Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 2 years, 1 months, 27 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 4, 11th Precinct - Fiftieth Street

District of Incident (Present Day): 003 - Grand Crossing

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Friendly

Age at Time of Death: 45

Timeline


Date of Birth: 13 Nov 1853

Date of Appointment: 14 Dec 1896

Date of Incident: 003 - Grand Crossing

End of Watch: 10 Feb 1899

Date of Interment: 13 Feb 1899

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Oak Woods Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # A-4

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 12

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 1, Line 29

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 4-E: 9

Officer Down Memorial Page: Not Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman Edward C. Leach, Star #2766, aged 45 years, was a 2 year, 1 month, 27 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 4, 11th Precinct – Fiftieth Street.

On February 10, 1899, Officer Leach and Patrolman Patrick Furlong had just finished their tours of duty at midnight. They went to William Wagner’s Saloon located in the 6000 block of South State Street. While in the saloon the two men became involved in an argument. Officer Leach, an Englishman, and Officer Furlong, an Irishman, began to argue about the Boer War. The argument became heated and both men drew their revolvers. Officer Furlong fired his and shot Officer Leach twice. Officer Leach was taken to Englewood Union Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries the same day.

Officer Patrick Furlong was arrested, tried and found guilty of murder. On May 17, 1899, he was sentenced to 14 years in Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet. On December 22, 1900, he was pardoned by Governor John Tanner.

Officer Leach was waked at his residence located at 4940 South Wentworth Avenue was laid to rest on February 13, 1899 in Oak Woods Cemetery, 1035 East 67th Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrolman Edward C. Leach, November 13, 1853, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on December 14, 1896.

Officer Leach was survived by his wife, Letitia; siblings: Annie, Ettie, John, Mary A. and Symthia.

Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #2821.

In February 1958, Officer Leach’s star was retired by Commissioner Timothy J. O’Connor and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 1121 South State Street. In 2000, Chicago Police Headquarters moved to a new facility at 3510 South Michigan Avenue, Officer Leach’s Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.