Homicide in Chicago :: INTERACTIVE DATABASE

Case Description

Wilkinson, Jannet - Age 6 - Choked to death and body hidden under coal in basement of 114 E. Superior St., by Thomas Fitzgerald, who, on 7/28 was held by the Coroner. 28 Pct. 9/23/19 - Sentenced to hang 10/17/19 - Crowe. 10/17/19 - Hanged at County Jail.

Case Number

5558

Circumstances

Date of death	July 27, 1919
Address	114 E. Superior st.
Type of location	Residence
Type of residence	Residence (Don’t know whose)
Location description	in basement
Type of death	Homicide
Type of homicide	Other murder, felony murder
Characteristics	choked
Method of killing	Other beating
Weapon	choked to death
Murder/suicide?	Yes
Total number of victims	1
Related to Prohibition?	Yes

Victim

Name	Wilkinson, Janet
Age	6 years
Gender	Female
Race	White
Ethnicity	English-Anglo
Victim/defendant relationship	Not related by family

Defendant

Name	Fitzgerald, Thomas
Gender	Male
Race	White
Ethnicity	English-Anglo
Defendant/victim relationship	Relationship Unknown

Police

Precinct	3
Total number of defendants arrested	1
Allegations of police corruption	No

Legal

Date of coroner's decision	July 28, 1919
Charges against defendant	Felony murder
Trial Judge	Crowe
Jury verdict	Yes
Type of legal decision recorded	Coroner, trial
Date of sentence	September 23, 1919
Sentenced to	Joliet, Stateville
Length of sentence	Death penalty
Defendant executed?	Yes
Date of execution	October 17, 1919
Type of execution	Hanged
Post trial information	Death sentence carried out
Allegations of police corruption	No

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