The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 65

SPECIAL "ALL STAR I ATTRACTIONS luUU DEFORE rou can hone to understand the hideous crimes of Eddie Leonski, the young American soldier who throttled three women in the Melbourne brown-out of Wbrld War you must know that he was a kind, gentle, soft-natured lad, a woman's boy, generous, sentimental and gallant. a LOW COST HOMES Emphasis on modern styling, and newest building materials that cut 's off building costsl 'tfWSIM HOME! IVJ I 1R 'I His smooth voice, his round baby-face and bright blue eyes, his spruce grooming, the crease in his trousers and the gloss on his thick, fair hair all these endeared him to women, whether they were strangers or his own devoted mother and sister. 14 PVH ANNUAL SYDNEY jj Mji-f II "H'll 'Tj I NEW INTERIORS 100's of new room interiors newest furnishings new colour treatments. IS HI ncath that smooth exterior. She looks intently into his round face and his clear eyes, and she says, half Mm Special displays of in 1 1 1 1 A i a materials, fittings 4 and every household item "Made in Australia." Li ENTERTAINMENT See every conceivable television.

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If you're buying a home building a home seeking home building credit and advice if you're adding to your present home redecorating furnishing if you're after new garden layouts and ideas you'll find everything that's new at the Homes Exhibition. Spend many rewarding hours make a date nowl SPECIAL BROADCASTS BY 2CH DIRECT FROM HOMES EXHIBITION Then, of course, he had an engaging grin a grin that spread readily across his face, as vast and as happy as the grin of Joe E. Brown. So affectionate, so loyal, so naturally charming was Eddie Leonski that when the news of his brutish murders was conveyed to his sister in America, she cried out: "Oh, no! It can't be Eddie! Why, he was always gentle and kind. He has always been the best one in the family.

Oh. there's a mistake, somewhere! It iusi can't be Eddie!" It was Eddie all right. And it was all the refinements in Eddie's nature that were finally to yield up the clue to why and how he became a callous murderer. It was not that he was a schizophrenic. Nor was he insane.

The Melbourne Criminal Court was to rule that he was perfectly sane and therefore responsible foi his actions. Homesick But there was obviously something else that the Court didn't know about something that may emerge gradually for you, at least a theory, when you study the strange crimes he commit ted. Have a look at them: It is late in the eveninc of May 2. 1942. Sheltering from the clammy autumn cold, a 40-year-old lady's help, Ivy McLeod.

is stand ing in the doorway of a closed shop in Victoria Avenue. Albert Park. Leonski strolls happih along. He has been standing on a street corner thinking nostalgically of his mother and home. He has had a few drinks, but he is not drunk.

As he comes abreast of Ivy McLeod, he pauses. He notes that she has a pleasant face, though not beautiful. His happy grin evokes from her a smile. He speaks to her. He says something about her handbag.

And then, in Leonski's own words, as put into evidence later at his trial: "It was a funny looking bag. I walked over and felt it. It was very soft. I handed it back, and we talked about something. Strangled "She stepped back into the doorway, and I grabbed her.

I grabbed her by the neck. I changed the position of my hands so that my thumbs were at her throat, and I choked her. "She fell, and I fell on top of her. Her head hit the wall as she was falling. I started to rip her clothes.

"I ripped them and ripped them, but could not rip her belt, so I left it and came back to it. "Then I got mad, and 1 thought, 'I've got to rip and I ripped at it and ripped at it." He was still ripping at it xi Win a return trip to London for two by Air India International and a Ford Falcon in simple competitions." Free entry! EXTRAVAGANZA IN OUTDOOR LIVING! Jokingly: Baby face!" Leonski nods. "But underneath it I believe you are vicious," she says. Leonski grins. But it is grim forecast.

They leave the hotel in a slight drizzle of rain and walk together toward Pauline Thompson's apartment Spring Street. As they walk, Pauline Thompson is humming a song. Leonski is listening. Let him, in his later confession, tell the rest of it: "She was singing in my ear. It sounded as if she was singing for me.

She had a nice voice. We turned a corner. There was nobody around. I just heard her voice. 'Werewolf' 'Then we came to some steps.

They were long steps. I grabbed her, I grabbed her I don't know why. I grabbed her around the neck. She stopped singing. She fell down.

"I got mad then, and tore at her. I tore her apart. "There was somebody coming across the street. I hid behind a stone wall. I was terrified.

My heart was pounding a mile a minute. I couldn't bear to look at her." Next night, back at the U.S. camp, one of Leonski's buddies found him sobbing outside his tent. "Snap out of it, buddy!" he said. "Come on, let's go to town." On the way to town Leonski talked incessantly about the murder of Pauline Thompson, insisted on buying the evening paper to read all about it.

A day later he dropped into his buddy's tent to say: "Have you ever heard of a werewolf? Ever hear of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? Well, I'm like him. Two pcrsonall-ties. A day or so later he said, crying: "You wonder about these murders, but I know. I killed! I killed!" Though his buddy thought of turning him over to the police, he generously decided that it might be some kind of delusion and let it ride. Then Leonski killed again.

On Monday evening, May 18, again after some drinking but not by any means 0 Continued 1 qn page 68 A title view of Leonski in the custody of a U.S. soldier. SPECTACULAR DANCING WATERS See the fabulous outdoor living displays. Swimming pool. Barbecues, newest outdoor furniture.

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DREAM KITCHENS You'll fall in love with the 1001 new kitchen and bathroom treatments and fittings. Emphasis on colour and surprising low cost. when he heard somebody coming. He sprang up and ran. Back at the U.S.

camp in North Melbourne, realising the unforgivable and senseless crime he had committed, he lay on his palliasse and cried. Five nights after that horror, Leonski is in town He walks into a city cafe. He has had some drink, but, again, he is not drunk. Alone at a table is Pauline Thompson, wife of a police constable stationed at Bendigo. She has glossy brown hair, sparkling eyes, a smile.

Leonski sits down beside her. They eat together. They get around to talking. From there they go to a hotel in nearby Collins Place. They stay there till midnight just taking a few drinks and nattering.

Pauline Thompson, like all other women, is charmed by Leonski's gentleness. Yet there Is a shadow of doubt over her liking for him. She fears there might be something not ob.vjgus be mm mm mmmi 3 y.SMi mm a.m. to 10 p.m. til July 1 1 mmm (wmnm mmm an an a a QOQftQQDQQd rf 6 rTHE JUNE 25, 1961 66.