Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 17 years, 6 months, 27 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 14th District - Gresham
District of Incident (Present Day): 006 - Gresham
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 44
Timeline
Date of Birth: 18 Jan 1889
Date of Appointment: 22 Sep 1915
Date of Incident: 18 Apr 1933
End of Watch: 18 Apr 1933
Date of Interment: 21 Apr 1933
Interment Details
Cemetery: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery - Alsip, Illinois
Grave Location: Grave 2, Lot --, Block 10, Section 5
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # C-4
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 8
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 34
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 63-E: 13
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Arthur Donald Mutter, Sr., Star #1000, aged 44 years, was a 17 year, 6 month, 27 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 14th District – Gresham.
On April 18, 1933, Officer Mutter was off duty when he entered The Beverly Club located at 8041 South Ashland Avenue shortly after his tour ended. He was standing at the cigar counter approximately an hour and a half after arriving when he observed two men eject their companion after an argument. The ejected companion, a taxi driver wearing a Checkers Cab cap, returned armed with a sub-machine gun shortly after being ejected. He proceeded to the table where the two men were sitting, passing Officer Mutter on the way. Officer Mutter, still wearing his uniform, stopped the man in an attempt to disarm him when a struggle ensued. Mutter was able to get the machine gun’s muzzle pointed to the floor and then gained control of the gun. Suddenly, the man’s two friends rushed to the shooter’s side and overpowered the officer. Officer Mutter was shot twice by one of the shooter’s friends. Officer Mutter was transported to Auburn Park Hospital where he was pronounced dead later the same night on April 18, 1933.
The events following the shooting were unclear to investigators. It was believed that the men fled the establishment by car, but that was never confirmed and the men’s identities were never learned. The owner of the club, Edward Haywood, his brother, Thomas, the bartender, Elmer Lantz and a patron, Edward Haywood were all held for questioning. They were unable to provide any clues to further the investigation.
Officer Mutter was laid to rest on April 21, 1933 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 6001 West 111th Street, Alsip, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 2, Lot –, Block 10, Section 5.
Patrolman Arthur Donald Mutter, Sr., born January 18, 1889, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on September 22, 1915. He earned 7 Credible Mentions and 1 Extra Compensation for Meritorious Conduct totaling $240.00 during his career.
Officer Mutter was survived by his wife, Gussie (nee Peterson), age 49 and five children: Arthur Donal, Jr., age 12, Charles Maurits, age 17, Edgar Walter, age 7, Georgette, age 9 and William, age 18. Officer Mutter’s father, William, also served on the Chicago Police Department.