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Post by livingston on Jun 26, 2006 11:00:10 GMT -5
The NYT reported on May 15 the following regarding a NY lawyer named Isaiah Leebove:
"One of his last appearances in a criminal case was as counsel for Salvatore Spitale and Irving Bitz who volunteered as go-between in the Lindbergh baby ransom negotiations."
I have been unable to find any information about Leebove's involvement. Does anyone know if he was, in fact, involved?
Thanks for any help here!
Livingston
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Post by Michael on Jun 26, 2006 11:09:20 GMT -5
This man's name came up in the past on my old board. I remember finding reference to him. I will have to scout around for this information. As I remember, it involved something going on in Michigan - perhaps. Please bear with me as I search my files for the information.
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Post by Michael on Jun 26, 2006 21:33:24 GMT -5
Isaiah Leebove was definitely an interesting character with quite a history. Known for being a "Gangster" Attorney, he is indeed referenced to by both the New York Times and the Detroit Free Press as one Bitz's & Spitale's Attorneys.
However, I cannot find an instance where he represented them in Court. In fact, the story that seems to connect Bitz & Spitale to Leebove originates from an Attorney I positively know did - Abraham Kasselman. Kasselman claimed Bitz & Spitale had a "lead" in Detroit and it became known to the press by "unsubstantiated" sources that Leebove was there ahead of them in a sort of emissary role.
Leebove had definitely represented numerous "underworld" characters to include one closely connected to this case - Owney Madden. The odd thing about this connection is that Leebove had represented "Legs" Diamond on several occasions and it was no secret Bitz & Spitale were Diamond's sworn enemies. In fact, when Diamond was finally murdered, Spitale was rumored to have been behind it.
By the time Leebove was supposed to have gone to Detroit for Bitz & Spitale though - Diamond was dead - and Leebove had struck up a very close relationship with the Purple Gang and already had ties to Governor Comstock even before he was elected. Early on in the case the Purple Gang had been implicated by several sources as being behind the crime. Additionally, there were suspicions that Betty Gow had ties to them which eventually proved false.
So looking at all of the circumstances it does makes sense, however, I cannot find any solid proof the newspapers reports were true.
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Post by Michael on Jun 27, 2006 23:28:30 GMT -5
Michael, this is great information. I am working on a life of Leebove, hence my interest. He is a very elusive character. 'Mystery man' indeed! I, too, had wondered about his being involved with S. and B., given their animosity toward 'Legs'. Also the notices, surely both deriving ultimately from the NYT, are REALLY vague. So your 'take' is very valuable. May I use your observations in my article, if and when it ever appears?
What was the putative connection of the Purples with the kidnapping?
Leebove clearly associated with Purples later in his life, particularly re: Comstock and the Marquette Prison' affair, but I don't know of any actual activity by him in Detroit and environs, e.g., representing any Purple in court. I know this doesn't have anything to do directly with the kidnapping, but if you have any further leads on Leebove, I'd appreciate it. I have read But He Was Good to His Mother (Rockaway) and The Purple Gand and The Violent Years (Kavieff), culling a bit of info there.
Thanks again!
Livingston
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Post by Michael on Jun 28, 2006 5:50:42 GMT -5
Certainly. Glad you found it useful in some way. It reminds me of something A&M wrote in their book, Crime of the Century: Perhaps because of the publicized involvement of characters like Rossner, Bitz, and Spitale, and perhaps because of Lindbergh's March 4 invitation, it seemed as if hoodlums, conmen and racketeer's from all over the country wanted to be involved. (p107) While there's no doubt in my mind B&S knew who Leebove was (they all knew who each other were in one way or another) it could be he was taking advantage of a situation in the same way that obviously S. & B. had done. Let me explain.... One would think these guys wouldn't want the attention due to their illegal activities, however, S. and B. were able to get away with more because of their status. Perhaps Leebove figured he could get his name in the mix and therefore pull out the "Lindbergh Card" if and when he drew unwanted attention from the Police. Or of course, he could have been a representative of B. and S. while still taking full advantage of the situation. Comstock was either crooked or stupid. Leebove was pulling the strings for Kaplan's representation of Bernstein.... It should be a very interesting piece you are writing! I will put some information together on the Purple Gang investigation for you concerning the Lindbergh Kidnapping as soon as time allows.
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Post by Michael on Jun 29, 2006 5:51:32 GMT -5
Here is the most relevant page from the FBI Summary which pertains to our discussion: The "FBI" did a good job summing up the Purple Gang "connections" in their summary and this was one area they were directly involved in considering the locations of their Field Offices. Still though, as you can see, they do rely (at times) on newspaper accounts, innuendo, and speculation.
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Post by Michael on Jun 29, 2006 6:07:08 GMT -5
I found another reference to Leebove that I somehow missed while reviewing the FBI Summary. They rely on a New York Daily New articles dated 3-12-32: In the same issue of the Daily News was published a report that Spitale and Bitz were about to start for Detroit on a "hot tip"; that their attorney, Abraham Kesselman scoffed at the idea of the trip. However, that Isiah Leebove, another New York lawyer, who said he "represented Spitale and Bitz declared at Clare, Michigan, that he expected the two emissaries would join him soon. (p153) This account differs somewhat from my source for the post above wherein Kesselman wasn't "scoffing" at rather announcing it was happening. Your paper may grow into something much larger if you stray off on the multiple tangents this angle provides.
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Post by Greg Bitz on Mar 7, 2008 19:17:35 GMT -5
HI THERE, WHAT INFORMATION ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ABOUT MY GRANDFATHERS ATTORNEY? GREG GREG@ANALYTICVENTURES.COM The NYT reported on May 15 the following regarding a NY lawyer named Isaiah Leebove: "One of his last appearances in a criminal case was as counsel for Salvatore Spitale and Irving Bitz who volunteered as go-between in the Lindbergh baby ransom negotiations." I have been unable to find any information about Leebove's involvement. Does anyone know if he was, in fact, involved? Thanks for any help here! Livingston
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Post by Michael on Nov 26, 2008 15:36:27 GMT -5
With reference to the Leebove girls he stated that he had met them shortly after that came to the San and had talked with them frequently. They sat at the table next to him in the dining room. he stated that Enid had told him that her husband is Isaiah Leebove and that he was attorney for Spitale and Bitz. She told him that they had a cottage at Clare and had the cottage for 5 years. Later she told him that she had been married but three years. She stated that her husband was also interested in oil wells. (This later verified). he stated that they had said several things about the Lindberg case and it seemed to him that what they said was said in a different manner then the usual conversation regarding the case. That during the conversation about the cottage Rose had spoken about a "conference" that was held at the cottage last fall when several men were there. Enid said, "Oh, you mean the time Uncle Joe and the [ ] were there?" Rose look sort of surprised and said "Yes." [Special Report, Lt. Burnham, MSP, 3-14-32, p3]
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Post by sue75 on Nov 15, 2009 18:46:17 GMT -5
Hi Michael,
In reference to:
"He is working on a book about the small town murder of a mob lawyer who worked for the Purple Gang and even pretended to be able to find the Lindberg baby!"
I found this online. Is this the same guy who posted on your board a few years ago about Isaiah Leebove? Robert Knapp is writing about a mob attorney, and it seems to fit in here. But the guy on your board posted as "Livingston."
"Retirement continues to be good for Robert Knapp. His work in ancient history moves right along as he investigates his "invisible Romans" for a general readership book on this topic. Work with the Nemea Center also occupies him. In addition, he has (re)discovered that other times and places have lots more evidence for historical research than the ancient world (with all its excitement and charms). He is working on a book about the small town murder of a mob lawyer who worked for the Purple Gang and even pretended to be able to find the Lindberg baby! He is also working on historical preservation projects.
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Post by sue75 on Nov 15, 2009 18:54:42 GMT -5
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Post by sue75 on Nov 15, 2009 19:05:46 GMT -5
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Post by Gunzie89 on Jul 23, 2011 16:15:57 GMT -5
I know this is quite a bit too late, The Purple Gang killed Leebove in the Doherty Hotel's tap bar in Clare, Michigan.
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Post by Michael on Jul 25, 2011 8:00:40 GMT -5
It's never too late!
Are you interested in the Purple Gang angle of this Case?
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