Case Number: 1498
Murphy, James, 28 years old, shot dead, saloon 1210 Wabash Av., by Lorezo Sodini, proprietor. Murphy refused to pay for drinks and ran out of saloon and threw stone through window. Sodini ran out and fired at him, killing him instantly. Harrison St. Station. Held by Coroner's Jury, July 29. Acquitted Dec. 9, 1899, by jury in Judge Baker's court.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | July 25, 1899 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | July 25, 1899 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 1210 Wabash Av. |
| Type of Location | Place of business |
| Location Description | saloon |
| Type of Death | Homicide |
| Type of Homicide | Intentional manslaughter |
| Method of Killing | Other gun, gun unspecified |
| Weapon | Sodini ran out and fired at him, killing him insta |
| Motive | victim refused to pay for drinks and ran out of sa |
| Victim Initiated Events Leading to Homicide | Yes |
| Description | Dispute over money or property, quarrel |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | saloon |
| Number of Defendants | 1 |
| Type of Business | Bar/saloon |
Victim
| Name | Murphy, James |
|---|---|
| Age | 28 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Ethnicity | Irish |
Defendant
| Name | Sodini, Lorezo |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Italian |
| Race | White |
| Business Owner | Bar/saloon |
| Employed | Yes |
| Employment Type | Employed, low white collar (clerk, bookkeeper, etc.) |
| Killed While Protecting Property | Protecting bar/saloon |
| Occupation/ Skill | Store owner, hotel owner |
Police
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
|---|---|
| Location of Arrest | Harrison st. station |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 1 |
Legal
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Defendant held to Grand Jury |
|---|---|
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Trial Judge | Baker |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner, trial |
| Jury Verdict | Yes |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Outcome of Grand Jury Decision | Indictment, other homicide, homicide unspecified |
| Outcome of Trial | Acquitted |
