Steve Shukis - Poisoned: Chicago 1907, a Corrupt System, an Accused Killer, and the Crusade to Save Him

Poisoned

CHICAGO 1907.
A CORRUPT SYSTEM,
AN ACCUSED KILLER,
AND THE CRUSADE TO SAVE HIM

Steve Shukis

Copyright 2014 by Steve Shukis

FIRST EDITION

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Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

George Santayana
The Life of Reason (1905)

Capital punishment will become a thing of the past in Illinois if a bill to abolish it, which passed the House today, succeeds . In urging the passage of the measure Representative Chiperfield referred to the memorable Billik case in Chicago.

New York Times
May 28, 1909

Declaring the states capital punishment system haunted by the demon of error and citing the state legislatures failure to reform it, Gov. George Ryan on Saturday commuted the sentences of every inmate on Illinois Death Row.

Chicago Tribune
Jan 12, 2003

Barbour, James: Assistant States Attorney, prosecuted Knute Knudson; took part in Henry Niemann Inquest

Barnes, Hon. Albert C.: Cook County Circuit Court Judge; presided over Billik trial

Barrett, Charles V.: Assistant Cook County Coroner; helped conduct Vrzal Inquest

Billik, Edna: daughter of Herman Billik; 9 years old at the time of her fathers trial

Billik, Emil: youngest son of Herman Billik; 11 years old at the time of his fathers trial

Billik, Frank: oldest son of Herman Billik; 15 years old at time of his fathers trial; lived in Cleveland

Billik, Herman: Bohemian fortune teller charged with murdering six members of the Vrzal family

Billik, Herman Jr.: son of Herman Billik; just turned 14 years old when his fathers trial began

Billik, Mary Cermak: wife of Herman Billik

Burres, Joseph R.: Attorney who successfully defended Knute Knudson and Mary Sladek

Cermak, Mary (see Mary Cermak Billik)

Christison, Dr. John Sanderson: Medical doctor / criminologist; tried to prove Billiks innocence

Cooney, Joseph P. Tip: Former boyfriend of Emma Vrzal

Davies, Will: Cook County Jailer; oversaw executions

Davis, Ross Wade: Public Defender; represented Billik at criminal trial

Deneen, Charles S.: Governor of Illinois; ruled on Billiks plea before the Board of Pardons

Dunne, Edward F.: Former Judge and Mayor of Chicago; fought to save Billiks life

Edwardson, Leonard G.: Editor, Chicago Examiner; investigated Vrzal / Niemann murders

Engelthaler, Kate: cousin of Rose Vrzal, with whom Rose, Jerry, and Bertha lived at the time of Roses death

Gregory, Stephen S.: Attorney; represented Billik before Board of Pardons

Hadley, Charles W.: DuPage County States Attorney; investigated the murder of Henry Niemann

Haines, Dr. Walter S.: Professor of Chemistry / toxicologist; conducted chemical analysis on Vrzals

Healy, John J.: Cook County States Attorney; oversaw Billik prosecution

Hinckley, Francis E.: Public Defender, represented Billik at criminal trial and appeals

Hoffman, Peter M.: Cook County Coroner; conducted Vrzal and William Niemann Inquests

Holt, Robert N.: Cook County Assistant States Attorney; prosecuted Billik, testified at Pardon Board Hearing

Knudson, Knute: Charged with murdering his wife by arsenic poisoning

Kolar, Otto: Billik Defense Attorney through Coroners Inquest

Landis, Hon. Kenesaw M.: Federal Judge; Ruled on Billiks appeal

Mech, Louise Niemann: sister of William Niemann; helped care for her father Henry

Moyer, Dr. Harold: Alienist for Cook County; participated in Vrzal and Niemann investigations

Napieralski, Dr. Emanuel F.: Doctor who treated Vrzal family for gas poisoning incident

Niemann, Emma Vrzal: eldest daughter of Vrzal family, married William Niemann

Niemann, Fred: brother of William Niemann

Niemann, Henry: father of William Niemann; died in DuPage County August 21, 1905 at the age of 77

Niemann, Henry: son of William Niemann and Louise Runge Niemann; age 13 when his father died in 1907

Niemann, Louise: (see Louise Niemann Mech)

Niemann, Louise Runge: first wife of William Niemann; died August 29, 1903 at the age of 31

Niemann, William: Dairy farmer / widower; married Emma Vrzal; died Nov. 4, 1907 at the age of 39

Niemann, Willie Bill: son of William Niemann and Louise Runge Niemann; age 9 when his father died in 1907

OCallaghan, Fr. Peter J.: Pastor St. Marys Church; organized protests to try to save Billik from execution

Parkison, Benjamin: Billiks nephew, adopted son of Elsa Schmidt; lived with Billik at time of Rose Vrzals death

Popham, George M.: Assistant Cook County States Attorney; prosecuted Billik

Reinhardt, Henry G.W.: Cook County Assistant Coroners Physician; conducted autopsy of William Niemann

Runge, Louise (see Louise Runge Niemann)

Runge, Magdalena: mother of Louise Runge Niemann

Schmidt, Dr. Emil: brother-in-law of Herman Billik; lived in Cleveland

Schmidt, Elsa Zajicek: (step-?)sister of Herman Billik; married to Dr. Emil Schmidt

Shippy, George M.: Chicago Police Inspector / Chief of Police; oversaw Vrzal murder investigation

Sladek, Mary: Charged with poisoning her family with arsenic

Vrzal, Bertha: youngest of Vrzal children, survived; 7 years old when her mother died in December 1906

Vrzal, Ella: daughter of Rose and Martin Vrzal; died November 30, 1906 at the age of 12

Vrzal, Emma (see Emma Vrzal Niemann)

Vrzal, Jerry: only son of the Vrzal family; survived; had just turned 17 when his mother died in December 1906

Vrzal, Martin: husband of Rose Vrzal; died March 26, 1905 at the age of 47

Vrzal, Mary: daughter of Rose and Martin Vrzal; died July 27, 1905 at the age of 21

Vrzal, Rose Matous: wife of Martin Vrzal; died December 5, 1906 at the age of 44

Vrzal, Rosie: daughter of Rose and Martin Vrzal; died August 31, 1906 at the age of 14

Vrzal, Tillie: daughter of Rose and Martin Vrzal; died December 22, 1905 at the age of 18

Timeline of Events