Homicide in Chicago :: INTERACTIVE DATABASE

Case Description

Metcalf, Frank C., body found in alley near 219 3d Av. Supposed murder by robbers. Robert Howard, col'd, arrested and held by Coroner's Jury Nov. 19. Convicted Dec. 28, 1898. Hanged Feb. 17, 1899. Charles Williams, colored, arrested in New Orleans and brought to Chicago April 3, 1899. Sentenced June 24, 1899, by Judge Stein to life imprisonment in Joliet Penitentiary.

Case Number

1489

Circumstances

Date of death	November 10, 1898
Address	219 3rd Av.
Type of location	Street, or other non-commercial public place/alley
Type of public place	Street, sidewalk or alley
Location description	alley
Type of death	Homicide
Type of homicide	Other murder, felony murder
Motive	supposed murder by robbers
Murder/suicide?	Yes
Circumstances description	Robbery
Total number of victims	1
Total number of defendants	2
Related to Prohibition?	Yes

Victim

Name	Metcalf, Frank C.
Gender	Male
Race	White
Ethnicity	Other, european
Victim/defendant relationship	Not related by family

Defendant

Name	Howard, Robert
Gender	Male
Race	Black
Ethnicity	African American
Occupational skill	Crimanl - thief

Police

Total number of defendants arrested	2
Time between crime and arrest	Weeks
Allegations of police corruption	No

Legal

Outcome of coroner's judgement	Defendant held to Grand Jury
Charges against defendant	Murder
Felony murder classification	Theft
Trial Judge	Stein
Type of legal decision recorded	Coroner, trial
Outcome of trial	Guilty of murder
Length of sentence	Death penalty
Sentence completed	Yes
Defendant executed?	Yes
Date of execution	February 17, 1899
Type of execution	Hanged
Post trial information	Death sentence carried out
Allegations of police corruption	No

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