Case Number: 5244
Smith, Earl - Age 33 - Shot to death in saloon at 60th & Halsted Sts., at 11:00 P.M., while dancing with a woman, by John Hunt, who had, just a half-hour previous fatally shot Walter Meyers, whom he had found in company of this woman in another saloon at 61st Pl. & Halsted St. On 11/22/20 Hunt was held by the Coroner. 11 Pct. 5/4/21 - Life term in Joliet Pen. - Wilson.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | November 21, 1920 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | November 21, 1920 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 60th & Halsted sts. |
| Type of Location | Place of business |
| Location Description | in saloon at 60th & Halsted sts. |
| Type of Death | Homicide |
| Type of Homicide | Other murder, felony murder |
| Characteristics | shot dead |
| Method of Killing | Other gun, gun unspecified |
| Weapon | shot to death |
| Motive | vic was dancing w/a woman & was shot. 1/2 earlier |
| Victim Initiated Events Leading to Homicide | No |
| Description | Jealousy, fight, quarrel over woman, man |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | in saloon at 60th & Halsted sts. |
| Number of Defendants | 1 |
| Related to Organized Crime | |
| Type of Business | Bar/saloon |
Victim
| Name | Smith, Earl |
|---|---|
| Age | 33 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
Defendant
| Name | Hunt, John |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Race | White |
Police
| Precinct | 21 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Arrest Made at Crime Scene | Yes |
| Date Defendant Arrested | 10-Nov-20 |
| Defendant Identified at Scene | No |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Less than 1 day |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 1 |
Legal
| Date of Coroner's Decision | November 22, 1920 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Defendant held to Grand Jury |
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Trial Judge | Foell |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner, trial |
| Jury Verdict | Yes |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date of Sentence | April 7, 1921 |
| Length of Sentence | Life |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty of murder |
| Sentenced to | Joliet, Stateville |
