Early on New Year’s Day, 1921, Insull estate night watchman Samuel Van Derney surprised three youths who were attempting to break into the estate. They shot Van Derney in the chest and then put him in their car, which they drove to Chicago. They abandoned their vehicle and Mr. Van Derney when the car wrecked at North Kedzie and Fullerton avenues. Mr. Van Derney was found by a pedestrian and taken to St. Elizabeth’s hospital. Mr. Insull hired Pinkerton detectives to find the robbers, although nothing was taken from the house or the grounds. |