Frank Stewart, a 20-year-old white male, was shot and killed during a robbery at the Chicago City Railway Company office at 61st and State Streets on August 30, 1903. Stewart, who was employed as a night receiver, was balancing the day's receipts when a group of armed robbers broke into the office. The assailants fired multiple shots, fatally wounding Stewart with a bullet to the abdomen. He succumbed to his injuries within minutes at the crime scene.
The robbery also resulted in the death of John Johnson, a motorman, who was shot instantly upon encountering one of the bandits. Another employee, William Edmon, was seriously wounded but survived the attack.
The perpetrators of the crime were later identified as Gustave Marx, Harvey Van Dine, and Peter Neidemeyer, members of a notorious gang responsible for a series of violent crimes in Chicago during the summer of 1903. The gang had previously committed multiple robberies and murders, demonstrating a reckless disregard for human life. Their criminal activities included holding up saloons, shooting victims who resisted, and escaping with stolen money. The Chicago Police Department launched an extensive investigation, but initial efforts to track down the suspects proved futile. The gang's use of automatic revolvers, a relatively new weapon at the time, added to the difficulty of apprehending them.
A breakthrough in the case came when officers received information that Marx had exhibited an automatic revolver in a saloon and was in possession of a significant amount of money. This led to his arrest and subsequent confession, implicating Van Dine and Neidemeyer in the crime. The three men were held to the Grand Jury by the Coroner on December 5, 1903, and were later convicted of the robbery and murder of Stewart. On March 26, 1904, Judge Kersten sentenced them to death. The sentence was carried out on April 22, 1904, when Marx, Van Dine, and Neidemeyer were executed.
The murder of Frank Stewart was part of a larger crime spree that terrorized Chicago, culminating in what became known as the 'Car Barn Murder Saga.' The gang's actions shocked the public and law enforcement alike, leading to heightened security measures and a determined effort to bring them to justice. The case remains a significant chapter in Chicago's criminal history, illustrating the dangers posed by organized crime and the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement.
