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Belgians in the Civil War

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BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

Michael SCHAACK : The Captain of the Fifth precinct is one of the ablest and most modest men on the Chicago police force. For a long time "his light was hid under a bushel," through the force of circumstances; but the monstrous crime of Mulkowski, sentenced to death for the killing of Mrs. Alice Kledzick, revealed a detective skill in Captain Schaack, which, in that particular line of service, challenges comparison anywhere. The evidence submitted to the Criminal Court, than which no circumstantial testimony was more conclusive, was introduced by Captain Schaack. The proceedings disclosed that the Captain was a magnificent reader of human nature, and the press and the public were not slow in recognizing the fact.

Captain Schaack was born in Luxembourg, Belgium, in April: 1844. He was very young when he came to America. In 1866 he was employed by a detective agency. In 1869 he went on the Chicago policy force and traveled beat for one year. An experience for six years as a detective led to his promotion as a police sergeant. In 1879 he was appointed lieutenant, and on August 17, 1885, he was created a captain. He made many arrests is connection with the Haymarket affair.

Source : Ahern, M. L. : The political history of Chicago; Chicago: Donohue & Henneberry, printers and binders, 1886, 396 pgs.