The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-08
IS GIVEN
TEN YEARS IN
MARQUETTE
JURY GAVE you ALL THE GLEN.
ENcY you CAN EXPECT" SAID
JUDGE CONNOLLY PRISONER
INSISTS HE'S INNOCENT.

Frank Leske. tried for the attempt
ed murder of Detective Frank VIII
kinson and convicted. early Sunday
morning. of assault with intent to
do great bodily harm, was given the
maximum penalty by Judge Connolly,
molly, Tuesday afternoon-not less
than Ave years In Marquette prison.
with the recommendation that he be
kept the full term Of ten years.
"Just what I expected" observed
Leiske, as he was led back to the
jail.
Contrary to expectations. Leske In.
duIged II no Sight OF oratory In de-
tense of himself. He had but little to
say and when he did speak 1t was In
q low tone. scarcely audible ten feet
from the prisoners box.
Lieske reiterated the declaration he
has made all along. that he did not
shoot Wilkinson. HeN insisted also
that he was innocent Of the highway
robbery charge. on conviction OF
which he was sentenced to Jackson
prison for Is years, later being trans
ferred to Marquette. In fact. he had
been q victim Of mistakes like this
throughout his career, to hear him
tell It.
II know I am not the man who shot
Wilkinson, and am the only man who
can know it." he said. THE time will
come sooner or later when | will be
proven innocent, but until that time
comes I suppose l must suffer"
You were given every opportunity
to establish your innocence" returned
the court. THE state spent more for
your defense than 1t did for your
Irosecution. Your lawyer was hired
by the state. Every possible safeguard
the law provides was thrown around
you. And IL men who had no interest
in the case reached the conclusion that
you are the man responsible for this
crime. 1t almost passes belief that
these mistakes, as you call them
should have occurred continually In
your life, when they have not occurred
In the lives OF other men.
In my opinion, Lieske. the jury has
extended all the clemency to which
you are entitled by bringing in VEL
dict of assault with intent to do great
bodily harm. II you are the man
who shot Wilkinson, and the jury finds
that you are. you intended to murder
him. and you need expect no further
clemency here. A police officer Is e.
titled to the same protection that
citizens expect from police officers,
and IL Detective Wilkinson was max
ing an improper arrest when he at
tempted to take you In custody you
had a proper remedy. No man 10
justified, when accosted by a police
officer, In pulling out a revolver and
shooting him down. And unless we
give police officers. protection against
such men, what protection have We a
right to expect from them?"
Lieske told the court his downfall
began when he started tipping off the
police, through Detective Bob" Pal
mer, to crimes which he knew had
been committed. Lieske admitted
when questioned by Judge Connolly.
that he had on more than one occasion
steered men to pawn shops with stolen
property and had then betrayed these
men TO Palmer. He was asked the
same question during the trial and de.
MED 1t.
Lieske is 40 years old, a native If
Germany, and Is married. He has a
police record of Is arrests. Before his
sentence he was inclined to feel quite
clipper and said:
This is one of the happiest days of
my life. for l am going where | will
be rid OF bounding police officials for
awhile"