was Leo
pold and also that he had participated
in the murder. He stated that Nicholas
had applied the cloroform, while he
held the woman. He denied that he
got any of the diamonds and afterward
said he got some of the smaller ones
and attempted to pawn them. He lit
OUT for the state of Iowa and said he
came near being captured op a train in
that state. Officers, suspecting he was
on the train, came in and took man
off who was sitting in a seat next to
him. From Iowa he travelled into
Minnesota and then decided to come
here and visit his relatives.
From the effects found on his person,
it is evident that his story as to his
travels is correct, and also that he has
been shielded by friends. A note book,
from which several leaves had been
torn, contained two notes of introduce
tion. One of these was addressed to a
man, evidently employed on some rail-
road, and read: This man is a friend
of mine Good fellow. If you can
square him with some conductor going
out toward far west, anything viii be
appreciated by me-" woman's name
was signed TO the note. The other
/ read: This will introduce Mr.. War
ren, friend of mine. If you can help
him out with some conductor, you will
do me a great tavof'' The other arti-
cles found on his person were q rail
road ticket from Lake Crystal to Man
kato, MINI, an Elk button, drug
gist's knife and some minor trinkets
Chief Malone wired Chief Collins, OF
Chicago, Friday morning of the arrest
and received an answer that officers