Veteran, World War II

*****************************
Paul Davis Newey

Paul Newey, 87, who used everything from truck-mounted battering rams to hypnosis to bust mobsters, dirty cops and corrupt politicians as former chief investigator for the Cook County state's attorney in the late 1950s, died of cancer Wednesday, Aug. 22, in Illinois Masonic Hospital.

Born July 4, 1914, to Assyrian immigrants in Minneapolis, Mr. Newey was raised in Lincoln Park and lived there nearly all his life.

As a boy, his fascination with movies about government agents busting the mob propelled him to earn his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 1940 in order to pursue his dream of being an FBI agent.

But the FBI wouldn't hire him because of his ethnic appearance, friends and relatives said, so he worked for the Secret Service, the Federal Narcotics Bureau and the Central Intelligence Agency before returning to Chicago to raise his family.

In 1957, he was hired by Cook County State's Atty. Ben Adamowski, and was promoted to chief investigator within a year.

"He was the most persistent investigator I've ever known," said former Chicago Daily News criminal courts reporter Ed Baumann. "He was like a bulldog; he didn't give up. He pursued things even when he didn't have to."

Under his guidance, prosecutors broke up a $500,000-a-year scheme in which Traffic Court workers were pocketing traffic ticket fines, and also caught eight Chicago police officers who were operating a robbery ring in the old Summerdale District.

"Paul was one of the greatest law enforcement officers in the second half of the century in Chicago," said John Flood, retired president of the Combined Counties Police Association.

When Adamowski was defeated in the 1960 election, Newey set up his private law practice and over the years did pro bono work for many churches and senior citizens.

Despite his relentlessness as an investigator, he was unassuming and private, and many of his friends knew little of his colorful background, said his son, Arthur. He was an avid reader, and in recent years became a savvy Internet user, said his son.

Other survivors include three sons, Paul, Davis and Dean; two brothers, Carl and Donald; a sister, Marie Degaard; four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

~ Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug 2001



Husband of the late Viola Raymond Newey; loving father of Paul S. (Patricia), Davis R., Dean A. and Arthur T. (Deborah); cherished baba of Jennifer L., Jason T. (Cheri), Katelyn M. and Beverly K; devoted great-baba of Tyler J.; fond brother of Marie Degaard, Donald W., Carl T. and the late Harold; loved uncle of many nieces and nephews; leaving behind many relatives and friends.

Veteran, World War II

*****************************
Paul Davis Newey

Paul Newey, 87, who used everything from truck-mounted battering rams to hypnosis to bust mobsters, dirty cops and corrupt politicians as former chief investigator for the Cook County state's attorney in the late 1950s, died of cancer Wednesday, Aug. 22, in Illinois Masonic Hospital.

Born July 4, 1914, to Assyrian immigrants in Minneapolis, Mr. Newey was raised in Lincoln Park and lived there nearly all his life.

As a boy, his fascination with movies about government agents busting the mob propelled him to earn his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 1940 in order to pursue his dream of being an FBI agent.

But the FBI wouldn't hire him because of his ethnic appearance, friends and relatives said, so he worked for the Secret Service, the Federal Narcotics Bureau and the Central Intelligence Agency before returning to Chicago to raise his family.

In 1957, he was hired by Cook County State's Atty. Ben Adamowski, and was promoted to chief investigator within a year.

"He was the most persistent investigator I've ever known," said former Chicago Daily News criminal courts reporter Ed Baumann. "He was like a bulldog; he didn't give up. He pursued things even when he didn't have to."

Under his guidance, prosecutors broke up a $500,000-a-year scheme in which Traffic Court workers were pocketing traffic ticket fines, and also caught eight Chicago police officers who were operating a robbery ring in the old Summerdale District.

"Paul was one of the greatest law enforcement officers in the second half of the century in Chicago," said John Flood, retired president of the Combined Counties Police Association.

When Adamowski was defeated in the 1960 election, Newey set up his private law practice and over the years did pro bono work for many churches and senior citizens.

Despite his relentlessness as an investigator, he was unassuming and private, and many of his friends knew little of his colorful background, said his son, Arthur. He was an avid reader, and in recent years became a savvy Internet user, said his son.

Other survivors include three sons, Paul, Davis and Dean; two brothers, Carl and Donald; a sister, Marie Degaard; four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

~ Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug 2001



Husband of the late Viola Raymond Newey; loving father of Paul S. (Patricia), Davis R., Dean A. and Arthur T. (Deborah); cherished baba of Jennifer L., Jason T. (Cheri), Katelyn M. and Beverly K; devoted great-baba of Tyler J.; fond brother of Marie Degaard, Donald W., Carl T. and the late Harold; loved uncle of many nieces and nephews; leaving behind many relatives and friends.