Paul D. Maclean Dies at Chicago – Sweetheart and Brother Testify at Inquest

Paul D. Maclean Dies at Chicago – Sweetheart and Brother Testify at Inquest

Paul D. Maclean Beaten Fatally By Holdup Men

Former Newspaperman, Educated Here, Body To Missoula

Chicago, May 2. – (AP) – Police searched tonight for assailants of Paul D. Maclean, 32, University of Chicago publicity writer, who died in Woodlawn hospital after being slugged apparently by robbers.

When found lying in an alley several blocks from his hotel rooms shortly before 7 a. m., Maclean had only about $4 in his clothing.

His empty billfold lay nearby. His pockets were turned inside out.

University authorities said he cashed a two weeks salary check Saturday and was believed to have had that money with him last night when he left his lodgings, apparently to attend a movie.

Fought Assailants.

Maclean’s skull was fractured by a severe blow and police said he was bruised as though he had fought assailants.

He did not regain consciousness.

An inquest was scheduled for tomorrow.

His brother, Norman, an English instructor at the University, planned to leave tomorrow night with the body for Missoula, Mont., where their parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Norman Maclean, live.

The father is a retired minister.

Maclean, a former football player and Dartmouth college graduate, was a political writer for the Helena (Mont.) Independent before joining the university staff here in March, 1937.

He was unmarried.

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Active Career.

Helena, May 2. – (AP) – Paul Maclean, who died in Chicago today after being slugged apparently by robbers, was born in Clarinda, Iowa, November 2, 1906. He moved to Missoula with his parents, the Rev. and Mrs. John Norman Maclean, when he was three years old.

He was graduated from Missoula high school and attended the University of Montana at Missoula for one year before going to Hanover, New Hampshire, where he graduated from Dartmouth college in 1928.

At Dartmouth, Maclean was a member of the football squad, and of Beta Theta Pi and the Sphinx club social fraternities.

After graduating from Dartmouth he was associate instructor in English for one year at the school. He then returned to Montana and was employed by the Montana Record-Herald here.

Later Maclean was employed on the Great Falls Leader and the Great Falls Tribune and in December, 1932, he joined the Independent editorial staff.

In March, 1937, he became a member of the public relations and sports writing department of the University of Chicago. He continued his studies and was to have received his master’s degree next month.

 

Parents Get Word.

Dr. and Mrs. J. N. Maclean, residing at 217 Blaine street, Missoula in recent years, since Dr. Maclean retired from active charge of Presbyterian church congregations in this state, were informed Monday of the fatal slugging of their youngster son, Paul, by a robber in Chicago.

Paul was born in Iowa and came to Missoula with his parents in 1909, when Dr. Maclean came to Missoula to serve the Presbyterian congregation here. He graduated from the Missoula county high school and the grade schools here, being a popular student, a member of the football and basketball squads and active in other activities. He was mentioned for all-state honors as a football half-back with Missoula high in 1922.

The above articles appeared in The Daily Missoulian on May 3, 1938.

 

Inquest Held In Slaying of Paul Maclean

Body of Former Missoula Youth to Be Buried Here.

The body of Paul D. Maclean, former Missoula high school athlete and Chicago University publicity writer who was fatally slugged Monday will be sent from Chicago today for services and burial here. It will be accompanied by Norman Maclean, his brother, a faculty member at the Midwest institution.

Mr. Maclean, son of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Maclean of Missoula, died yesterday at Woodlawn hospital after he was found unconscious in an alley four blocks from his residence. The manner of his slaying remains a mystery to Windy city police.

After hearing testimony at a coroner’s inquest Tuesday morning, a jury returned a verdict holding the University of Chicago publicity writer met his death “early Monday morning at the hands of persons unknown,” Norman Maclean, instructor at the university and brother of the slain man, said.

Mr. Maclean, employed by Chicago university for the past 13 months, was found unconscious Monday morning in the alley behind the home of Edward Miller, 6234 Rhodes avenue. He was suffering from a severe basal skull fracture and numerous bruises, local police reported.

Mr. Miller said he heard sounds of a scuffle and curses in the alley behind his home about 5 o’clock in the morning. He looked for the cause of the disturbance from his back porch, but darkness hid the tragic struggle. An hour later he found Maclean lying by his back fence, apparently in great pain.

Taken to Woodlawn hospital, Maclean died a few hours later without regaining consciousness. His billfold, empty beside his body when he was found, led police to believe robbery was the motive for the slaying.

Evidence at the inquest, the slain man’s brother said, however, gave strength to a theory he was “muscled” into a car by hoodlums, slugged and robbed and thrown from the machine behind Miller’s home.

The university instructor said his brother had approximately $50 when attacked.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on May 4, 1938.

 

Rites Friday at Church Here for Paul D. Maclean

Body of Former Missoula Athlete to Arrive in City Today

Services for Paul D. Maclean, former Missoula high school athlete, and Chicago university publicity writer who was fatally slugged at Chicago Monday night, will be at the Presbyterian church Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. His father, Dr. N. J. (sic) Maclean, was for many years pastor of the church.

Funeral rites will be in charge of Dr. David E. Jackson, local pastor, assisted by Rev. Everett Top, Anaconda.

Pallbearers will be Ralph Stowe, Benny Stowe, Fred Hensolt, Thomas Wickes, all of Missoula; William Campbell and Louis Babb, Helena.

The body will arrive here this afternoon, accompanied by Norman Maclean, brother of the dead man, who is a faculty member of the university where Paul was employed.

The former Missoula man was found slugged and beaten in a Chicago alley early Monday.

The Marsh & Powell mortuary has charge of arrangements.

 

Inquest Continued.

Chicago, May 3. – (AP) – The sweetheart and brother of Paul D. Maclean testified last night at an inquest into the slaying of the University of Chicago publicity writer, but neither was able to furnish a tangible clue.

An autopsy report disclosed death had been caused by three heavy blows on the head.

Maclean’s sweetheart, Miss Lois Nash, 29, told police she had known him for about two months and that they were planning to be married, although they were not formally engaged.

Norman Maclean, the victim’s brother, was a witness at the inquest, which was continued to May 24, to permit further investigation.

The above notices appeared in The Daily Missoulian on May 5, 1938.

 

Funeral Rites Held For Paul Maclean

Last rites for Paul Maclean, 32, former Missoula high school full-back and Chicago University publicity writer who was fatally slugged at Chicago last Monday, were at the Presbyterian church Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Hundreds of persons attended to pay final respects to the young writer.

The body arrived here Thursday accompanied by a brother, Norman Maclean, faculty member of the University of Chicago.

Rev. David E. Jackson, pastor of the church, officiated, assisted by Rev. Evert Top, Anaconda. Pallbearers were Benny Stowe, Ralph (Buck) Stowe, Louis Babb and William Campbell, Fred Hensolt and Thomas Wickes. Mr. Babb and Mr. Campbell were associates of Paul when he was employed as a political writer on the Helena Independent. The others were boyhood friends here.

Burial was in Missoula cemetery.

Survivors are his parents, Dr. and Mrs. J. N. Maclean, and his brother.

The above notice appeared in The Daily Missoulian on May 7, 1938.

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