The Heist

On the night of November 9th, 1929, at the party celebrating the Fighting Illini's victory at the Illinois-Army Game, the party at the Harris Mansion was interrupted around 11:00 PM with the arrival of the assailants. The gunmen were able to enter the Harris Mansion by bluffing to the doorman. They showed their guns, but successfully played it off as a joke, and were therefore easily able to make their way into the mansion and begin stealing the homeowners and guests' valuables. The culprits stole over worth of $30,000 in cash, furs, and jewelry from the guests and home, which would equal nearly $500,000 today.