John Paul Chase
Convicted at Chicago in 1935 of killing a Division of Investigation agent at Barrington, Illinois; held at Alcatraz from 1935 to 1954, as his warden's notebook page records.
- Born
- 1901-12-26
- Died
- 1973-10-05
- Rights
- Biography on this page is limited to what the cited federal records state. The photograph is a United States government work, public domain under 17 U.S.C. § 105.
On the record
- 26 December 1901 — The FBI history page on Lester Gillis says Chase was "born December 26, 1901"; his Alcatraz notebook page gives the date of birth as 12/26/01.
- 27 November 1934 — The National Archives describes the case against him as concerning the killing of Inspector Samuel P. Cowley and Special Agent Herman Edward Hollis at Barrington, Illinois.
- March 1935 — The National Archives says he was "convicted for the 'Killing of Special Agent of Division of Investigation while engaged in the performance of official duties'" under the Act of May 18, 1934, 48 Stat. 780. The notebook page gives the sentence as life, dated 3-28-35, district N/Ill., Chicago.
- 31 March 1935 — The notebook page records his receipt at Alcatraz from "Court" and a pending indictment for the murder of Special Agent Hollis "still outstanding against him."
- 21 September 1954 — The notebook page: "9/21/54 - Trf. to Leav."
- 5 October 1973 — The FBI history page says he "died of cancer in Palo Alto, California, on October 5, 1973"; the National Archives catalog's data block gives the same date and place.
Filed in the Public Enemies side section. This is not an organized-crime family page: the records here are federal fugitive, court and prison records.
The FBI history page also says he was paroled from Leavenworth on October 31, 1966. No alias is recorded.
Records
itemAlcatraz warden's notebook page for John Paul Chase, No. 238Bureau of Prisons notebook page with the identification photograph of John Paul Chase, received at Alcatraz on 31 March 1935 by direct commitment from the court at Chicago for "Killing Federal Officer," life sentence. A copy is stored here.itemThe United States of America vs. John Paul Chase (No. 28680): the Barrington killings, 1934Federal criminal case at Chicago over the killing of Inspector Samuel P. Cowley and Special Agent Herman E. Hollis at Barrington, Illinois on 27 November 1934. The National Archives says Chase was convicted under the Act of 18 May 1934.itemAct of 18 May 1934, ch. 299, 48 Stat. 780: punishment for killing or assaulting federal officersThe first of the May 1934 federal crime laws: "An Act to provide punishment for killing or assaulting Federal officers." The National Archives ties John Paul Chase's conviction for the killing at Barrington to this act.itemLester Gillis ("Baby Face" Nelson): FBI history pageThe FBI's history essay on Lester M. Gillis, known as George "Baby Face" Nelson: the killing of Special Agent W. Carter Baum near Little Bohemia Lodge in April 1934, the November 1934 gun battle at Barrington, Illinois, and the prosecution of John Paul Chase.