Bensinger Car Curse

Mr. Bond

Mr. Bond

Orbis Non Sufficit
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In 1892, Emanuel Brunswick (step-brother of John, the company founder) was struck and killed by a street car in downtown Chicago.
The Bensingers (married to John Brunswick's daughter) came to his defense and demanded an investigation.


In 1928
Louis Bensinger struck and killed by car
1928_June_Louis_Bensinger_Died-347x241.jpg
 
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One interesting thing to note about Louis Bensinger's death is the fact that it happened during the peak of prohibition.

At the time, Bensinger was part of a room owners association that was hell-bent on keeping crime and booze out of reputable billiard halls. But their "clean billards " crusade sometimes pushed a little too hard. The Illinois Billiard Association, as they were known, would call the law, or just flat out try to sue the shady pool halls out of existence. Which did work sometimes.....but...

This was a direct conflict of interest to the organized crime bosses of the day. Big time.

So, is it a coincidence that Mr. Bensinger just happened to mysteriously get run down by a car?

Bensinger owned a chain of the biggest nicest billiard halls in Chicago at the time, with some of his establishments located on well known mob controlled turf. Did his anti-liquor policies put a target on his back?

We shall see...
I've contacted the Cook County medical examiner's office and they have records of Bensinger's inquest..

Stay tuned for further details
 
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well it still seems a little fishy to me, but the "official" cause was deemed to be "accidental", as opposed to homicide or otherwise. ( so no charges were filed)

but then again, when you hatch a scheme to murder someone, you're supposed to make it look like an accident....so we may never really know the truth at this point...

i did learn that it was quite a violent accident. without going into any graphic detail, Mr. Bensinger died because of fractured skull.

to me the violence of the accident (along with the timing) just seems to add to the possibility that it was done on purpose...but at the same time, no real evidence has surfaced as of yet.
i guess only time will tell.


1928 Bensinger death cert small.jpg
 
Excellent digging. I guess its too hard to see if it was a freak accident or preempted murder. What about the owner of the car, Mr. Eide. And what happened in the Eide family after the accident and one generation thereafter?
 
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Mr. Bond said:
.....At the time, Bensinger was part of a room owners association that was hell-bent on keeping crime and booze out of reputable billiard halls. But their "clean billards " crusade sometimes pushed a little too hard.

The Illinois Billiard Association, as they were known, would call the law, or try to sue the shady pool halls out of existence. Which did work sometimes.....but...this was a direct conflict of interest to the organized crime bosses of the day. Big time.

So, is it a coincidence that Mr. Bensinger just happened to mysteriously get run down by a car?
Click to expand...


In June of 1922, Thomas Wadleigh, the well-liked secretary of the above mentioned Illinois Billiard Association, gave a long oral report live on the radio about the benefits of clean billiards and recreation in general.

In reference to thwarting illegal activities in billiard halls, he said this:

1922 IL billiard association.JPG


Nothing says "target on my back " more than bragging about shutting down a good speakeasy in Chicago.

And they shut down over 100...
 
In the midst of prohibition, and Capone's reign, nothing says "target on my back" more than hanging one of these in your window:

1924 Sept IBA booze warnings.jpg
 
Want to irritate a few underworld crime lords? Post one of these on your door:

1924 Sept IBA warnings.jpg


Just dont walk home alone
 
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