Fred Belau, was a 70-year-old recluse who lived for years in a small, makeshift one-room house on North 28th Avenue near the Mississippi River. On November 24, 1946, Mr. Belau was robbed at gunpoint of $1,325 which he kept hidden in a spot behind a shelf.
In this photograph, Mr. Belau is presented with a chicken and a basket of other foods by Leo LeVau, aged 11. On November 28, 1946, Leo came to Mr. Belau’s aid after hearing about the robbery. Leo had raised the chicken and some of the vegetables during the summer at a Volunteers of America camp in Mound, Minnesota.
The Minneapolis Police were able to track down and apprehend the thief. On November 26, 1946, two days before Leo made his kind delivery, detectives visited Mr. Belau to return $1193 of his life savings which officers had recovered during the arrest of the thief.
Photograph courtesy of Hennepin County Library
The young man, Leo, passed away in 2015. The following obituary link shows a picture of him as an adult.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/minneapolis-mn/leo-levau-6557590
Thank you so much for this additional detail, Bob! It provides us greater insight and context.
Wonderful story and what an amazing, caring young man!!