Patrolman Timothy Mahoney | Star #230

Patrolman Timothy Mahoney, Star #230, aged 40 years, was an 11 year, 8 month veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 2nd Precinct – Deering Street Station.

On June 12, 1881, at approximately 11:00 p.m., masked burglars had entered the house of Mr. Richard Jones, at No. 3815 Emerald Avenue. They had proceeded to search the house, when the family was awakened by the noise made and gave some alarm. Seeing that their presence in the house was discovered, the burglars pointed revolvers at Mr. Jones, and threatening to shoot, compelled him to remain quiet. Extinguishing the lamp, they then left the house without having secured any plunder.

Jones hastily followed in the direction they had taken, and meeting Officer Mahoney at the corner of 38th and Halsted streets, informed him of what happened. The officer asked a few questions regarding the description of the parties which were briefly answered by Jones, and then remarking that such persons had just passed him going North, Officer Mahoney ran after them calling upon Jones to follow. It appears that he overtook them at the next corner, 37th Street, for Mr. Jones, who was about half a block behind, saw him distinctly struggling with them at that point, as the streets were frequently illuminated by the flashes of lightning which prevailed on that rainy night. Just as the officer caught up with the burglars there was a sharp scuffle, then three shots were fired in quick succession, and Officer Mahoney fell to the ground with the exclamation that he was shot, and the murderers ran off in the darkness. Upon the arrival of citizens who had been attracted by the noise of the shooting, they found Officer Mahoney stretched on the sidewalk in the last agonies of death, and unable to give any information regarding the murder. Beside him laid a nickel-plated brace which he evidently had wrenched from the hands of his murderers in the deadly struggle, and this was the only clue that remained, for Jones view of the murderers was indistinct on account of their having been masked while in his house. The body was conveyed to Deering Street Station, and subsequently to his late residence, 283 West 15th Street. The fatal bullet entered Mahoney’s breast above the heart and severed an artery, causing his death by internal hemorrhage.

William Elliott was later identified as one of the burglars. He was arrested and later discharged.

Officer Mahoney was waked at his residence located at No. 283 West 15th Street (present day 1026 West 15th Street. His funeral mass was held at Holy Family Church. He was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery, 301 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois.

Patrolman Timothy Mahoney, born in 1841, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department in October, 1869.

Officer Mahoney was a member of Division No. 7, The Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was survived by his wife and daughter, age 14.

Having left a wife and a daughter in destitute circumstances, Officer Mahoney was not a member of either of the Benevolent Associations; they could obtain no relief from that source. However, in view of the sad circumstances of his death, a generous public soon raised, by voluntary subscription, a sum sufficient to relieve the wants of the wife and daughter, upwards of $5,000 having been collected, which was invested in a homestead for their benefit by the committee having charge of the fund.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department homicide file, Case #2797.