Case Number: 5231
Scerland, John - Age 32 - Fatally shot 5/25/20 in front of 1942 W. Kinzie St., factory of Fred A. Snow, during a strike riot by Rudolph Lawrence, watchman, and Wm. Beck, who were exonerated by the Coroner as justifiable. 24 Pct.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | May 25, 1920 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | May 26, 1920 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Within 1 day |
| Address | 1942 W. Kinzie st. |
| Type of Location | Street, or other non-commercial public place/alley |
| Type of Public Place | Street, sidewalk or alley |
| Location Description | in front of 1942 W. Kinzie st, a factory of Fred A |
| Type of Death | Manslaughter |
| Description | Labor dispute, strike |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Civil Unrest | strike riot |
| Location | in front of 1942 W. Kinzie st, a factory of Fred A |
| Circumstances Related to Civil Unrest | Yes |
| Type of Civil Unrest | Union or workers demonstration, or other labor related (not strike or picketing) |
| Type of Manslaughter | Unintentional killing with gun |
Victim
| Name | Scerland, John |
|---|---|
| Age | 32 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| VictimEmploymentType | Employed, unskilled (laborer) |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Occupation/ Skill | Other, skilled laborer |
Defendant
| Name | Lawrence, Rudolph |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| Employment Type | Employed, skilled (butcher, electrician, cab drivers, street car, etc.) |
| Killed While Protecting Person | Protecting person outside family |
| Killed While Protecting Property | Protecting a drug store |
| Occupation/ Skill | Domestic servant, caretaker, watchman |
Police
| Precinct | 17 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 2 |
Legal
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Justifiable homicide |
|---|---|
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner's verdict only |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
