Case Number: 9924
French, Martin - Age 70 - Colored - Fatally shot at 1:12 PM, 1/18/29, in the Franklin Trust and Savings Bank, N.E. corner of 35th St. and Michigan Ave. while attempting to frustrate a robbery by five Negro bandits who escaped. A raid on 3341 Wabash Ave., the same night, yielded the capture of Leonard Shadlow [Ex.], Harry Williams, alias LaFon Fisher [Ex], Leon Brown [Ex.], Melvin Jenkins [Life], and Herbert Hare [Life], who were identified as the bandits and who signed confessions after re-enacting the holdup. On 1/24/29 all were held by the Coroner. Steve Dickson, alias Dixon [Life], is wanted. 4 Dist. 5/28/29 Jenkins - Life in Joliet Pen. and Shadlow, Williams and Brown to die on 6/21/29 - Gentzel. 5/31/29 - Hare to Joliet Pen. for life - Taylor. 6/18/29 Stayed to 7/19/29 - Gentzel. 3/12/30 Aff. by Sup. Ct. (all 3). 7/8/30 Aff. by Sup. Ct. (all 3). 10/3/30 - Shadlow and Fisher, alias Williams executed in Elec. Chair. 9/30/30 - Brown case - Verdict Sane & Sentenced to die 10/17/30 - Williams. 11/28/30 - Brown executed in Elec. Chair in Co. Jail. [4/5/30 Steve Dixon brought back from Jackson, Miss. and held on Indictment. 6/27/30 To Joliet Pen. for life - Normoyle.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | January 18, 1929 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | January 18, 1929 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 35th St. and Michigan Ave. |
| Type of Location | Place of business |
| Location Description | in the Franklin Trust and Savings Bank, N.E. corne |
| Type of Death | Homicide |
| Type of Homicide | Intentional manslaughter |
| Characteristics | robbery of bank |
| Method of Killing | Other gun, gun unspecified |
| Weapon | fatally shot |
| Motive | victim was attempting to frustrate a robbery by "N |
| Victim Initiated Events Leading to Homicide | Yes |
| Description | Robbery |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | in the Franklin Trust and Savings Bank, N.E. corne |
| Number of Defendants | 6 |
| Related to Organized Crime | |
| Type of Business | Other place of business |
Victim
| Name | French, Martin |
|---|---|
| Age | 70 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Black |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Victim Killed While Protecting Property | Protecting other property |
Defendant
| Name | Shadlow, Leonard |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Race | Black |
Police
| Precinct | 4 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Arrest Made at Crime Scene | Escaped, arrested later |
| Date Defendant Arrested | 18-Jan-29 |
| Defendant Identified at Scene | No |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Less than 1 day |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 5 |
Legal
| Date of Coroner's Decision | January 24, 1929 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Defendant held to Grand Jury |
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Trial Judge | Gentzel |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner, trial |
| Jury Verdict | Yes |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date of Sentence | May 28, 1929 |
| Felony Murder Classification | Robbery |
| Length of Sentence | Death penalty |
| Outcome of Grand Jury Decision | Indictment, other homicide, homicide unspecified |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty, unspecified offense |
| Post Trial Information | Death sentence carried out |
| Sentenced to | Joliet, Stateville |
