http://homicide.northwestern.edu/

Homicide in Chicago

Fitzgerald, Dennis, Officer, 11th Prect, died in Mercy Hospital from assault committed Dec. 26, 1903, at 44th St. and Indiana Av., by John Johnson and Louis Tedford, both colored, who were intoxicated and creating a disturbance and when remonstrated with by the officer assaulted him and shot him in the abdomen. They were both arrested and held by the Coroner's Jury Jan. 20, 1904. Johnson sentenced to hang and Tilford to 14 years in Pen; March 5, 1904. Johnson respited Dec. 14. Hanged in County Jail Jan. 20, 1905.



Case Number
754


Circumstances

Date of offense December 26, 1903
Date of death January 20, 1904
Time between offense and death Longer than 1 week
Address 44th st. and Indiana Av.
Location description 44th st. and Indiana Ave.
Type of death Homicide
Type of homicide Intentional murder
Method of killing Other gun, gun unspecified
Weapon shot in the abdomen
Motive when remonstrated with by the officer assaulted hi
Victim initiated events leading to homicide No
Murder/suicide? Yes
Circumstances description Police officer killed during apprehension
Total number of victims 1
Total number of defendants 2
Alcohol related? One or more defendants was drinking/drunk
Related to Prohibition? Yes


Victim

Name Fitzgerald, Officer Dennis
Gender Male
Race White
Ethnicity Irish
Employed Yes
Employment Type Employed, professional (incl. police and military)
Occupational skill Law enforcement
Name of hospital where victim was taken Mercy Hospital
Victim/defendant relationship Not related by family


Defendant

Name Johnson, John
Gender Male
Race Black
Ethnicity African American


Police

Victim employed in law enforcement Police officer on duty
Precinct 11
Date defendant arrested January 20, 1904
Total number of defendants arrested 2
Time between crime and arrest Weeks
Allegations of police corruption No


Legal

Date of coroner's decision January 20, 1904
Outcome of coroner's judgement Defendant held to Grand Jury
Charges against defendant Murder
Type of legal decision recorded Coroner, trial
Outcome of trial Guilty, unspecified offense
Date of sentence March 5, 1904
Length of sentence Death penalty
Sentence completed Yes
Defendant executed? Yes
Date of execution January 20, 1905
Type of execution Hanged
Post trial information Death sentence carried out
Allegations of police corruption No

On September 26, 1903, two men causing a disturbance at 44th Street and Indiana Avenue assaulted Chicago Police Officer Dennis Fitzgerald, Star Number 786. Officer Fitzgerald died at Mercy Hospital of his injuries on January 20, 1904. Both assailants were convicted.

http://homicide.northwestern.edu/

Homicide in Chicago

Fitzgerald, Dennis, Officer, 11th Prect, died in Mercy Hospital from assault committed Dec. 26, 1903, at 44th St. and Indiana Av., by John Johnson and Louis Tedford, both colored, who were intoxicated and creating a disturbance and when remonstrated with by the officer assaulted him and shot him in the abdomen. They were both arrested and held by the Coroner's Jury Jan. 20, 1904. Johnson sentenced to hang and Tilford to 14 years in Pen; March 5, 1904. Johnson respited Dec. 14. Hanged in County Jail Jan. 20, 1905.



Case Number
754


Circumstances

Date of offense December 26, 1903
Date of death January 20, 1904
Time between offense and death Longer than 1 week
Address 44th st. and Indiana Av.
Location description 44th st. and Indiana Ave.
Type of death Homicide
Type of homicide Intentional murder
Method of killing Other gun, gun unspecified
Weapon shot in the abdomen
Motive when remonstrated with by the officer assaulted hi
Victim initiated events leading to homicide No
Murder/suicide? Yes
Circumstances description Police officer killed during apprehension
Total number of victims 1
Total number of defendants 2
Alcohol related? One or more defendants was drinking/drunk
Related to Prohibition? Yes


Victim

Name Fitzgerald, Officer Dennis
Gender Male
Race White
Ethnicity Irish
Employed Yes
Employment Type Employed, professional (incl. police and military)
Occupational skill Law enforcement
Name of hospital where victim was taken Mercy Hospital
Victim/defendant relationship Not related by family


Defendant

Name Johnson, John
Gender Male
Race Black
Ethnicity African American


Police

Victim employed in law enforcement Police officer on duty
Precinct 11
Date defendant arrested January 20, 1904
Total number of defendants arrested 2
Time between crime and arrest Weeks
Allegations of police corruption No


Legal

Date of coroner's decision January 20, 1904
Outcome of coroner's judgement Defendant held to Grand Jury
Charges against defendant Murder
Type of legal decision recorded Coroner, trial
Outcome of trial Guilty, unspecified offense
Date of sentence March 5, 1904
Length of sentence Death penalty
Sentence completed Yes
Defendant executed? Yes
Date of execution January 20, 1905
Type of execution Hanged
Post trial information Death sentence carried out
Allegations of police corruption No

On September 26, 1903, two men causing a disturbance at 44th Street and Indiana Avenue assaulted Chicago Police Officer Dennis Fitzgerald, Star Number 786. Officer Fitzgerald died at Mercy Hospital of his injuries on January 20, 1904. Both assailants were convicted.