Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 3 years, 7 months, 19 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 14 - Deering

District of Incident (Present Day): 009 - Deering

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 28

Timeline


Date of Birth: 29 Mar 1898

Date of Appointment: 30 Oct 1922

Date of Incident: 009 - Deering

End of Watch: 18 Jun 1926

Date of Interment:

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Mount Carmel Cemetery - Hillside, Illinois
 Grave Location: Grave 3, Lot S16, Block 12, Section 22
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-10

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 17

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 17

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 32-E: 7

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: No Military Record Found

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman Michael Anthony Madigan, Star #5347, aged 28 years, was a 3 year, 7 month, 19 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 14 – Deering.

On June 5, 1926, at 5:10 p.m., Officer Madigan was working vice and liquor duty with his partner, Patrolman Michael Connaughton during the days of Prohibition. They were searching a “soft drink parlor” owned by James Beninato located at 2724 South Union Avenue for liquor. The officers were well acquainted with Beninato as he was a known bootlegger. As Officer Madigan was about to open a cupboard behind the bar, Beninato, pulled out a revolver and fired at Officer Madigan striking him twice in the head and once in the back. Officer Connaughton returned fire, wounding Beninato. Both Madigan and Beninato were taken to People’s Hospital located at Adams and Paulina Streets. Officer Madigan seriously wounded, suffered a shattered spinal cord from one of the bullets and he lingered in the hospital for 13 days before succumbing to his injuries on June 18, 1926.

Beninato, a father to ten children, later recovered from his gunshot wounds and was arrested. On June 18, 1926, he was held by the Coroner. On May 26, 1927 Beninato was acquitted by Judge Sullivan.

Officer Madigan was waked at his residence located at 4331 West 22nd Street. His funeral mass was held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church located at 2153 South Millard. He was laid to rest on June 21, 1926 in Mount Carmel Cemetery, 1400 South Wolf Road, Hillside, Illinois. His grave is located in Grave 3, Lot S16, Block 12, Section 22.

Patrolman Michael Anthony Madigan, born March 29, 1898, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on October 30, 1922. He earned 1 Credible Mention and 1 Extra Compensation for Meritorious Conduct totaling $300.00 during his career. Madigan had also won the Tribunes Hero Award.

Officer Madigan was a member of the Chicago Policemen’s Benevolent & Welfare Association. He was survived by his wife, Mary (nee Snyder), age 19; father, Patrick and siblings: Anna Wilson, John, Mary Osterman and Nora. Michael and Mary had only been married for a few months. Mary was the sister of Patrolman Frank C. McGynn who was also killed in the line of duty on July 18, 1924. The two had met at McGynn’s funeral.

Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #8584.