Leroy Francis Silva
Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 20 October 1925, page 1
VETS ELECT-James Wallace Costigan Post, American Legion, Newport was organized Tuesday for 1926. The post at a meeting Monday night elected these officers; Charles Unglesby, commander; Victor England, vice commander; Clarence Sauer, adjutant; Harper Moore, finance officer; Lawrence Hewling, chaplain and service officer; Leroy Silva, historian; A J Brauntz, sergeant at arms; Conrad Matz, publicity agent and John Rawlings, Herbert Axt, Elmer Gray, Stewart Schriver, Joe Martin and Al Specter, executive committeemen.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 27 October 1927, page 5
FATAL-Leroy F Silva, 35, Woodford Apartments, Covington, who was shot when at Fourth st. and Central av. Newport, Wednesday night, died Thursday at Speers Hospital Dayton Ky. Silva, with a bullet wound beneath his heart, was admitted to the hospital Wednesday night at midnight. He told attendants he had driven his auto from Newport after being shot. Silva told Newport police, who questioned him at the hospital, he had ben visiting his brother, Chester A Silver, 316 Overton st. Newport, and was driving home when his auto stalled at Fourth st. and Central av.
Silva said as he got out of the car to inspect the motor, a man walked toward him and pointed a revolver saying, "Stick em up!" Silva said as he raised his hands the man pressed the revolver against his left side, fired one shot and fled without any effort to rob him. Altho the Newport police headquarters are not far from the scene, Silva said he got into his car and rove three miles to the hospital.
Dr. J L Phythian said the bullet had penetrated Silva's body. Officials of Newport and Covington have failed to find anyone who witnessed the shooting. Silva was widely known in northern Kentucky.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 28 October 1927, page 1
PUZZLE-Where was Leroy F Silver, 31, advertising man of the Woodford Apartments, Covington, between 8:30 pm and midnight when he was murdered? Silva never changed his story that he was shot at Fourth st. and Central av. He died at 9:50 am Thursday at Speers Hospital in the arms of his brothers, Chester and William. Police believe if they could establish where Silva was in the intervening four hours they would be able to throw some light on the slaying. Police were told that Silva told a nurse at the hospital he was shot at Third and Saratoga streets. This is being investigated by William Holland, night police lieutenant and Edward Hamilton, county detective.
Chester and William Silva, who were with their brother when he breathed his last, state he gave them no more information than he gave police. "Immediately after the funeral I will take personal charge of an investigation that I hope will end in running down my brother's slayer." Chester Silva said. "Until after the funeral I don't care to say anything more."
Funeral services will be held Saturday 8 am from Chester Silva's home, 316 Overton st. after which requiem high mass will be intoned at 8:30 am at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 29 October 1927, page 5
POLICE SILENT-While funeral services were held Saturday for Leroy F Silva, 31, advertising man, at the Church of Immaculate Conception, Newport, police were silent on their investigation of the mysterious slaying of Silva. Silva was shot in the abdomen between 8:30 pm and midnight Wednesday. He died Thursday at Speers Memorial Hospital. Judge A M Caldwell order the Campbell co. grand jury to investigate the crime immediately.
Dr. P K Morse, interne and a nurse, whose name was not revealed, asserted that Silva was brought in an auto which was driven by another man, while Silva's car was driven by still another man. Both men departed after bringing Silva to the hospital. They parked in front of the hospital. Police obtained the license number of the "death car." Dr. Morse told plice when Silva was brought to the hospital, the wounded man told him he had been shot at Third and Saratoga streets. This was corroborated by the nurse.
Judge Caldwell told the grand jury he believed that an attempt was being made to "obstruct the investigation that is being made by police and county authorities. It is apparent that someone is trying to shield the slayer. It is the duty of the grand jury to make an extraordinary effort to prevent the thwarting of justice. Powerful influences have been working to cover up the real motive."
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Kentucky Post, Sunday, 30 October 1927, page 1
QUANDRY-Newport police admitted last Saturday night they were without clews in the murder of Leroy "Pink" Silva. An attempt to shift the murder scene from Fourth st. and Central av. Newport to Third and Saratoga streets, still is being made, but police have little evidence on which to back their claims. Friends of Silva, whose dying statement was he was wounded by a bandit at the "bottoms" corner, insist an effort is being made to shift the murder scene for political purposes.
When the Campbell co. grand jury ordered Saturday by A M Caldwell, to investigate the murder begins its study one of the first moved will be to learn where Silva was from 8:30 pm unti the time he reached Speers Hospital at midnight. Authorities admit they have been unable to learn anything of Silva's whereabouts Wednesday after 8:30 pm. At that hour he left his brother William at Sixth and Walnut streets, Cincinnati. Because of rumors members of the James Wallace Costigan Post, American Legion, Newport, of which Silva was a member, will hold a special meeting Tuesday night.