South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-03
HEAD OF BURGLAR
GANG IS DEAD
Chief KueSpert Identifies Man
at DOwagiaC as Thief Who
"Worked" Here.

That an end is in view OF the
long list Of robberies which have
been perpetrated here in The past
few months. is the belief 9f Chief
OF Detectives John Kuespert. who
has returned from Dowagiac where
he identified Joseph Leonard as the
man who had been concerned with
several local jobs Leonard is dead.
Joseph Leonard. alias l.. <. Hoog-
erhyde. a notorious criminal with
long and remarkable record. met
his undoing through an observant
hotel employe at Dowagiac. Cir
cumstances. resulting in the en-
ploye's arrest on a charge Of being
implicated IN robberies at Dowagiac
led 10 his being run down at Battle
Creek. The hotel man had over
heard a long distance call Leonard
made.
Arrested. and on his way back
10 Dowagiac, Leonard leaped from
a G.. r. & /. train. three miles west
Of Mattawan. The engineer said its
speed averaged between So and 70
miles an hour. When the train
crew returned along the road bed,
they found Leonard, still breathing
but fatally injured. He died as tire
train reached Dowagiac.
Brains of Gang.
Leonard was the brains Of an
organized gang of pickpOckets and
house breakers who have been work
ing systematically Indiana, Michi-
gan, Illinois and Wisconsin. We
have a line on other members Of
the gang: their headquarters is in
Grand Rapids" Chief Kuespert
made this statement following the
narration of LeOnard's spectacular
arrest and escape from earthly JUS
tice. The chief had just returned
from Dowagiac where he conducted
his Bertillion tests over the body
of the suspect.
Leonard's arrest reads like fic-
ton. The youthful employe of the
DOwagiac hotel was arrested on
suspicion; he stoUtly declared his
innocence, and then in an inspired
moment, offered to wager the off,
GERS that he could pick the man
who had been doing the work.
His names Leonard" he said,
land he stops here every once in a
While. Peculiar part of it is that
whenever he comes to town, some
house is robbed. And he gets in
late" explained the young fellow,
expectantly.
He then told of the telephone con-
versation and said he thought he
could find Leonard in Battle Creek.
The officers were skeptical, but de-
cided TO take a chance. With the
hotel employe, Deputy Sheriff MILAN
Flanders went 20 Battle Creek and
conducted a search, aided by the
city force.
After a fruitless day, the two were
on their way to the station. when
the young fellow stopped and point
ed across the street.
There's Leonard" he said simply.
The man was accOsted. He said he
was a realty man. lived in Battle
Creek, and had never even seen
Dowagiac. Deputy Flanders said he
would take a chance, and the three
started for Dowagiac.
Jumps From Train.
Leonard had a suitcase. and on
the train some friends of the
deputy's wanted to play cards and
asked to borrow it, At Kalamazoo
the party broke up, and when the
suitcase was returned, Leonard said
l., F-nh of a
was made, but LeOnard's was the
only suitcase on the train. Finally
he admitted it was his. A search
developed he had reasons for dis
claiming it, The case contained.
besides a chisel-jimmy and block for
prying windows. loot valued in the
thousands of dollars. There were
watch cases. works. rings. pins. and
other articles Of jewelry; also a bot
tie which had contained nitric acid
for testing.
Prior TO examination Of the case,
Leonard asked to be permitted TO
get drink. The deputy accom-
panied him to tho end Of the car.
Leonard entered the toilet and a
few minutes later the crash of glass
told of an attempt 10 escape, which
resulted in the mans death. He
had leaped from the train.
Finger Prints Tally.
Chief Kuespert was notified and
went 10 DOwagiac where he took
the mans finger prints at the
morgue They fitted exactly photo
graphs made al several local resi-
dences which had been robbed. The
chisel-j.mmy also conformed with
the imprint left under the windows
through which entrance was made.
Leonard was around 40 years old.
and appeared 10 be a prosperous
salesman.
The present day crook is no
SLOUGH" explained the chief. sun
day night. These men are working
Systematically They come here,
register as travelling men at a good
hotel; do their work and get out Of
town before we are notified. Police
work under those conditions is more
than serious business People can't
biarse us II il takes time 20 round
up a man."
II IS the belief or not only the