Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 27 years, 4 months, 28 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 17 - Marquette

District of Incident (Present Day): 012 - Near West

Cause of Death: Fall - From Balcony / Over Railing

Age at Time of Death: 53

Timeline


Date of Birth: 21 Jul 1868

Date of Appointment: 06 Jul 1894

Date of Incident: 012 - Near West

End of Watch: 04 Dec 1921

Date of Interment: 07 Dec 1921

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Mount Carmel Cemetery - Hillside, Illinois
 Grave Location: Grave 2, Lot SN13, Block 6, Section 12.
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Not Enshrined

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 18

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Not Listed

Officer Down Memorial Page: Not Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman James Harrington, Star # Unknown, aged 53 years, was a 27 year, 4 month, 28 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 17 – Marquette.

On December 4, 1921, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Officer Harrington was on duty attempting to close down a dance that was operating illegally at Emmet Memorial Hall located at 2179 West Ogden Avenue. The event being held was in operation past the allowed time of 10:00 p.m. by city ordinance. While enforcing the city ordinance he was thrown over a railing from the third floor by several men, Eugene Cesaratti, Sittimo Ginnetti, Phillip Ottovo and Attilloi Puscinelli, during a mob action. Officer Harrington fell three floors to the main floor of the dance hall. The injuries from the incident led to his death later that same day.

Joseph Lucey of 4244 West Ogden, along with two other men, later found Officer Harrington laying on the tile floor of the dance hall. He was arrested and taken to the Detective Division for questioning. John Sullivan was also arrested and brought to the Detective Division for questioning. Both Lucey and Sullivan were later released without charges. On December 6, 1921, Cesaratti, Ginnetti, Ottovo and Puscinelli were arrested and indicted for their parts in the mob action. On February 22, 1922, all four were acquitted of all charges by Judge Fisher.

Officer Harrington was waked at his residence located at 3047 West Congress. His funeral mass was held at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica located at 3121 West Jackson Boulevard. He was laid to rest on December 7, 1921 in Mount Carmel Cemetery, 1400 South Wolf Road, Hillside, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 2, Lot SN13, Block 6, Section 12.

Patrolman James Harrington, born July 21, 1868, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on July 6, 1894.

Officer Harrington was a member of St. Ignatius Court No. 18 Catholic Order of Foresters and the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent Association. He was survived by his wife, Catherine (nee Lynch); children: Catherine, James, Mary and Thomas R. and siblings: Ellen and Thomas.

Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #7454.