Benjamin Charles Bachrach

Notes for BENJAMIN CHARLES BACHRACH:
Became his father's confidant early in life. Charles apparently discerned in him a brightness and sympathy especially endearing. He received a better and a much longer education than the other siblings. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. degree. He attended Columbia University law school in NYC. Reverse in the family fortune soon necessitated his return to Chicago to live at home and go to night classes at Kent College of Law. In 1896, Ben was admitted to the Illinois Bar; in 1898, at the age of twenty-eight, to practice before the US Supreme Court. He gained distinction, if not notoriety, by successfully defending Jack Johnson, the first black champion prize-fighter in America, against a morals charge that resulted in Mann Act being declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the US. The Loeb-Leopold case in 1924 brought Ben wide recognition. Ben along with his brother Walter, also a member of the Bar, for the first time in history introduced into American jurisprudence the procedure of considering scientific psychological evidence, such as the existence of the rare type insanity, as the basis of a plea for less than a death sentence.. .Ben engaged Clarence Darrow to present the final defense plea for life imprisonment. In 1930, Ben became the first Public Defender of Cook County, Ill.
Census 1900: VOL. 68; SHEET 4; ED 1030; LINE 8 Chicago Tribune (IL) - January 01, 1951
BENJ. BACHRACH, NOTED LAWYER, SUCCUMBS AT 76
Served 15 Years as 1st Public Defender
Deceased Name: Benjamin C. Bachrach
Benjamin C. Bachrach, 76, first Cook county public defender and a prominent criminal lawyer for many years, died yesterday after several years of ill health. Born in Elgin, Ill., he was graduated from Notre Dame university and attended Cornell university, Columbia law school in New York City, and the Kent College of Law. He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1896. In a long career as a criminal lawyer, he assisted Clarence Darrow in defending Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold in the famous murder trial; defended Jack Johnson, former heavyweight boxing champion, whose conviction on Mann act charges was reversed in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, and assisted in the defense of Ald. Thomas J. O'Malley, charged with murder, who was acquitted. He also took part in many other famous Chicago cases.
Public Defender 15 Years
When the post of public defender was created in 1930, Mr. Bachrach gave up his lucrative law practice to fill it. In 15 years in that office he represented thousands of defendants who otherwise would have been without experienced counsel, and became known as the "poor man's friend." During the 1930s he also was one of a group of judges, lawyers, and prosecuting officials who helped to draw up the original Illinois parole reform bill. Mr. Bachrach resigned as public defender in 1945 because of ill health, and had been hospitalized for several years. He formerly lived at 5307 Hyde Park blvd.
Club Affiliations
He was a member of the Idlewild Country club, the Standard club, and the Chicago Bar association. Mr. Bachrach's wife, Martha, died several years ago. He leaves two daughters, Mrs. Leona Chalkley and Mrs. Edwin DeCosta, both of Chicago; six grandchildren, and four brothers, Walter, Robert, and Arthur, all members of the law firm of Moses, Bachrach, and Kennedy; and William, former swimming coach of the Illinois Athletic club.
PHOTO CAPTION: Bachrach Chicago Tribune (IL) Date: January 01, 1951 Edition: Chicago Tribune Record Number: 19510101ob010 Copyright 1951, Chicago Tribune.
For permission to reprint, contact Chicago Tribune.
More About BENJAMIN CHARLES BACHRACH:
Medical Information: Red Hair
Occupation 1: 1930, Lawyer
Occupation 2: 1900, Lawyer
Residence 1: 1900, 4916 Champlain Ave. Chicago
Residence 2: 1920, Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago, Ill.
Residence 3: 1930, 6454 South Shore Drive, Chicago, Il.
Notes for MARTHA BLANCHE HARTMAN: 1948-04-26 Chicago Tribune (IL) BACHRACH Edition: Chicago Tribune
Martha H. Bachrach, beloved wife of Benjamin C., fond mother of Leona B. Chaikley, and Mari B. De Costa, sister of Leona Lawton, and Adolph Hartman.
Services Monday, 2:30 p.m., at Oak Woods cemetery chapel.
Copyright 1948, Chicago Tribune.
For permission to reprint, contact Chicago Tribune. Record Number: 19480426dn045
More About BENJAMIN BACHRACH and MARTHA HARTMAN:
Marriage: 05 Jun 1898, Chicago, Illinois