Case Number: 197
Bessinger, John, shot dead at dance, Liberty Hall, 66 Emma St., Stanley Megan, Peter Zblewski, Paul Klinger, Peter Jurowski and Joseph Szurminski arrested. Megan held for murder and others as accessories March 11, by Coroner's Jury. 32d Prect.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | March 9, 1902 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | March 9, 1902 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | Liberty Hall, 66 Emma st. |
| Type of Location | Other |
| Location Description | Liberty Hall at a dance |
| Type of Death | Homicide |
| Type of Homicide | Intentional murder |
| Characteristics | At a dance |
| Method of Killing | Other gun, gun unspecified |
| Weapon | shot dead at dance |
| Motive | shot dead at dance |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Excessive Violence | Other |
| Location | Liberty Hall at a dance |
| Number of Defendants | 5 |
| Related to Organized Crime |
Victim
| Name | Bessinger, John |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
Defendant
| Name | Megan, Stanley |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Race | White |
| Related by Blood or Marriage | Girlfriend/boyfriend |
Police
| Precinct | 32 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Arrest Made at Crime Scene | Yes |
| Date Defendant Arrested | 9-Mar-02 |
| Defendant Identified at Scene | No |
| Location of Arrest | Liberty Hall, 66 Emma st. |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Less than 1 day |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 5 |
Legal
| Date of Coroner's Decision | March 11, 1902 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Defendant held to Grand Jury |
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner's verdict only |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
