Homicide in Chicago :: INTERACTIVE DATABASE

Case Description

Sweeny, John, fatally injured, deliberately run over by milk wagon by Edward Christian who was arrested. It occurred at 12th and Jefferson Sts.

Case Number

2151

Date of offense	February 5, 1889
Date of death	February 5, 1889
Time between offense and death	Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene
Address	12th and Jefferson sts.
Type of location	Street, or other non-commercial public place/alley
Type of public place	Street, sidewalk or alley
Type of death	Homicide
Type of homicide	Intentional murder
Characteristics	Deliberately run over by a milk truck
Method of killing	Other
Weapon	run over by milk wagon
Motive	(victim) deliberately run over by milk wagon
Murder/suicide?	Yes
Circumstances description	Other
Total number of victims	1
Related to Prohibition?	Yes

Name	Sweeny, John
Gender	Male
Race	White
Ethnicity	Other, european
Victim/defendant relationship	Not related by family

Name	Christian, Edward
Gender	Male
Race	White
Employed	Yes
Employment Type	Employed, skilled (butcher, electrician, cab drivers, street car, etc.)
Occupational skill	Cab driver, street car driver, wagon driver

Total number of defendants arrested	1
Allegations of police corruption	No

Charges against defendant	No charges recorded
Type of legal decision recorded	None
Allegations of police corruption	No

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