Case Number: 10956
Serna, Mary � Age 39 � Shot to death at 12:40 AM, 1/15/28, in her home, 2nd fl., 2935 W. 38th St., by a boarder, Paul Russell, alias Ross, who then committed suicide. It appears that Russell, following a quarrel with a friend, James C. Gibson, who had stolen a wrist watch belonging to the woman, went into another room, armed himself and intended to shoot Gibson but hit the woman, after which, he killed himself. On 1/16/28 the Coroner recommended Gibson�s arrest. 20 Dist.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | January 15, 1928 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | January 15, 1928 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 2935 W. 38th st. |
| Type of Location | Residence |
| Location Description | home, 2nd fl. |
| Type of Death | Accident |
| Description | Dispute over money or property, quarrel |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | home, 2nd fl. |
| Type of Accident | Accidental shooting |
| Type of Residence | Residence of both victim and defendant |
Victim
| Name | Serna, Mary |
|---|---|
| Age | 39 years |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | White |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
Defendant
| Name | Russell, Paul (Ross) |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Race | White |
Police
| Precinct | 29 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date Defendant Arrested | 28-Jan-28 |
| Defendant Identified at Scene | Defendant identified by someone else at scene |
Legal
| Date of Coroner's Decision | January 16, 1928 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Recommended investigation/arrest |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
