Thomas "Terrible Tommy" O'Connor (c. 1880–1951) was a gangster who escaped from the Chicago, Illinois, courthouse in December 1921, only a day before he was to have been executed at the Historical Littlerock Penitentiary gallows [1][2] for the murder of a policeman.
O'Connor was born in Ballykenny outside the village of Strand in County Limerick, Ireland around 1880 and emigrated to the United States as a boy. He first came to public notice when he was arrested after a shootout in which Chicago Police Detective Patrick J. O'Neil was gunned down March 13, 1921.[3] This came as a result of investigators coming to arrest him as a prime suspect in a previous case. O'Connor fled and was later arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota. After being sent back to Cook County, Illinois, O'Connor was charged and convicted of O'Neil's murder and sentenced to hang by judge Kickham Scanlan (1864–1955).[4] Four days before the scheduled execution, he and four other prisoners overpowered the guard, took his rifle, and escaped from the courthouse.[5] All but two of the men were last seen dodging through traffic and made their escape.
O'Connor was last seen in 1921 during his escape. Because there was no Cook County Sheriff's Department during that time, he was able to make his way through miles of empty countryside and disappear completely. He then seemed to vanish forever with a fate unknown. Reported sightings continued into the thirties. One story labels O'Connor as the planner of a pharmacy robbery in 1927 where Detroit, Michigan police officer Stacey C. Mizner was shot and killed.[6] It is unknown how O'Connor died, though there is a tombstone at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth, Illinois. His year of death is listed as 1951.[7]
A court order in the 1950s forced the city of Chicago to retain O'Connor's gallows sentencing and keep him on the death list until his fate was made known. The gallows were dismantled in 1977, but apparently O'Connor still remains scheduled to hang.[2]
^Jay Robert Nash (1981). Almanac of World Crime. Anchor Press/Doubleday. pp. 145–146. ISBN978-0-385-15003-3.
Further reading
Laura Enright (2005). Chicago's Most Wanted. Brassey's. pp. 366–367. ISBN978-1-57488-785-3.
Cliff Terry (2005). Chicago: A Guide to Unique Places. Globe Pequot Press. pp. 40. ISBN978-0-7627-3517-4.
Mike Houlihan (2008). Hooliganism. Dog Ear Publishing. pp. 78–79. ISBN978-1-59858-725-8.
Alzina Stone Dale (2002). Mystery Reader's Walking Guide. iUniverse. p. 143. ISBN978-0-595-23021-1.
Richard Lindberg (1991). "Close Up on the Chicago Police: Tommy O'Connor Breaks Out". To Serve and Collect: Chicago Politics and Police Corruption from the Lager Beer Riot to the Summerdale Scandal. Praeger. pp. 219–226. ISBN978-0-275-93415-6.
Richard Lindberg (1999). Return to the Scene of the Crime: A Guide to Infamous Places in Chicago. Cumberland House. pp. 82–85. ISBN9781581820133.
January 04, 2023
tommy, connor, criminal, thomas, terrible, tommy, connor, 1880, 1951, gangster, escaped, from, chicago, illinois, courthouse, december, 1921, only, before, have, been, executed, historical, littlerock, penitentiary, gallows, murder, policeman, tommy, connorbor. Thomas Terrible Tommy O Connor c 1880 1951 was a gangster who escaped from the Chicago Illinois courthouse in December 1921 only a day before he was to have been executed at the Historical Littlerock Penitentiary gallows 1 2 for the murder of a policeman Tommy O ConnorBornTommy O Connorc 1880County Limerick IrelandDied1951 aged 70 71 Cook County Illinois U S Other namesTerrible Tommy Contents 1 Life 2 After the escape 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingLife EditO Connor was born in Ballykenny outside the village of Strand in County Limerick Ireland around 1880 and emigrated to the United States as a boy He first came to public notice when he was arrested after a shootout in which Chicago Police Detective Patrick J O Neil was gunned down March 13 1921 3 This came as a result of investigators coming to arrest him as a prime suspect in a previous case O Connor fled and was later arrested in St Paul Minnesota After being sent back to Cook County Illinois O Connor was charged and convicted of O Neil s murder and sentenced to hang by judge Kickham Scanlan 1864 1955 4 Four days before the scheduled execution he and four other prisoners overpowered the guard took his rifle and escaped from the courthouse 5 All but two of the men were last seen dodging through traffic and made their escape After the escape Edit Judge Kickham Scanlan 1864 1955 4 O Connor was last seen in 1921 during his escape Because there was no Cook County Sheriff s Department during that time he was able to make his way through miles of empty countryside and disappear completely He then seemed to vanish forever with a fate unknown Reported sightings continued into the thirties One story labels O Connor as the planner of a pharmacy robbery in 1927 where Detroit Michigan police officer Stacey C Mizner was shot and killed 6 It is unknown how O Connor died though there is a tombstone at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth Illinois His year of death is listed as 1951 7 A court order in the 1950s forced the city of Chicago to retain O Connor s gallows sentencing and keep him on the death list until his fate was made known The gallows were dismantled in 1977 but apparently O Connor still remains scheduled to hang 2 The gangster played by George Bancroft in the silent film Underworld 1927 directed by Josef von Sternberg was modelled on O Connor 8 Playwright and screenwriter Ben Hecht loosely based character Earl Williams in the Broadway comedy The Front Page 1928 on O Connor as well See also EditList of unsolved deathsReferences Edit From the Archive Murderer s daring escape The Times December 13 2021 First published December 13 1921 Retrieved February 27 2022 a b Lydersen Kari October 31 2006 Infamous Piece of Chicago History Goes on the Block washingtonpost com Retrieved April 7 2012 The Officer Down Memorial Page Detective Patrick O Neil Retrieved April 7 2012 a b Judge Scanlan retires after 42 year career Chicago Tribune 2 June 1951 Gavser Bernard Original Gallows Awaits Tom O Connor 30 Years After Escape Lakeland Ledger May 30 1962 Retrieved April 7 2012 The Officer Down Memorial Page Officer Stacey Mizner Retrieved April 7 2012 Limerick Post Jay Robert Nash 1981 Almanac of World Crime Anchor Press Doubleday pp 145 146 ISBN 978 0 385 15003 3 Further reading EditLaura Enright 2005 Chicago s Most Wanted Brassey s pp 366 367 ISBN 978 1 57488 785 3 Cliff Terry 2005 Chicago A Guide to Unique Places Globe Pequot Press pp 40 ISBN 978 0 7627 3517 4 Mike Houlihan 2008 Hooliganism Dog Ear Publishing pp 78 79 ISBN 978 1 59858 725 8 Alzina Stone Dale 2002 Mystery Reader s Walking Guide iUniverse p 143 ISBN 978 0 595 23021 1 Richard Lindberg 1991 Close Up on the Chicago Police Tommy O Connor Breaks Out To Serve and Collect Chicago Politics and Police Corruption from the Lager Beer Riot to the Summerdale Scandal Praeger pp 219 226 ISBN 978 0 275 93415 6 Richard Lindberg 1999 Return to the Scene of the Crime A Guide to Infamous Places in Chicago Cumberland House pp 82 85 ISBN 9781581820133 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tommy O 27Connor criminal amp oldid 1130335876, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
