Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 11 months, 27 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 2-A - Stanton
District of Incident (Present Day): 002 - Wentworth
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 30
Timeline
Date of Birth: 27 Feb 1892
Date of Appointment: 08 Jun 1922
Date of Incident: 04 Jun 1923
End of Watch: 04 Jun 1923
Date of Interment: 11 Jun 1923
Interment Details
Cemetery: Lincoln Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-7
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 14
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 8
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 11-W: 3
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Blanton William Sutton, Sr., Star #5275, aged 30 years, was a 11 month, 27 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 2-A – Stanton.
On June 4, 1923, at 10:20 p.m., Officer Sutton while on duty went to a pool hall located at 60 West 37th Street in search of an unknown person. According to the owner of the pool hall, Mrs. Forbes, Sutton walked up and down the length of the poolroom several times. He then made his way to the exit satisfied that the person he was looking for was not in the pool hall. As he was leaving the establishment he stopped to talk with Mrs. Forbes near the front door. While they were conversing he spotted Ernest Jackson, a laborer. Jackson, who was known to police, entered the pool hall and scowled at the officer. Taking offense, Officer Sutton remarked to Mrs. Forbes, “That man wants to be arrested. Maybe we’d better take him over to a whaling.” Officer Sutton suspected that Jackson was concealing a weapon and followed him to a pool table at the back of the hall. Patrolman Sutton confronted the man and began to question him. After a few question, Officer Sutton began to search him for concealed weapons. Jackson resisted backing away and drawing his gun. Sutton wasted no time and quickly drew his gun. Suddenly, they both fired on each other. Two shots were heard in quick succession. Officer Sutton was struck and fell to the floor mortally wounded. Jackson then fled the scene making good his escape. James Wisger, a patron, was also accidentally struck by a stray bullet in the commotion and died at the scene. Officer Sutton was taken to Provident Hospital but died en route.
Jackson was later arrested and committed suicide while in police custody.
Officer Sutton was waked at his residence located at 6446 South Champlain Avneue. He was laid to rest on June 11, 1923 in Lincoln Cemetery, 2300 South Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.
Patrolman Blanton William Sutton, born February 22, 1892, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on June 8, 1922.
Officer Sutton was survived by his wife, Margaret and children: Blanton William, Jr., Gladys, Margaret and Gladys.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #7462.