The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-02-14
FORMER BEM|DJ| man
ACCUSED OF ST. PAUL
BIG STAMP ROBBERY
Edward Leonard, Who Formerly Was
in Commission Business Here. =
is Arrested. o.
MAY HAVE BEEN ONE WHO
ROBBED CANADIAN BANK
Believed to Have Committed Hold-up
at Hotel Markham Last
Year.

Edward Leonard, alias Lutowsky,
who was arrested in Chicago Friday
charged with completely in the theft
of $575,000 worth of documentary
stamps from the St. Paul Federal
building on the night of Jan. 6, was
formerly resident of Bemidji.
Ran Road House.
In the nineties Leonard ran a road
house Is miles north of this citv.
During the safe-blowing epidemic of
1895 his place was suspected as a
rendezvous for yeggmen but there
was never sufficient evidence to start
prosecution. Many strangers, in
Guiding visitors from Chicago, stop
ped at his place. Later Leonard con-
Quoted a saloon at Tenstrike until
it was destroyed by fire. He moved
to this city and entered the commits
sion business. He went to Seattle
about six years ago and has visited
in Bemidji several times since.
Connected With Robberies,
The arrest of Leonard in Chicago
may clear up several robberies in this
territory. Leonard is known to have
been in Bemidji last year when the
Hotel Markham was robbed of sew
eral hundred dollars. The police be-
lieve that Leonard "pulled off the
job.' Other affairs which are try
ing to be connected with Leonard
are the bank robbery at Wadena, the
postoffice robbery in Bemidji about
ten years ago and the robbing of the
Bemidji elevator about six years ago.
Mrs. Leonard, who is we'll known
here, was also arrested with Leonard
in Chicago.
Lived at Big Falls.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. J. Zeck, who were
also. arrested on the same charge as
Leonard, were formerly residents Of
Big Falls where Mr.. Zeck conducted
saloon.
George Brissett and Frank Bissett,
other members of Leonard's party,
are also believed to have been located
here years ago.
Others arrested are M. J. Flani-
gan of Chicago and his wife, Mrs.
Catherine Flanagan.
The prisoners will be brought to
St. Paul for trial.
Seek Leonard's Friend.
Chicago police are today seeking
Fred Hoffman, who was friend Of
Leonard's. Edward Kreil, Chicago,
another friend of Leonard, was ar
rested today, but after being ques-
toned was released. Hoffman was
sought at the time that the others
were being followed. He was trail
ed for seven days and while Leonard
and his crowd were being arrested,
he disappeared.
All prisoners are being held in
100000 bonds.
Leonard is ''Brains."
The robbery of the st. Paul rev.
enue office was directed from Mime
apolis and the stamps were taken
there in an automobile, afterward
being removed in trunks to Chicago.
Federal authorities say that Leon
ard was the "brains Of the gang"
Letters found in Leonard's effects in
dicate that he may have been i'm
plicated in the robbery Of the New
Minister branch of the Bank of Mon
treal, Sept. i, 1911, when $272,0O0
was stolen.
Loot to Minneapolis.
Following the blowing of the safe
in the St. Paul federal building,
secret service operatives learned that
the loot was taken in Ford automo-
bile to Minneapolis where a room
was rented by Mrs. Flanagan. Gas
bill receipts were signed by G.. V.
Thomas who proved to be Leonard.
The automobile in which the
stamps we're taken was found Thurs
day in the Blue Island yards Of the
Rock Island Railway Co., in Chicago,
Trunk is Sent.
Following the robbery, different
members of the band made various
trips to Chicago, taking with them
part of the stamps at time. A large
trunk with the last portion was sent
Friday.
Stamps Found.
A large squad of secret service men
and Chicago police officials arrested
Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard Friday morn
ing. In Leonard's rooms were found
thousands of stamps hidden under
the floor behind a book case and in
other places.
Child Gives Clue.
Evelyn Zeck,. 6, niece of the Leon
ards, was with her uncle and aunt
when they were arrested.
ssDon't tell where you live now