Case Number: 7569
Blumfield, Mary - Age 6 - Colored - Fatally shot at 1:30 A.M., by Joseph Hawthorne, who fired at his sweetheart during an altercation and struck the child who was sleeping in a bed. Hawthorne escaped and his arrest was recommended by the Coroner on 7/2/25. 6 Dist. 11/1/28 - Joseph Hawthorne arrested and indicted by Nov. 1928 G.J. 2/9/29 - 20 years Joliet Pen. - Kavanaugh.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | June 21, 1925 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | June 21, 1925 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Type of Location | Residence |
| Type of Death | Manslaughter |
| Description | Domestic violence |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Number of Defendants | 1 |
| Type of Manslaughter | Unintentional killing, other |
| Type of Residence | Residence of victim |
Victim
| Name | Blumfield, Mary |
|---|---|
| Age | 6 years |
| Gender | Female |
| Race | Black |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Related by Blood or Marriage | Other blood relationship |
Defendant
| Name | Hawthorne, Joseph |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
Police
| Precinct | 6 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Arrest Made at Crime Scene | Escaped, arrested later |
| Date Defendant Arrested | 1-Nov-28 |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Years |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 1 |
Legal
| Date of Coroner's Decision | July 2, 1925 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Recommended investigation/arrest |
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Trial Judge | Kavanaugh |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner, grandy jury, trials |
| Jury Verdict | Yes |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date of Grand Jury Decision | November 1, 1928 |
| Date of Sentence | February 9, 1929 |
| Length of Sentence | 20 years |
| Outcome of Grand Jury Decision | Indictment, other homicide, homicide unspecified |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty, unspecified offense |
| Sentenced to | Joliet, Stateville |
