He was married to Edna Staley from 1929 until 1938, Evaline Ness from 1939 thru 1945 and finally Elizabeth Anderson Seaver from 1946 until his . One look at the special agents record convinced him that Cleveland could expect fireworks, said an article in Newsweek magazine. Ness had cut short his date with Edna Staley, his long-time girlfriend because his car was being followed. Agents of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, working under Elmer Irey and Special Agent Frank J. Wilson of the Intelligence Unit, were already investigating Capone and his associates for income tax evasion. Someday, he said I may take one of those jobs. Nearly 400 pupils from 39 Cleveland schools had bit parts in the film. When Ness took the job, he moved to an apartment building on E. 9th, across the street from CITY HALL., On 11 December 1935, Ness, only 32 years old, was sworn in as Clevelands youngest-ever Director of Public Safety. In Chicago, organized crime and bootlegging were rampant, and one particularly notorious mob boss was the gangster Al Capone. Those were exciting times. Mr. Schreckengost added that he noticed Ness never wore a gun, although he did wear the shoulder holster empty perhaps to give the criminals the impression that he might be armed. Ness restored a sense of hope and pride to a city that had been beaten down for a long time. As the Special Agent in Charge of the Cincinnati Bureau of the ATF, he raided a litany of these distilleries that were robbing the U.S. government of hundreds of thousands of dollars in alcohol taxes. Although Ness remained Clevelands Safety Director, with the initiation of a peace-time draft in 1940 and large-scale military mobilization, the government sought a high-profile spokesperson to warn recruits about the dangers of venereal disease. She died in 1988, at the age of 81. Eliot Ness was one of the most renowned Federal Agents in the history of U.S. law enforcement. Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, B.A., International Relations, Brown University. They divorced in 1945. Family (1) Trivia (19) He was only 29 years old and left a widow. In December 1935, Cleveland mayor Harold H. Burton hired Ness as the city's Safety Director, which put him in charge of both the police and fire departments. Cleveland critics targeted his divorce, his high-profile social drinking, and his conduct in a car accident one night when he was driving drunk. Hundreds of Clevelanders attended a Cleveland Safety Council luncheon on 20 April 1940 at the Hotel Statler to honor those involved in bringing Cleveland the title Safest Large City in America" two years in a row. Ness found himself trapped in a shrinking agency soon to be obsolete. See production, box office & company info. In Cleveland, Ness started his cleanup with characteristic verve. He was previously married to Betty Anderson Seaver, Evaline McAndrew and Edna Staley. As chief of the Federal alcohol-tax unit for northern Ohio, Ness had closed an average of one still a day. The Plain Dealer, September 21, 1934, featured a long story about Ness written by Charles Lawrence. Revising the traffic control system, he cut auto accident deaths in half. Ness and his team of Cleveland Untouchables," funded by an anonymous group of businessmen known as the "Secret 6," cracked down on labor-union protection rackets, illegal liquor suppliers, and gambling. She married Eliot Paul Ness on 9 August 1929, in Cook, Illinois, United States. He played Eliot Ness on the TV series The Untouchables for many years. He also had an adopted son Robert (1946-1976). During his tenure, Ness nearly eliminated corruption and major crimes on our streets, brought the fire department up to modern standards and instituted the latest traffic technologies to turn our city around. Although there were no victims in the accident, Ness, fearful that he might lose his job, tried to get the accident covered up. On Ness first day, the Plain Dealer headlined Facts First, Then Talk, Says Ness. The article reported that Ness considers his first duty to be one of fact finding and that he intended to be as conservative as possible until (he) is fully informed of certain trends and conditions in the police and fire departments especially the police. The paper also predicted that when Mayor Burton hired Ness there would be a tremendous explosion with after-effects to last for years.5. Although there were no victims in the accident, Ness, fearful that he might lose his job, tried to cover up the accident. She lived in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States in 1930. Eliot Ness, (born April 19, 1903, Chicagodied May 7, 1957), American crime fighter, head of a nine-man team of law officers called the "Untouchables," who opposed Al Capone's underworld network in Chicago. With regard to traffic, 13 yellow accident prevention cars lent by the Studebaker Corp., since the city could not afford to buy its own are constant reminders that the long-heralded reform is at hand.9, In 1940, Ness lost an important ally when Mayor Burton was elected to the U.S. Senate. The Untouchables is the gripping true story of the team of men who. He insisted on character investigations and finger printing for all prospective police. Tours are also available by appointment; use our contact form for your request. Ironically, the Prohibition Agent who enforced the laws against alcohol, died an alcoholic. Alvin Silverman of the Plain Dealer said that even though Eliot wouldnt sit in a restaurant without his back to a wall, he was as devoid of fear as anyone who ever lived., In another Plain Dealer report, Clarence Douglas wrote that changes in the police department since Eliot Ness became Safety Director both in personnel and methods have been the most drastic in the departments history. Zone cars that were equipped with two-way radios took the place of the beat patrolman. Ness was married 3 times. Edna Staley 1907-1988 (Age 81)Illinois, United States The Life Summary of Edna Edna Staley was born in 1907, in Illinois, United States. FRANK LAUSCHE, Mayor of Cleveland at the time, kept Ness on.. Eliot Ness (April 19, 1903 - May 16, 1957) was a U.S. special agent in charge of enforcing prohibition in Chicago, IL. In a news release, Burke said: "Eliot Ness had a checkered career after leaving the federal government. Ness was married to Edna Staley (1900-1988) from 1929 to 1938, illustrator Evaline Ness (1911-1986) from 1939 to 1945, and artist Elisabeth Andersen Seaver (1906-1977) from 1946 until his death in 1957. In a note Mr. Stack sent in response to being invited to attend the recognition of Ness 100thbirthday in April 2002, he wrote While I met Mrs. Ness (Elisabeth) and the boy (their adopted son Robert) on This I Your Life Ive never involved myself in events dealing with the gentleman I portrayed on TV. "Eliot Ness: The Agent who Brought Down Al Capone." Eliot Ness (April 19, 1903 - May 16, 1957) was a U.S. special agent in charge of enforcing prohibition in Chicago, IL. In 1930s Chicago, the seemingly invincible crime boss Al Capone is opposed by a team of incorruptible U.S. Treasury Agents, led by the indefatigable Eliot Ness. Phone: 216.623.5055. A well liked and a very popular socialite around Cleveland, Evaline had a career as a fashion artist. Right now, I want to prove what an honest police force with intelligence and civic pride can do.6. This would be the first of two divorces for Ness. Ness attended Christian Fenger High School in Chicago. (11), In this same year of 1955, when traveling to New York City, Ness became acquainted with Oscar Fraley, a sportswriter who took an interest in the stories of Ness days in Chicago. He also obtained a Masters in criminology from the University of Chicago. As a US Treasury agent he was charged with the task of bringing notorious Chicago crime boss. Here he met many of the artistic personalities of Cleveland, including artist and designer Viktor Schreckengost. [20], Ness was survived by his widow, Elisabeth Andersen Seaver, and adopted son, Robert. This led to him receiving an unusually large amount of attention and affection from his parents growing up. Submitted by Rebecca McFarland, Museum Trustee, January 2012. While she and Eliot were married, and as he settled into the job of Safety Director, they moved into a cottage on Lake Erie in Bay Village, a suburb west of Cleveland. The Western Reserve Historical Society houses his papers, including a scrapbook (19281936), copies of newspaper clippings (19351950), the typewritten manuscript Ness provided Frawley that formed the basis for the book, The Untouchables, and miscellaneous papers. In his previous job as chief of the Federal alcohol-tax unit for Northern Ohio, Ness closed an average of one still a day. Vollmer's ideas about professionalizing law enforcement would influence Ness throughout his career. Peter grew up in very poor conditions, losing both his parents at the age of 14. Ness was married three times. For years, Eliot Ness was actually reluctant to sell his life story to the media because he didn't want to appear as though he was a glory hound. He filled the vacancies with men of his own choosing more than half of them college graduates.6. Back in 1929, he'd married Edna Stahle, a petite brunette three years his junior. When Ness took on the mob and sent two high-ranking mob figures to the pen, the papers said that Director Ness lifted fear from the hearts of honest men Cleveland is a better, cleaner, more wholesome place a safer place in which to do business.8. There he helped to clean up the city's notoriously corrupt police department, improved traffic safety and led the hunt for the first confirmed serial killer in American history. 216.368.2000 Frankie Rio died of a heart attack at the age of 39 , he wasn't shot to death as was stated . Eliot Ness was born in the year 1902 to a Norwegian immigrant couple, Peter (1850-1931) and Emma (King) Ness (1863-1937). Eliot Ness is remembered for the impact he had on Cleveland. Both Elisabeth and Roberts ashes, as well as those of Eliot Ness, were kept by Roberts widow until 1998 when they were united in a formal funeral ceremony. His Cleveland accomplishments far exceeded his TV, book, and movie-hyped Chicago exploits., Born in Chicago to Peter and Emma (King) Ness, immigrants from Norway, he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Chicago before joining the Prohibition Bureau of the Justice Department in Chicago in 1929. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Edna was born in 1900. S > Stahle | S > Staley > Edna M (Stahle) Staley, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. His Cleveland accomplishments far exceeded his TV, book, and movie-hyped Chicago exploits. When influential reformers had pressed Mayor Harold Burton into appointing the mild-mannered federal agent, Burton at first demurred. . Douglas Perry writes: His special squad would be limited to one goal only: squeezing Al Capone's income stream. I said, When you take the gun out, be ready to use it, because its your life or their life., In addition to Kevin Costner, Robert Stack was another actor who portrayed Ness during his Chicago days. He'd battled the Outfit to the brink of bankruptcy, but he couldn't finish the job alone. Not long after, Eliot and his first wife, Edna Staley, moved to the Hampton House overlooking EDGEWATER PARK., In 1935, Mayor HAROLD H. BURTON (later Supreme Court Justice Burton) recruited Ness to clean up the scandal-ridden Cleveland police department. Ness moved to Cleveland with his then third wife Elisabeth Seaver where he worked in a federal agency which sought to decrease the amount of sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S. military. She was proud that Ness was devoted to his job as Safety Director for the City of Cleveland. [10] Ness interrogated one of the prime suspects of the murders, Dr. Francis E. Sweeney, using a polygraph test. Guaranty Paper began to fall apart when it became clear that one of Ness's business partners had misrepresented the nature of their supposedly proprietary watermarking process, leaving Ness in serious financial jeopardy. https://www.babyfacenelsonjournal.com/family.html, https://www.geni.com/people/Edna-Ness/6000000038579878340, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q21K-8YQ9, "Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920," database, FamilySearch (. We recommend you to check . The job would last seven years. Though Ness and his team compiled evidence of over 5,000 counts of bootlegging by Al Capone, the U.S. District Attorney George E. Q. Johnson argued that a jury would not convict on these charges because prohibition was so unpopular. Alexander Jamie eventually became head of Chicagos Department of the F.B.I. He later claimed that this helped shape his strong view on law and order, and his decision to enforce the law as a profession. Ness' ashes were scattered in one of the small ponds on the grounds of Lake View . Peter and Emma married in Chicago April 2, 1886. His otherwise successful career in Cleveland withered gradually. At one point in time, two bodies of the victims of the serial killer were placed within view of his office window. Eliot Ness was born April 19, 1903 in Chicago, Illinois. He has ousted incompetents and political hangers-on from the police, fire and building departments and taught the boys that its dynamite to mess with Ness-men. said an article in American Magazine. Frazier, Brionne. His widow, Elisabeth, could only afford to have Eliot cremated and brought back to Cleveland. Cleveland had one of the worst U.S. traffic-fatality records of all the large cities in America in the early 1930s. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. Biography in: "American National Biography". The youngest of five children born to Norwegian immigrants. He was a writer, known for The Untouchables (1987), The Untouchables (1959) and The Untouchables (1993). The first four years of Ness career in Cleveland were referred to as the Burton Ness Regime. It seemed that with the partnership of Eliot Ness and Mayor Burton, nothing was impossible to achieve. Eliot Ness. Six vacant police precinct stations were converted into self-governing recreation centers supervised by the city's Recreation Division. He knew the law well and kept himself in good physical shape. 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1957th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 957th year of the 2nd millennium, the 57th year of the 20th century, and the 8th year of the 1950s decade. SA Eliot Ness, a Legacy ATF Agent.Brady Law | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 22 Sept. 2016, www.atf.gov/our-history/eliot-ness. His ashes were kept by his son, Robert who was only ten years old when Eliot died. [22] Although the historical veracity of this book has been questioned, later research suggests that it is broadly accurate. Peter Ness grew up in very poor conditions, losing both his parents at the age of 14. It can easily be said that Eliot Ness integrity was sincere and his sense of justice was inflexible. The resulting bad publicity forced him to resign his position. Elizabeth and Ness also had an adopted son, Robert Warner. www.officer.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. His parents came from an area near Stavanger, Norway. He also implemented programs to keep younger children out of gangs by building recreation centers and providing vocational training. [1]:547548, Coudersport, Pennsylvania, the town where Ness spent his final months and died, has held an annual "Eliot Ness Festival" every third weekend in July since 2018. The cost of making the film was picked up by the CLEVELAND RAILWAY CO.. Best known for sending mobster Al Capone to Alcatraz as an income tax evader, Ness lived and worked in Cleveland for 19 years. Although Ness's book was largely based upon actual events in Ness's life, the TV series and the movie were not. Though much of Nesss notoriety is due to his career in Chicago, he continued on to work in the Cincinnati Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). In 1944, he left to become chairman of the Diebold Corporation, a security company based in Ohio. On May 16, 1957 at 5:15 p.m. Eliot Ness died in his home in Coudersport from a heart attack. Ness wrote a 21 page outline which he gave to Fraley to use as the basis for the book. In the fall of 1939, Ness had fallen in love and was ready to marry again. Read 51 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Ness was married to Edna Staley (1900-1988) from 1929 to 1938, illustrator Evaline Ness (1911-1986) from 1939 to 1945, and artist Elisabeth Andersen Seaver (1906-1977) from 1946 until his death in 1957. In his first year as Safety Director, Ness didnt take any time at all to become fully immersed in the job: With an innocent smile, this scientific sleuth recently rounded up 100 witnesses, convicted two police captains of taking bribes and indicted seven other guardians of the law. In an interview, Schreckengost said that he enjoyed the Ness parties, but invariably Eliot would receive a phone call pulling him away from the party and back to the line of duty as Safety Director. One still a day important PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE a RESPONSIBILITY to use CAUTION when PRIVATE. 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