Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-15
ALLEGED MURDERER
LANDED IN JAIL
FOR A CRIME CON-
MlTTED IN ARIZONA
Denies That He Killed His Friend, but
Admits He Forged His Name to
cheeks-suffers with
Consumption

Louis v. Eytinge, charged with the
murder of his friend and chum, John
ILeicht, on the desert eight miles from
Phoenix. Ariz., several weeks ago, and
who was captured in San Francisco
April 9, is confined in the county 1alI
lin Los Angeles, where he vas placed
yesterday by Sheriff Hayden OF Pnoe.
nix. who Is taking the man to that
lcitv TO stand trial on the charge OF
murder.
Eytinge is also wanted in Los An
geles, as the authorities here have
several cases Of forgery which they
could press against him, but 1t has
been decided not to attempt TO nolo
him here but to allow him to be taken
to Arizona, where he will have to race
the more serious charge.
The murder of Leicht reads ike
page clipped from a modern romance,
while the finding of his body, curled
up beneath a cactus on the hot desert
sands with two bullet wounds In the
head and right hand outstretched as
If grasping at an enemy, was even
more grewsome than any tale ever
devised by an imaginative writer.
OF Different Temperaments
Eytinge and Leicht arrived in Phoe-
Ink together nearly three months ago.
IThe former appeared to lie polished
man of the world, with winning man
ners and soft, womanly ways. Leicht
was more the rough, good-natured
Ichap. with q wholesome air about him
lat all times which seemed to speak Of
friendliness for the world at large.
Both complained Of beieng Ill, Eytinge
claiming to be a sufferer with con-
Leicht was plentifully supplied with
money, Eytinge appeared to have
barely enough for his needs; He
made friends easily, however, and soon
became the most popular or tne Two
ing met Leicht in Wisconsin and said
the latter had recently sold store
he had owned in Sheboygan.
For several weeks the men appeared
to be. the best Of friends and then
one day it was seen that their rela-
tions had become a little strained.
To friends Leicht complained that
Eytinge had won money from him,
but did not say in what manner.
A few days later the two men left
the CITY together on horseback and
drove toward the desert. Several
hours later Eytinge returned alone.
When asked where his companion was
Eytinge replied that Leicht mad gone
on by himself, intending to prospect.
L
ing to Los Angeles.
Finds Dead Body
Eight days later the dead body OF
John Leicht was found by pros
hector. curled UP beneath cactus,
with two bullet wounds in his head,
a revolver by his side and an empty
. carbolic acid bottle short distance
; away.
) Search was at once made for Eytinge
and his pictures and details or the
crime were scattered broadcast
through the country. One Of these
pictures was sent to Los Angeles and
soon word was flashed back to Phoenix
that the local police were also looking
for the man. Checks for large sums
of money had been cashed here and
to each of them the name of John
Leicht had been signed. They mad
been cashed by a young man who
answered in every way the descrip-
ton of Eytinge, and soon the local
detectives were hard at work endeav-
oring to gain trace of the man sus-
pected of killing a friend and then
signing his name to checks.
For several days no clews were
gained of the whereabouts of Eytinge.
Then one day 1t was whispered to the
detectives that a woman, Mrs. Maude
Davis, knew where Eytinge could be
found and had, in fact, been receiving
letters from him.
Inquiries were at once made and the
woman. found. Then 1t was learned
that Fytinge had not only been in
Los Angeles while the detectives were
hunting for him. but had left here
but few days previous. He was in
San Francisco, 1t was said, and word
was at once sent to that city to watch
| for him.
Traced by Letter
| Late on the afternoon of April 8
word was received that Eytinge had
been arrested. The man had been
working in Kragen's department store
in that city and had been traced there
through a letter he had written to
Mrs. Davis The man was arrested
at once, charged with the murder of
his friend.
Eytinge made no effort to fight going
back to Arizona.
''Tll go with you." he said to the
arresting officers, 'but you will never
convict me, as I have consumption
and will die before my trial can be
set"
He was held at the Jail until Sheriff
Hayden arrived for him, and the two
men left the city together, reaching
Los Angeles at o'clock Yesterday
afternoon. He was at once placed In
the county jail and when seen there
yesterday said:
Denies the Murder
at did not kill John Leicht. am
confident he committed suicide. l did
win his money from him by shaking
dice. also forged his name to checks,
but that was after I left him. They
can convict me of forgery, I know
that. / have already served one four
year term in the Ohio penitentiary
on that charge, so the experience will
be nothing new to me.
1T told this to Leicht and he became
enraged at me, claiming | had won
his friendship by trying to let on
was an honest man.
after leaving him on the desert I
went back to the hotel and took a
number of papers. Among them was
check book of Leicht's. When I
reached Los Angeles / needed money
and did not hesitate TO sign his name
to checks. Getting money that way
is too easy. l then went to San