Detective Mike Ryan and The Typewriter That Helped Convict Leopold and Loeb

Detective Michael J. Ryan , CPD
circa 1924

According to family lore, my cousin Skinny Sheahan told me that his mother Eileen often reminded her children that her father Mike Ryan (1879-1955) was assigned to work on solving the crime of the century in the mid 1920's.  Apparently Detective Ryan was responsible for overseeing the divers who eventually located the typewriter in the Jackson Park lagoon which turned out to be a critical piece of evidence in the Leopold and Loeb trial.  

The photos in this post are courtesy of the Chicago History Museum and were featured in a 2004 exhibit entitled "Trial of the Century".  I have attached a photo of a group of men standing around the infamous typewriter... the good-looking man in the background standing near the fan wearing a hat is Michael J. Ryan ~ Chicago Police Detective.  It was in 2004 that Skinny spotted the photo and realized his mother was not full of blarney!  I have also including a photo of the Jackson Park lagoon and an excerpt from the Chicago Daily newspaper. 

Leopold's Typewriter Found

The Underwood portable typewriter on which Nathan F. Leopold, Jr., wrote the $10,000 ransom letter to Jacob Franks was fished out of the Jackson park lagoon this afternoon after eight days of dragging for it. 

Although only one of half a dozen items confirming Leopold's and Richard Loeb's confessions of kidnapping and murdering Robert Franks, the typewriter has been regarded as most important of the collection of material evidence. Loeb pointed out a week ago to-day where he dropped it from the stone bridge and policemen with grappling hooks and a diver kept after it. 

It was the typewriter that finally caused Leopold and Loeb to confess. Reporters for The Daily News obtained some law school papers written on it and by comparing them with the ransom letter proved that Leopold was the author of it.

 Source: The Chicago Daily News, 7 June 1924

Pictured below (back row center) is Detective Michael J. Ryan of the Chicago Police Department

Detective Michael J. Ryan of the Chicago Police Department is standing under
the fan in the back of the room (wearing a hat) and the man in the
plaid shirt is Diver Frank Blair who retrieved the typewriter from the lagoon.

On Tuesday, February 9, 2016, WTTW Channel 11 will feature "The Perfect Crime": American Experience - A look at the case involving two wealthy college students (Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb) who murdered a fourteen year old boy (Robert Franks) to settle a bet that they could get away with it; the case that followed prompted a debate on the death penalty and morality. WTTW weekly show schedule.

The search for the typewriter lasts eight days
Jackson Park Lagoon, Chicago, IL. - Circa 1924

More historical photos here.