Case Number: 8558
Minatti, John - Age 31 - Shot to death at 11:15 AM, at 2418 Lowe Ave., while testifying at an inquest into the death of Mike Vinci. Sam Vinci, brother of Mike, shot him when he testified that he didn't know Mike Vinci. Sam, however, declared the three had dispensed bootleg together. On 11/24/25 Sam Vinci was turned over to the Sheriff on indictment. 14 Dist. 3/26/26 - 26 years in Joliet Pen. - Gemmill.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | November 21, 1925 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | November 21, 1925 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 2418 Lowe Ave |
| Type of Location | Jail, prison, lawful custody of police or corrections, police station |
| Location Description | At an inquest |
| Type of Death | Homicide |
| Type of Homicide | Intentional murder |
| Characteristics | victim killed while testifying at def's brother's |
| Method of Killing | Other gun, gun unspecified |
| Victim Initiated Events Leading to Homicide | No |
| Description | Dispute over money or property, quarrel |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | At an inquest |
| Number of Defendants | 1 |
| Organized Crime Indicators | vitim shot for testifying at a trial |
| Prohibition Related Indicators | Def. said at bro's trial that the 3 were bootlegge |
| Related to Organized Crime | Other |
Victim
| Name | Minatti, John |
|---|---|
| Age | 31 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| Ethnicity | Italian |
| Known to Chicago Police as | A Bootlegger |
Defendant
| Name | Vinci, Sam |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Italian |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| Employment Type | Outside labor force (incl. criminals) |
Police
| Precinct | 14 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Arrest Made at Crime Scene | Yes |
| Date Defendant Arrested | 21-Nov-25 |
| 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 24, 1925 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Defendant held to Grand Jury |
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Trial Judge | Gemmill |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Grand jury, trial |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date of Sentence | March 26, 1926 |
| Length of Sentence | 26 years |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty, unspecified offense |
| Sentenced to | Joliet, Stateville |
