Chicago Police Det. Sgt. James L. Hosna, a Bohemian descendant named Vaclav Hosna, on the night of February 16, 1919, was shot five times in the chest and died at Cook County Hospital after a brief fight for his life. The official account according to the Chicago Police Department was that Det. Hosna and his partner, Det. Frank J. Smith, were staking out the saloon of Paddy "The Bear" Ryan at 1403 S. Halsted Street in the gritty westside neighborhood known as The Valley.
The saloon reputed to be a "rendezous of thieves" was where a gang of criminals including Jacob Weinstein, "Big George" Vogel, and Frank "Red" Krueger were gathered to discuss a successfully completed robbery of whiskey from the Walsh Teaming Company.
Det. Hosna confronted "Big George" Vogel to question him about the heist of whiskey. Det. Hosna was shot five times, including twice in the back. "Big George" fled the scene and a massive manhunt followed. Chicago Police Chief of Detectives James L. Mooney called for the hanging of "Big George" Vogel. Vogel surrendered himself to police in fear of vengeance for their fallen brother.
The wheels of justice turned swiftly in the early 1900s, and with-in four months of Det. Hosna's murder the trial of "Big George" Vogel began. Vogel's defense team was headed by the legendary attorney, Clarence S. Darrow, who convinced the jury that Vogel acted in self-defense. The list of witnesses included saloon keeper Paddy Ryan, who testified that he saw Det. Hosna in the bar drunk and shouting at Vogel. According to Paddy Ryan, Det. Hosna called "Big George" Vogel a "stool pigeon" before striking Vogel in the head with his revolver.
After four hours of deliberation, THe Jury aquitted "Big George" Vogel of the murder of Det. James L. Hosna. The case remains unsolved.
Contributed by Frank S. Magallon, Stories of the Stones - Chicago Police Detective Sergeant James L. Hosna. Printed in Heritage Happenings [Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery - October 2012]
The saloon reputed to be a "rendezous of thieves" was where a gang of criminals including Jacob Weinstein, "Big George" Vogel, and Frank "Red" Krueger were gathered to discuss a successfully completed robbery of whiskey from the Walsh Teaming Company.
Det. Hosna confronted "Big George" Vogel to question him about the heist of whiskey. Det. Hosna was shot five times, including twice in the back. "Big George" fled the scene and a massive manhunt followed. Chicago Police Chief of Detectives James L. Mooney called for the hanging of "Big George" Vogel. Vogel surrendered himself to police in fear of vengeance for their fallen brother.
The wheels of justice turned swiftly in the early 1900s, and with-in four months of Det. Hosna's murder the trial of "Big George" Vogel began. Vogel's defense team was headed by the legendary attorney, Clarence S. Darrow, who convinced the jury that Vogel acted in self-defense. The list of witnesses included saloon keeper Paddy Ryan, who testified that he saw Det. Hosna in the bar drunk and shouting at Vogel. According to Paddy Ryan, Det. Hosna called "Big George" Vogel a "stool pigeon" before striking Vogel in the head with his revolver.
After four hours of deliberation, THe Jury aquitted "Big George" Vogel of the murder of Det. James L. Hosna. The case remains unsolved.
Contributed by Frank S. Magallon, Stories of the Stones - Chicago Police Detective Sergeant James L. Hosna. Printed in Heritage Happenings [Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery - October 2012]
Chicago Police Det. Sgt. James L. Hosna, a Bohemian descendant named Vaclav Hosna, on the night of February 16, 1919, was shot five times in the chest and died at Cook County Hospital after a brief fight for his life. The official account according to the Chicago Police Department was that Det. Hosna and his partner, Det. Frank J. Smith, were staking out the saloon of Paddy "The Bear" Ryan at 1403 S. Halsted Street in the gritty westside neighborhood known as The Valley.
The saloon reputed to be a "rendezous of thieves" was where a gang of criminals including Jacob Weinstein, "Big George" Vogel, and Frank "Red" Krueger were gathered to discuss a successfully completed robbery of whiskey from the Walsh Teaming Company.
Det. Hosna confronted "Big George" Vogel to question him about the heist of whiskey. Det. Hosna was shot five times, including twice in the back. "Big George" fled the scene and a massive manhunt followed. Chicago Police Chief of Detectives James L. Mooney called for the hanging of "Big George" Vogel. Vogel surrendered himself to police in fear of vengeance for their fallen brother.
The wheels of justice turned swiftly in the early 1900s, and with-in four months of Det. Hosna's murder the trial of "Big George" Vogel began. Vogel's defense team was headed by the legendary attorney, Clarence S. Darrow, who convinced the jury that Vogel acted in self-defense. The list of witnesses included saloon keeper Paddy Ryan, who testified that he saw Det. Hosna in the bar drunk and shouting at Vogel. According to Paddy Ryan, Det. Hosna called "Big George" Vogel a "stool pigeon" before striking Vogel in the head with his revolver.
After four hours of deliberation, THe Jury aquitted "Big George" Vogel of the murder of Det. James L. Hosna. The case remains unsolved.
Contributed by Frank S. Magallon, Stories of the Stones - Chicago Police Detective Sergeant James L. Hosna. Printed in Heritage Happenings [Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery - October 2012]
The saloon reputed to be a "rendezous of thieves" was where a gang of criminals including Jacob Weinstein, "Big George" Vogel, and Frank "Red" Krueger were gathered to discuss a successfully completed robbery of whiskey from the Walsh Teaming Company.
Det. Hosna confronted "Big George" Vogel to question him about the heist of whiskey. Det. Hosna was shot five times, including twice in the back. "Big George" fled the scene and a massive manhunt followed. Chicago Police Chief of Detectives James L. Mooney called for the hanging of "Big George" Vogel. Vogel surrendered himself to police in fear of vengeance for their fallen brother.
The wheels of justice turned swiftly in the early 1900s, and with-in four months of Det. Hosna's murder the trial of "Big George" Vogel began. Vogel's defense team was headed by the legendary attorney, Clarence S. Darrow, who convinced the jury that Vogel acted in self-defense. The list of witnesses included saloon keeper Paddy Ryan, who testified that he saw Det. Hosna in the bar drunk and shouting at Vogel. According to Paddy Ryan, Det. Hosna called "Big George" Vogel a "stool pigeon" before striking Vogel in the head with his revolver.
After four hours of deliberation, THe Jury aquitted "Big George" Vogel of the murder of Det. James L. Hosna. The case remains unsolved.
Contributed by Frank S. Magallon, Stories of the Stones - Chicago Police Detective Sergeant James L. Hosna. Printed in Heritage Happenings [Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery - October 2012]
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