Sullivan, Attorney, Dies at 74
Leo Sullivan, a colorful and controversial attorney in Oakland for many years, died last night in a San Leandro hospital.
He had been ill for some time and marked his 74th birthday last Thursday.
After a long and successful career specializing in criminal cases, in recent years he had engaged in law research for local attorneys.
Mr. Sullivan studied law after serving in the Navy during World War I. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1921 and began practice here the same year. At one time he was a law partner of Myron Harris.
He defended a wide variety of persons in the courts including alleged bootleggers and Chinese gamblers. In the mid-1940s he was the defense attorney for a group of persons indicted in a mass conspiracy-abortion case.
In 1956 he served as an appeal lawyer for Burton W. Abbott, convicted murderer of Stephanie Bryan.
A colleague described Mr. Sullivan's cross-examination of witnesses on the stand as "fearsome, explosive and brilliant. No young prosecutor who tangled with him will ever forget him."
A man of sharp wit and battler in the courts, he often was involved in courtroom controversies with the bench and was cited for contempt and even jailed a number of times.
He was married and divorced several times. Survivors include his third wife, (private), of Hayward; two sons, (private); a brother, George Sullivan of San Francisco and a step-brother, William Scamell of Vallejo.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sorensen Bros. mortuary, 1140 B St., Hayward.
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