Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 3 years, 5 months, 12 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: District 24 - Austin
District of Incident (Present Day): 015 - Austin
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy
Age at Time of Death: 26
Timeline
Date of Birth: 30 Aug 1899
Date of Appointment: 27 Oct 1922
Date of Incident: 015 - Austin
End of Watch: 08 Apr 1926
Date of Interment:
Interment Details
Cemetery: Bohemian National Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Burial
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # B-10
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 20
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 2, Line 16
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 37-E: 17
Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed
Service
Military Service: No Military Record Found
Incident & Biographic Details
Patrolman Edward F. Mashek, Star #3975, aged 26 years, was a 3 year, 5 month, 12 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to District 24 – Austin.
On July 2, 1923, at 8:13 a.m., Officer Mashek assigned to guard the Royal Blue Store located at 5825 West Division Street. The store’s manager, Clarence F. Mounts, had complained of recurring robberies at the store which prompted Officer Mashek’s assignment. Officer Mashek had been stationed at the store for a week and had already stopped some robberies. On the morning of July 2, 1923, Mr. Mounts opened the store and was going about his normal routine in the front of the store. Officer Mashek was in the back room when a green car pulled up in front. One man remained behind the wheel while two other got out and entered the store. The two men ordered Mounts to walk to the back of the store while keeping his hands up. Upon seeing what was taking place, Officer Mashek drew his gun and confronted the robbers. Before Mashek could fire, one of the robbers fired first striking him in the abdomen. Officer Mashek then fell face first and slammed into the floor, his gun flying out of his hand. The two robbers then fled the store and jumped into the green car speeding off. Mr. Mounts acted quickly by picking up the officer’s gun and ran outside where he hailed a car. Mounts chased then chased the robbers for a mile and half, firing several shots at them.
Two girls, Peggy Nottingham, alias Peggy McCann and Mary Nottingham, alias Mary Kelly, were arrested and questioned about Officer Mashek’s shooting. After 48 hours of questioning, the two girls signed a 62 page confession, which incriminated Adolph Austwick, age 20 and William Curry, age 19. Austwick was believed to be the shooter and Curry his accomplice also involved in other robberies. They were both held on bond, Austwick’s set at $65,000.00 and Curry’s set at $25,000.00.
Although Officer Mashek survived the shooting he had persistent medical problems following the incident. He would later die from chronic nephritis, a disease of the kidneys, 2 years, 9 months and 6 days later at 12:08 a.m. on April 8, 1926.
Officer Mashek was waked at his residence located at 4250 West 21st Street. His funeral mass was held at his residence located at 4205 West 21st Street. He was laid to rest on April 12, 1926 in Bohemian National Cemetery, 5255 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois.
Patrolman Edward F. Mashek, born August 30, 1899, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on October 27, 1922.
Officer Mashek was survived by his wife Myrtle (nee Muchlbrandt); parents: Barbara (nee Prepejchal) and Frank J. and brothers: Daniel and William J. He had been married only one month prior to his death.
Incident recorded under Chicago Police Historical Homicide Database, Case #8570.
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