Len Small
Encyclopedia
Lennington Small was the 26th Governor of Illinois
, serving from 1921 to 1929. He also served as a member of the Illinois state senate
from the 16th District from 1901 to 1903 and was Illinois state treasurer, 1905–07 and 1917-19.
Small was born in Kankakee County, Illinois
.
Lennington Small was indicted, while governor, for embezzling $600,000 and running a money-laundering scheme when he was state treasurer. He was acquitted, but four jurors later got state jobs, raising suspicions of jury tampering.
As governor he pardoned 20 members of the Communist Labor Party
convicted under the Illinois Sedition act. He also pardoned or paroled over 1000 convicted felons, including Harry Guzik of Posen, who was convicted of kidnapping young girls and forcing them into lives of prostitution (a practice commonly called white slavery
).
In 1923 bootlegger Edward "Spike" O'Donnell of the Southside Chicago O'Donnells was released from prison by Small. O'Donnell returned to Chicago as the leader of one of the most powerful bootlegging gangs in the city.
He died May 17, 1936. He is buried at Mound Grove Cemetery, Kankakee.
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
, serving from 1921 to 1929. He also served as a member of the Illinois state senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
from the 16th District from 1901 to 1903 and was Illinois state treasurer, 1905–07 and 1917-19.
Small was born in Kankakee County, Illinois
Kankakee County, Illinois
Kankakee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 113,449, which is an increase of 9.3% from 103,833 in 2000. Its county seat is Kankakee....
.
Lennington Small was indicted, while governor, for embezzling $600,000 and running a money-laundering scheme when he was state treasurer. He was acquitted, but four jurors later got state jobs, raising suspicions of jury tampering.
As governor he pardoned 20 members of the Communist Labor Party
Communist Labor Party
The Communist Labor Party of America was one of the organizational predecessors of the Communist Party USA. The group was established at the end of August 1919 following a three-way split of the Socialist Party of America...
convicted under the Illinois Sedition act. He also pardoned or paroled over 1000 convicted felons, including Harry Guzik of Posen, who was convicted of kidnapping young girls and forcing them into lives of prostitution (a practice commonly called white slavery
Sexual slavery
Sexual slavery is when unwilling people are coerced into slavery for sexual exploitation. The incidence of sexual slavery by country has been studied and tabulated by UNESCO, with the cooperation of various international agencies...
).
In 1923 bootlegger Edward "Spike" O'Donnell of the Southside Chicago O'Donnells was released from prison by Small. O'Donnell returned to Chicago as the leader of one of the most powerful bootlegging gangs in the city.
He died May 17, 1936. He is buried at Mound Grove Cemetery, Kankakee.