Homicide in Chicago :: INTERACTIVE DATABASE

Case Description

Booth Sam, killed, throat cut with knife during game of cards in coal office basement 144 W. Lake St., by John McLean, who was arrested. Desplaines St. Station.

Case Number

Circumstances

Date of offense	February 18, 1886
Date of death	February 18, 1886
Time between offense and death	Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene
Address	144 W. Lake st.
Type of location	Place of business
Type of business	Other place of business
Location description	coal office basement
Type of death	Homicide
Type of homicide	Intentional murder
Characteristics	throat cut during game of cards
Method of killing	Knife (butcher knife)
Weapon	throat cut with knife
Motive	throat cut during game of cards
Victim initiated events leading to homicide	Yes
Excessive violence	Excessive or extreme use of force
Murder/suicide?	Yes
Total number of victims	1
Total number of defendants	1
Related to Prohibition?	Yes

Victim

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

Defendant

Name	McLean, John
Gender	Male
Race	White
Ethnicity	Other, european
Defendant/victim relationship	Known (recognized person)

Police

Location of arrest	Des Plaines st. station
Total number of defendants arrested	1
Time between crime and arrest	Less than 1 day
Allegations of police corruption	No

Legal

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

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