Wilhelm Loeser
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Loeser was an American physician and pharmacist who provided medical care to underworld figures during the "Public enemy
"-era of the 1930s. His most famous clients were John Dillinger
and Homer Van Meter
who hired him to perform plastic surgery
on them.
on November 8, 1876. At age 12, he emigrated to the United States
with his mother and five siblings. The family lived in Iowa
for ten years, and then moved on to Kansas
. In 1905, Loeser graduated from medical school in Chicago
and briefly practiced in Kansas before returning to Chicago. He established himself as a pharmacist and surgeon, once referred to as a "magician with a knife", however, he originally began dealing in narcotics to support his lifestyle. In 1913, he was convicted of that charge and sentenced to three years imprisonment. After serving 18 months, Loeser was paroled with the assistance of lawyer Louis Piquett and fled to Mexico
upon his release.
He was brought back to Chicago by Piquett in 1934 after having learned that a $10,000 bribe would allow him to return to the city permanently. In exchange, he agreed to perform cosmetic surgery on fugitive outlaws John Dillinger
and Homer Van Meter
. Both men wanted their faces altered and their fingerprints removed. Dillinger specifically wanted the removal of several facial scars and moles, a dimple in his chin and a depression on the end of his nose. Van Meter requested similar alterations as well as the removal af an anchor tattoo on his right arm. The outlaws paid up front, Piquett holding the money, and the surgery was performed at the home of Chicago mobster James Probasco from May 27–28, 1934.
Assisted by Dr. Harold Cassidy, Loeser spent nearly 48-hours operating on Dillinger and Van Meter. Given the medical technology of the era and lack of hospital facilities, Loeser was limited in what he could do. He tightened Dillinger's cheeks using kangaroo
tendons, however he nearly suffocated to death during the operation when he swallowed his tongue under general anesthetic. A caustic solution was used to burn away both men's fingerprints; it apparently failed to erase them completely, however, as Dillinger would be identified by his fingerprints following his death two months later.
His patients were both "mutilated and in agony" at the end of the surgery. As a result, the outlaws were extremely angry with Loeser. Van Meter allegedly threatened Loeser with his Tommy gun "clutched in bandaged hand", but was eventually persuaded to spare the doctor's life. With the surgery considered a failure, Loeser received only $5,000 from Piquett who kept the rest of the money himself.
Two days after Dillinger was shot and killed by federal agents in Chicago, Loeser was arrested in Oak Park, Illinois
. Loeser complained of police brutality
following his arrest, claiming beating by FBI agents smashed his nose all over his face, and friends observed "a significant change...in Loeser's appearance" while in federal custody. Loeser agreed to testify against Piquett, however the defense attorney won a surprise appeal and Loeser was returned to prison for violating his parole from the decades-old narcotics charge. A clemency petition was filed in April 1935 which documented his arrangement with FBI Director Melvin Purvis
and Inspector Sam Cowley and he was released on September 21, 1935. That same day, his assistant Harold Cassidy received a year's probation for his part in the surgery.
Public Enemy
Public Enemy is an American hip hop group consisting of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and his S1W group, DJ Lord , and Music Director Khari Wynn...
"-era of the 1930s. His most famous clients were John Dillinger
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
and Homer Van Meter
Homer Van Meter
Homer "Wayne" Van Meter was an American criminal and bank robber active in the early 20th century, most notably as a criminal associate of John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson.-Early life:...
who hired him to perform plastic surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
on them.
Biography
Wilhem Loeser was born in PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
on November 8, 1876. At age 12, he emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his mother and five siblings. The family lived in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
for ten years, and then moved on to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. In 1905, Loeser graduated from medical school in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and briefly practiced in Kansas before returning to Chicago. He established himself as a pharmacist and surgeon, once referred to as a "magician with a knife", however, he originally began dealing in narcotics to support his lifestyle. In 1913, he was convicted of that charge and sentenced to three years imprisonment. After serving 18 months, Loeser was paroled with the assistance of lawyer Louis Piquett and fled to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
upon his release.
He was brought back to Chicago by Piquett in 1934 after having learned that a $10,000 bribe would allow him to return to the city permanently. In exchange, he agreed to perform cosmetic surgery on fugitive outlaws John Dillinger
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...
and Homer Van Meter
Homer Van Meter
Homer "Wayne" Van Meter was an American criminal and bank robber active in the early 20th century, most notably as a criminal associate of John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson.-Early life:...
. Both men wanted their faces altered and their fingerprints removed. Dillinger specifically wanted the removal of several facial scars and moles, a dimple in his chin and a depression on the end of his nose. Van Meter requested similar alterations as well as the removal af an anchor tattoo on his right arm. The outlaws paid up front, Piquett holding the money, and the surgery was performed at the home of Chicago mobster James Probasco from May 27–28, 1934.
Assisted by Dr. Harold Cassidy, Loeser spent nearly 48-hours operating on Dillinger and Van Meter. Given the medical technology of the era and lack of hospital facilities, Loeser was limited in what he could do. He tightened Dillinger's cheeks using kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
tendons, however he nearly suffocated to death during the operation when he swallowed his tongue under general anesthetic. A caustic solution was used to burn away both men's fingerprints; it apparently failed to erase them completely, however, as Dillinger would be identified by his fingerprints following his death two months later.
His patients were both "mutilated and in agony" at the end of the surgery. As a result, the outlaws were extremely angry with Loeser. Van Meter allegedly threatened Loeser with his Tommy gun "clutched in bandaged hand", but was eventually persuaded to spare the doctor's life. With the surgery considered a failure, Loeser received only $5,000 from Piquett who kept the rest of the money himself.
Two days after Dillinger was shot and killed by federal agents in Chicago, Loeser was arrested in Oak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
. Loeser complained of police brutality
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
following his arrest, claiming beating by FBI agents smashed his nose all over his face, and friends observed "a significant change...in Loeser's appearance" while in federal custody. Loeser agreed to testify against Piquett, however the defense attorney won a surprise appeal and Loeser was returned to prison for violating his parole from the decades-old narcotics charge. A clemency petition was filed in April 1935 which documented his arrangement with FBI Director Melvin Purvis
Melvin Purvis
Melvin Horace Purvis, Jr. was an American law enforcement official and Federal Bureau of Investigation agent. He was given the nickname "Little Mel" because of his short stature...
and Inspector Sam Cowley and he was released on September 21, 1935. That same day, his assistant Harold Cassidy received a year's probation for his part in the surgery.