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| Richard Blass |
Blass, who is described by some as effeminate and possibly gay, tried to kill Frank Cotroni and then survived four subsequent ambushes, one involving two bullets to the head and two to the back, earning him the nickname Cat, or Weasel, depending on whom you asked.
Blass robbed banks and killed people the way others make toast.
His lawyer struck a deal in which he would avoid being labelled a dangerous offender but the judge died during the trial and all bets were off. During the FLQ crisis Blass offered a prison warden to torture and question FLQ inmates in order to get them to give up their partners but that idea didn't fly.
He escaped jail twice, once with the assistance of Jacques Mesrine's female accomplice Jocelyne Desraiche.
He loved publicity and even furnished notes and photos to the media, including one taunting the hulking, bald, fearsome QPP cop Albert Lisecek.
Blass committed the unspeakable crime of setting a fire in a bar and barricading the customers inside, thus killing 13 in the Gargantua Bar. He then escaped to a ski chalet in Val David with a crony and two women.
He loved publicity and even furnished notes and photos to the media, including one taunting the hulking, bald, fearsome QPP cop Albert Lisecek.
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| Benoit Vinet rented the cottage to Blass |
Somebody tipped off he cops of his presence. Police rushed up to the chalet and shot Blass dead with 27 bullets. He died from lead poisoning January 24, 1975, surrounded by seven weapons, gas masks and ammunition.
A gun was in Blass' right hand on which there were no fingerprints. Blass was a lefty.
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| Desraiche |
His lawyer Frank Shoofey said it was proof cops simply executed him.
His killer was said to be Lisacek but police put out word that Lisacek did not personally shoot him dead. Perhaps they feared retribution against the maverick officer.
Blass was a mama's boy. His father had left the home when he was a small child. She killed herself a few years later. He is buried in the Cote-des-Neiges cemetery, his headstone bearing the inscription, "freed for God, freed from mankind."
Blass was a mama's boy. His father had left the home when he was a small child. She killed herself a few years later. He is buried in the Cote-des-Neiges cemetery, his headstone bearing the inscription, "freed for God, freed from mankind."
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| The Val David Chalet |
Albert Lisacek, and not Tom, he was more famous for capturing the Rose brothes, although Blass (le chat) and he hated each other with passion, Albert was Qpf police he had a brother in Montreal police. He was present when Blass was killed but was on the outside when it took place
ReplyDeleteI remember reading an article about Lysacek, perhaps in some now defunct rotogravure weekend supplement. This was the first time I encountered the expression "Chicago typewriter."
ReplyDeletePeabody
Thanks William. I was a fan of your TV reports, shame they don't play those anymore. Any word on who tipped off cops? Seems 36 years later wouldn't hurt to share that info.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm repeating myself. Sorry for my forgetfulness. But hey, at least I'm consistent.
ReplyDeletePeabody
Hi, William. I didn't know that you were a Snowdon boy. So was I. Retired from MUCPD. I remember meeting you a couple of times at the St. Laurent poste, I think. We could use your knowledge at the MUCPD museum at HQ.
ReplyDeleteHonestly have no idea, back then the exchange of information between police departments was very poor, had I been privy to that type of information I most certainly would have kept it to myself and still would,one must never reveal their sources Kristian I know you would respect that,by the way I am a big fan, keep up the great work. William (Bill)Bumbray M.U.C.P.D Retired
ReplyDeleteKristian, did you ever find a list of the names of the Gargantua victims? I don't even remember the actual incident but i am curious about that story...it's as horrible as the Bluebird cafe, really. This guy was a total psychopath. Maybe Constable Bumbray would have some idea where to find that stuff?
ReplyDeleteMB
Sure, I have that:
ReplyDeletehttp://coolopolis.blogspot.com/2007/10/faces-of-gargantua-victims.html .. you can always search the box at the top left for keywords and you'll see a buncha stuff about that incident.
Richard Blass (from Montréal): he's a blast!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63i0ncXiaXE#t=300s
(William Bumbray? Where have you been since your Info Crime tid-bits???)