DEAD MAN IN THE RING: Part Three

“Agile” Andre Anderson defeated Fairbury native “Big” Wayne Munn in the boxing ring, but he could not defeat the mobsters that expected him to take a dive. By Gordon Hopkins The Death of “Agile” Andre Anderson There are some reports that, shortly before the fight, two men approached Anderson. It is unknown who they were or what was discussed. Given what happened next, some assumptions are inevitable.As always, there was a fair amount of money to be won and lost on that high-profile battle. Though unconfirmed, as is so much when talking about the underworld, infamous prohibition-era Chicago gangster George Clarence “Bugs” Moran is rumored to have dropped a bundle on Munn.The evening of March 31, 1926, Anderson arrived at Tonneman’s Café in Cicero, a suburb of Chicago. Also patronizing the cafe was a man named Leo Vincent Mongoven. The name may not be familiar to many but Leo Mongoven was, for many years, the confidant and bodyguard of “Bugs” Moran. At 29 years of age, Mongoven, had been identified by newspapers as Moran’s “machine-gunner.” Moran and Mongoven would both later be targeted by Al Capone for extermination in the infamous “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” of 1929. Both men managed to survive by virtue of not being present when the massacre happened.Mongoven was also known to both underworld-types and law enforcement as “The Ghost,” thanks to an almost preternatural ability to disappear whenever the cops showed up.Any attempt to understand exactly what happened at Tonneman’s Café that night by reading newspaper accounts in the first few days are doomed to failure, although a few details are clear from the brief and inconsistent reports.Mostly notably, Andre Anderson was shot in the belly during what was described by witnesses as a gunfight. He was still alive when the first few reports came out, though he was not expected to survive. One Associated Press account, rerun in countless newspapers, was succinct, “Andre Anderson, heavyweight pugilist, was shot in the stomach while in a cabaret early today and may die. The police are seeking Leo McGovern, known about Chicago gymnasiums. Anderson and McGovern had spent the evening at a gymnasium and at midnight went to a cabaret, where, after two hours they quarreled.”“He was in a very bad way when I asked him the name of the man who shot him,” Police Lt. Martin Wojciechowski said later to a grand jury. “He replied, ‘It was Leo McGovern’ and soon afterwards passed out.” It seems likely Leo McGovern was a mishearing of Leo Mongoven, though why those two men would have spent time together at a gym, let alone go out to dinner together, is baffling in retrospect. News sources described them as “one time friends,” but by this time, their friendship has soured for reasons that would become clear during the course of the investigation.One detail in that news item was spot on. Anderson died the next day.Other details were a bit more sketchy. For example, some reports called Tonneman’s a cabaret, others a restaurant, others a saloon and still others a “soft drink joint.” To be fair, there is no reason, of course, it couldn’t have been all of those things. Some reports waffled on whether Anderson was a boxer or a wrestler. He was both, of course, but few news outlets reported that fact, confusing anyone not familiar with his career. One detail that changed in news accounts was the suspect. On April 2, another AP story reported, “An inquest will be held today into the death of Fred Boesenilern, a wrestler know as Andre Anderson, shot Wednesday after a quarrel in a restaurant with Noah McGuire, another wrestler. Anderson died last night. McGuire has not yet been taken into custody.” McGuire would never be taken into custody as Mongoven soon became the prime suspect.April 3, 1926-AP, “Testimony showed that Mongovan shot Anderson during a card game last Wednesday night. They were were not drinking and no motive was advanced for the shooting.”A tip to the police would provide a motive.At the inquest, the verdict of the coroner was that Mongoven shot first and without provocation, although at least some of the ten witnesses testified that Anderson had actually been the first one to fire a weapon.On April 22 of that year, another news wire, International News Service, published, “The theory on which police are working on, it is said, is that Mongovan, while on intimate terms with Anderson, was a ‘fixer’ for professional gamblers who stood to win large sums if they knew beforehand how a fight was coming out.”According to Leslie Edmonds, secretary of the Kansas Athletic Commission, rumors of fixing persisted right up until the fight. Due to those rumor, Edwards was ringside when Anderson defeated Munn. He insisted he saw nothing “crooked.” In a scoop that would make any journalist green with envy, INS revealed that Anderson’s then manager, Sig Hart, was told by his client shortly before the big fight with “Big” Wayne Munn, “I’m through throwing fights and laying down whenever they want me to. I’m going to knock Munn out in one punch if I can.”The unavoidable implication was not only that Anderson has been killed for not throwing the fight but that he had, previously, thrown fights at the behest of the mob. Very quickly, the idea that Anderson has been killed by Mongoven for not throwing the fight against Munn stopped being reported as a police theory and instead was reported as fact, at least according to headlines and despite the insistence of law enforcement that no evidence had been found to support such a theory. Some evidence would come to light on May 1, courtesy of Frederick J. Thompson, writing for a weekly Chicago sports journal called Collyer’s Eye.“Anderson was promised $750 to take the ‘flop,’” according to Thompson’s unidentified source. “When the go was put on over at Kansas City, Anderson seemed to sense a `double’; hence his demand for his ‘pay’ before he went on. Promoter Bondon told Andre he would see that he was paid off, but Anderson still insisted that he get the money first. Failing in this he went on, but it is alleged was only paid $150.”That source further added, “Anderson then came on to Chicago. When he learned those responsible for his failure to receive the amount due him were at a loop hotel, he took a gun and went to their room. Here he made them disgorge $600. One of those mentioned as being present was ‘Lily’ White, who has been extremely active in wrestling and boxing circles hereabouts for years. The police, It is said, have all details. Also strong political influence is being exercised to shield those who ‘put over’ the deal, it Is reported.” Journalism 101 allows for anonymous sources but normally requires at least two, especially when offering a story of mob payoffs and murder. Thompson offered no second source and none of the three separate investigations into Anderson’s murder corroborated the story.Which doesn’t mean it isn’t one hell of a story and worth repeating here, even if it is apocryphal.While the motive was unconfirmed, the identity of the killer most definitely was, and Mongoven was indicted.Indicted is not arrested. It would be more than a year and a half before Mongoven would be taken into custody, not in a Hollywoodesque gun battle with the cops but after a car accident that killed a Chicago banker and his wife.Arrested is not convicted. While witnesses had previously spoken to law enforcement and the press in the days after Anderson’s death, none were willing to speak when it came time to go to trial.It was a pattern for Leo Mongoven throughout his life. He was charged with many crimes, up to and including murder, but never convicted. He lived to the age of 83 and died on January 10, 1980. To be continued…

Optimus Subprime

Virginia Woman Held for Contempt of Court

Related Articles

Lopers Face Mo West Wednesday in MIAA Tourney; Aschoff & Weers to Set New Records

Area Boys Basketball Action

Wymore Southern Wrestling Team Continues To Gain Momentum

FHS To Hire New Activities Director