Case Number: 3104
Burke, Richard J. - Patrolman 15 Pct. - Age 35 - Fatally shot in saloon at 33rd & Halsted Sts., by one of several men who feared arrest by the officer. On July 18th John O'Brien held for murder and James Kelly as accessory. 15 Pct. 12/20/19 - O'Brien sentenced to hang 2/20/20 - Kersten. 2/20/20 O'Brien hanged at Co. Jail. 1/9/20 - Kelly - s/o - Kersten.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | June 16, 1919 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | June 16, 1919 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 33rd and Halsted |
| Type of Location | Place of business |
| Location Description | in Saloon at 33rd and Halsted |
| Description | Police officer killed during apprehension |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | in Saloon at 33rd and Halsted |
| Number of Defendants | 1 |
| Type of Business | Bar/saloon |
Victim
| Name | Burke, Richard J. Patrolman |
|---|---|
| Age | 35 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| VictimEmploymentType | Employed, professional (incl. police and military) |
| Ethnicity | English-Anglo |
| Killed While Protecting Person | Protecting self |
| Occupation/ Skill | Law enforcement |
Defendant
| Name | O'Brian, John |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Irish |
| Race | White |
Police
| Precinct | 15 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Weeks |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 1 |
| Victim Employed by Law Enforcement | Police officer on duty |
Legal
| Date of Coroner's Decision | July 18, 1919 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Murder was cause of death |
| Trial Judge | Kersten |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner's verdict only |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date of Sentence | December 20, 1919 |
| Length of Sentence | Death penalty |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty of murder |
| Post Trial Information | Death sentence carried out |
| Sentence Completed | Yes |
