Patrolman Jacobs | Star #Unknown

Patrolman Christian Jacobs, Star # Unknown, aged 37 years, was a 5 year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 3rd Precinct – Webster Avenue Station.

On August 17, 1873, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Officer Jacobs was patrolling his beat when he came across and open door. The door of a saloon kept by Mr. Schnester located on the corner of Webster Avenue and Larrabee Street was open. As the officer proceeded to the saloon, he observed two men quickly emerge from the house. Officer Jacobs immediately rapped on the lamppost for assistance from the police station, which was a half a block away and from which he had reason to expect instantaneous aid. Without waiting for the arrival of backup, he ran across the street to seize the two men. The two men spotted Officer Jacobs and fled on foot, running down Lincoln Avenue towards Clark Street. At the same time a third man exited the house and seeing Officer Jacobs immediately drew a revolver and fired at him. The man then fled west on Webster Avenue, Officer Jacobs in pursuit. About one block west of Lincoln Avenue on the 600 block of West Webster, the man turned and fired a second time at Officer Jacobs. The shot struck Officer Jacobs in the neck and he fell to the ground mortally wounded. He lay on the ground stunned and bleeding copiously for a few moments before he regained his energy and staggered over to the police station to report the occurrence. Sergeant Fox assigned all available men to search for the perpetrators. Officer Jacobs was taken to his residence at No. 203 Burling Street (present day 1968 North Burling Street). Doctors Allen, Miller and Williams and Professor Gunn of the Rush Medical College were summoned. They examined Officer Jacobs and determined that the bullet entered the anterior portion of the neck and glanced the right side of the neck and shoulder before lodging just over the shoulder blade. He lingered barely able to speak as he was coughing up large quantities of blood until succumbing to his injury at 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 1873.

The searching officers located one witness, an old market woman. She stated that she saw a man running barefoot west on Webster Avenue and then saw Officer Jacobs lying in the street. The only clue, a pair of ladies slippers, No. 6, were found in the vicinity proving the man the woman saw running was the murderer.

On November 25, 1873, Charles McLain, alias Brocky McLain, a noted burglar, was arrested for the murder of Officer Jacobs on a tip from a citizen. It is unknown whether McLain was prosecuted due to the lack of evidence.

Officer Huebner was waked at his residence located at No. 203 Burling Street (present day 1968 North Burling Street). He was laid to rest in Graceland Cemetery, 4001 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Patrolman Christian Jacobs, born in 1836, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department in 1868.

Officer Jacobs was a member of one or two German benevolent associations and the Police Protective Association. He was survived by his wife, Theodora and children: John, age 3, Lizzie, age 6, Mary, 9 and Rose, age 1.

Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database case not found for this incident.

On May 24, 2005, Officer Jacobs’ star was retired by Superintendent Philip J. Cline and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.