Interactive Database
Case Description
Berry, Eli - Age 26 - Colored - Fatally assaulted at 8:50 PM, 3/16/28, in a box car in R.R. camp at 94th St. and Drexel Ave., which was occupied by three Mexicans, Estanislao Vaca, Joseph Vargas, and Andrew Serrano, who set upon him with a club and stove poker when he drew a gun and tried to rob them. On 3/17/28 they were all exonerated by the Coroner. 11 Dist.
Circumstances
| Date of offense |
March 16, 1928 |
| Date of death |
March 16, 1928 |
| Time between offense and death |
Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene
|
| Time of day (approx) |
Evening (5:00 p.m. - 10:59 p.m.)
|
| Time of day (exact) |
12:20 am
|
| Address |
94th st. & Drexel ave.
|
| Type of location |
Vehicle
|
| Type of vehicle |
Commercial Vehicle (truck, van, ship)
|
| Location description |
boxcar
|
| Type of death |
Homicide
|
| Type of homicide |
Intentional manslaughter
|
| Characteristics |
victim tried to rob them
|
| Method of killing |
Other beating
|
| Weapon |
fatally assaulted
|
| Motive |
drew a gun and tried to rob defendants
|
| Victim initiated events leading to homicide |
Yes
|
| Murder/suicide? |
Yes
|
| Circumstances description |
Robbery
|
| Total number of victims |
1
|
| Related to Prohibition? |
Yes
|
Victim
| Name |
Berry, Eli
|
| Age |
26 years
|
| Gender |
Male
|
| Race |
Black
|
| Ethnicity |
African American
|
Defendant
| Name |
Vaca, Estanislao
|
| Gender |
Male
|
| Race |
Other
|
| Ethnicity |
Latino, Hispanic
|
| Defendant/victim relationship |
Stranger
|
Police
| Precinct |
37
|
| Time between crime and arrest |
Less than 1 day
|
| Allegations of police corruption |
No
|
Legal
| Date of coroner's decision |
March 17, 1928 |
| Outcome of coroner's judgement |
Exonerated, Commended
|
| Charges against defendant |
No charges recorded
|
| Type of legal decision recorded |
Coroner's verdict only
|
| Allegations of police corruption |
No
|
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