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Archiver > OHCUYAHO > 2000-08 > 0965959318


From: "Kathy Funk" <>
Subject: Re: [OHCUYAHO-L] Where to find criminal records?
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 21:01:58 -0500
References: <20000810.091442.-756933.0.laura.ann.hine@juno.com>


Laura,

I had NEVER thought about looking for the crimes according to the hotel,
etc. What a great tip! Thank you so much. I sort of "closed the book" on
finding information when I found out he had killed himself the day after the
murder.

This is certainly an interesting story to pursue! If I ever get it all
figured out, I think I will post it somewhere for any interested parties to
read. I hadn't realized what a role the Mafia played in Cleveland during
Prohibition until I began researching my Harriet. I am learning quite a bit
about Cleveland's history now.

Thanks again for the wonderful ideas, Laura!

Kathy


> Hi Kathy and all:
>
> I had good luck finding criminal record and prison records for an
> ancestor of mine in Cleveland and thought that I'd share my experience.
> The Cuyahoga County Court has an index for CIVIL and CRIMINAL cases.
> Here are the phone numbers for the index department:
>
> CRIMINAL 216-443-7985
> CIVIL 216-443-7950
>
> I would suggest that you ask them for any court case numbers for the name
> of Harriet, the hotel, and the criminal, both his real name and his
> alias. The cases are indexed under both the plaintiff and defendant. If
> they find a case number, then they can tell you where to get copies of
> the cases from microfilm. The case that I was looking for occurred in
> 1922, so I know that these records exist. Secondly, I spent a lot of
> time trying to find Police records, mug shots, anything from the Police
> Department and was never able to find anyone that knew if those records
> still existed, all said that they no longer existed. The court case that
> I found included a pre-sentencing report where a court administrator
> interviewed relatives and neighbors of my ancestor and I learned a lot of
> personal information about him, and also learned where he went to prison.
>
>
> The Ohio Historical Society had prison records and all I had to do was
> write a letter to them explaining who I was looking for, and I had to
> provide proof of how he was related to me, so I sent copies of death and
> birth certificates showing my link to him (he was my great-grandfather).
> I received four sheets of paper that were a ledger sort of, of the
> prisoners on his page. It showed his name, when he was incarcerated,
> what he was incarcerated for, when his original release date would be,
> and then it showed that he was released early. Not a whole lot of
> information here, but it was great to receive. I learned most of my
> information though from the newspaper article about this crime though,
> but it sounds as if you have that covered.
>
> I have to tell you though, based on the stories that my other Grandfather
> told me, the Police at that time weren't particularly tough on
> bootleggers. My Grandfather owned a restaurant/bar with his
> brother-in-law at that time, and they had bootleg whiskey there, and he
> told me that the police knew all about it, but as long as they got free
> drinks when they came in, they overlooked the situation. This might not
> be true of all of the Police, but I'm just pointing it out.
>
> So, I hope that this helps somewhat. If you have any further questions,
> feel free to ask.
>
> Good luck
> Laura Hine
>


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