The New York herald., 1921-05-17
LEAD OUT OF BRAIN,
|. CONVICT IS NORMAL
Physicians at Sing Sing Say
Removal of Bullet Cured
LeOndOwski.
TALK NOW RATIONAL
Has a Little Joke About
the Edison Test When
Questioned.
FACES OFFICIAL ORDEAL
Has Sixteen Years More to
Serve for Manslaughter-
Claims Self-Defence.
FACES OFFICIAL ORDEAL

Roman Leondowski, the convict who
carried q bullet in his brain for four
years and suffered Ats of mental de-
preston and epilepsy in consequence
has recovered normal mentality since
the operation in which the misshapen
bit of metal was removed, it was made
known yesterday at Sing Sing prison
DR.. Amos o. Squire, prison physician
and psychiatrist, and DR.. Abraham
Kossef, his assistant. said last night
that Leondowski has appeared under
observation to have recovered. Their
announcement was not made officially
because the convict has not been ex-
anined for the State.
Leondowski left Sing Sing yesterday
afternoon in company with two keepers
for the Dannemora State Hospital for the
insane There he Is to be examined and
questioned along lines that will bring
out his ability to think as normal man.
When that is completed he will be re-
turned to Clinton Prison to complete
sentence that may run for only sixteen
years more or possibly life. He was
convicted OF manslaughter In 1917 fol-
lowing a gun fight in which he nearly
lost his life. The bullet removed by the
surgeons lodged in his brain at that
time. A second bullet embedded. a few
inches away. was not removed because
1t was regarded as harmless.
Leondowsk appeared alert mentally
and In almost perfect physical health as
he waited with the keepers for the train
yesterday He answered questions read
lily and commented on his own case. He
joked about Thomas A. Edison's uues-
tionnaire, discussed Chauncey NJ. Depew
and Paderewski. and. JinGling his own
few pennies, grinned and quickly cried
"A twenty dollar gold piece! when
coin OF that denomination was shown
him.
"Paderewski is a good musician but
q poor politician" Leondowski observed.
II heard him play once in Utica. I
paid two dollars to get In don't know
why I did because l don't understand
music anyway"
Have you ever heard of Chauncey M.
Depewc" he was asked.
Sure" was the answer. Hes tho
gentleman who used to tell funny
stories"
And then Leondowski expressed his
appreciation OF the attention given MS
case by Dr. william L. Chapman. ST..
of Brooklyn. who performed the opera
ton. Though himself paralyzed. DR..
Chapman had attendants lift him to a
high stool and trephned the convict's
skull. He praised also the kindness
shown him by Warden Lawes and other
Sing Sing officials Then the question
ing by reporters was resumed
Can you tell which was made, first
the hen or the egg" one OF them asked.
Leondowski pondered. That's hard
telling" he said. "Is that one OF Mr..
Edison's questions?" The idea made him
laugh.
You've heard OF Mr.. Edison?" he was
asked.
Yes: I worked for an electrical con-
ceri before / got into this trouble and
anybody who works around an electri-
cal plant hears about him"
Leondowski next posed for newspaper
and motion picture photographers and
then gave out a statement writteA by
himself 1t reviewed his life history
from his boyhood days in Mlawa,
Poland. and described the trouble that
led up to his shooting Frank Leven-
shick in Schenectady back in 1917.
HE Is In much better snaps physically"
DR.. Squire said yesterday. And he's
the most grateful inmate I ever treated"
The operation was performed seven
weeks ago