For the last few days, I’ve been obsessing over an old story of corruption in Chicago that I rediscovered while looking for something else.
Martin did a good job of linking the raid to the 52nd anniversary of Stonewall, pointing out that “Before Stonewall (and for some time after), a police raid on a gay bar could be disastrous for those arrested. Not only would the raid likely make the papers the next day . . . but those arrested saw their names printed along with their addresses and occupations.”
It reported that “ninety-seven men, six male juveniles and six women were taken from the tavern to the Criminal Court Building in two sheriff’s buses and three squadrols for processing.”
That reference to Cain froze me in place.
His record of notoriety included shooting Harry Figel, a convicted extortionist, in a gun battle near Clark and Lake. And allegedly stealing $32,000 from the safe of a madam while she was in police custody after her brothel was busted.
In contrast, the raid worked well for Ogilvie, a Republican. He rode his reputation as a corruption- and “deviates”-fighting sheriff to higher office—president of the Cook County Board (in 1966), and governor of Illinois (1968).
