Detective Duffy | Star #1190

Detective Patrick Duffy, Star #1190, aged 34 years, was an 11 year, 2 month, 0 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 8, 19th Precinct – Stock Yards.

On May 1, 1902, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Detective Duffy was on duty and walking from his home to the Stock Yards Station after his lunch break. While en route he observed, Hugh Reilly, on the Southwest corner of 46th Street and Emerald Avenue. Reilly was leaning on the railing to the entrance of the Tenth Presbyterian Church. He had been observed standing there for ten minutes looking towards Halsted Street, impatiently, as if he was waiting for someone to arrive. As Detective Duffy approached, Reilly turned his back. Then as Detective Duffy passed him he bowed his head and began to walk off in the opposite direction. Detective Duffy then walked a few feet, suspicious of the man, he quickly turned around and ordered Reilly to halt.

The two exchanged words for five minutes, all the while Reilly seemed to be uneasy and continued glancing toward Halsted Street. As they conversed a second man, Vincent Briscoe, alias Britton, walked up behind Detective Duffy and stopped near a tree post ten feet away. Briscoe waited and observed from a distance. At the end of the conversation, Detective Duffy attempted to arrest Reilly by taking hold of his arm. It was at this time Briscoe made his move and leapt forward shouting. Startling Detective Duffy who had not seen him walk up, Duffy still holding Reilly’s arm turned to look towards the man. Reilly then jerked backwards and drew a revolver from an outer pocket. He placed the gun to Detective Duffy’s head and pulled the trigger. Detective Duffy was struck in his right eye and fell forward with his arm still extended onto the sidewalk. Fatally wounded, the bullet lodged in his brain killing him instantly. The bandits then fled on foot through Southbound on Emerald Avenue to a vacant lot at 4011 South Emerald Avenue. From there the fled Eastbound heading towards the railroad tracks three blocks east.

The entire course of events were witnessed by Alice Fitzgerald, a school teacher and daughter of former Fire Marshall John Fitzgerald. She observed the incident from a window in her father’s house located at 4556 South Emerald Avenue. The incident was also witnessed by Barbara Schmidt and Ray Kenney, age 10, of 4613 South Emerald Avenue.

Hugh Reilly was later arrested and held by the Coroner. On September 20, 1902, he was sentenced to 14 years in Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet by Judge Neeley. A man matching Brisco’s description was arrested in Mobile, Alabama and brought back to Chicago on January 31, 1905 by Inspector Shippy. The man was Mistaken and was not Brisco, he was turned loose. Vincent Briscoe, alias Britton, escaped and was captured eight years later. He stood trial and was found guilty. On December 9, 1910, he was sentenced to 14 years in Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet.

Detective Duffy was waked at his residence located at No. 640 West 45th Street (present day 540 West 45th Street). His funeral mass was held at St. Gabriel’s Church. He was laid to rest on May 4, 1902 in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 2755 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Detective Patrick Duffy, born in 1867, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on March 1, 1891. In 1894, he was promoted to the rank of Detective. He was promoted to the rank of the plain clothes ranks (Detective) for marked courage and discretion displayed during the railroad strikes.

Detective Duffy was survived by his wife, Anne; five children and brother, (CPD). His brother was a retired Captain at the time of the incident.

Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #572.