In 1949 they adopted a three year-old boy, Robert Warren Ness (July 10, 1946 - August 31, 1976) ... though his gravesite in Lakeview Cemetery reads Robert Eliot Ness. Not much is known about Bobby Ness, except what can be inferred from what we know about Ness. After failing to win the election, his drinking became a serious problem. The family lived in a rented house in Cleveland, Eliot spent too much money on a new car, too much time in hotel bars, and here he began inflating his responsibility in bringing down Al Capone to anyone who would listen.
In the early 1950s Eliot became a shareholder in Guaranty Paper Corporation - without going too much into the details, he was chosen through connections with persons who were trying to make a business out of a new watermarking process to make checks and other legal documents harder to counterfeit. They tagged Ness because of his connections in law enforcement. It was a good, regular job and supported his family.
In 1956 the operations of Guaranty were moved from Cleveland to Coudersport, PA, as a money-saving decision. The Ness' settled into a stable, middle-class existence. Bobby made friends with a boy across the street who had Down Syndrome. Coming home from work Eliot could be relied upon to play ball with the kids in the yard, and be a real sport.
Betty was less than happy to be a sculptor in rural Pennsylvania. They drank, they fought, the boy had to listen to it all.
There is a small cottage industry in Cleveland surrounding the so-called Torso Murderer. The Wikipedia entry for this unsolved murder case posits from time to time (depending on how recently it has been edited) that failure to solve this case destroyed Eliot Ness. He is referred to as "The 14th Victim" or some such nonsense.
The hit-and-run drunk driving accident Ness was involved in 1942 lost him his job as Safety Director. His ill-thought out run for Mayor in 1947 sealed his loss of reputation. He was a good cop, and a lousy businessman. He drank too much. These things happen. It's not as sexy as the myth. But myths are pat and dry and often teach us nothing. Easy, neat solutions make the world seem easy and neat. Learning how to deal with the messiness of real life is hard and unrewarding. Except for that is how we learn to deal with the messiness of real life.
Ness had a heart attack in his kitchen on May 16, 1957. He died at home, which is a fine place to die. He was 54 years old.
Sources:
Eliot Ness:The Real Story (Paul Heimel)
Squidoo
this is the first i knew that eliot ness died of a heart attack. or did he? what is the truth?
ReplyDeleteHe did indeed die of a heart attack on May 16,1957.
DeleteHe is the American government operative & secret agent from Chicago Illinois United States member of the anti- smuggling unit together with his band of crimefighters against Al Capone & his minions & brought to justice & became the hero of the United States & retired from the line of duty & became the commercial business firm in Cleveland Ohio & died in 1957 in Pennsylvania United States & became hero of the United States & in popular culture in TV films comics animation and media throughout the world.
DeleteThe truth is he died of a heart attack.
ReplyDeleteKevin Costner as Agent Elliott Ness in The Untouchables 1987 action adventure espionage detective police procedural melodrama film.
Deletehow did he son die? he was so young.
ReplyDeleteHe died of leukemia.
DeleteA good question, and one I do not have the answer to.
ReplyDeleteYes! It's true Elliott Ness died of cardiac arrest/heart attack in 1957 Pennsylvania United States.
DeleteLeukemia.
ReplyDeleteIntriguing "real" story, though sad.
ReplyDeleteBased from the novel by Oscar Fraley inspired from a true story of Agent Elliott Ness from Chicago Illinois United States member of the anti-smuggling unit together with his band of crimefighters against Al Capone and his minions to justice & became the hero of the United States until he retired from the line of duty becomes a commercial business firm in Cleveland Ohio and died in 1957 in Pennsylvania United States potrayed by Robert Stack as Agent Elliott Ness leader of the Untouchables & became the popular classic television series aired from 1959-63 & A true cult favorite by public domain in the United States & the world.
DeleteI thought that he shoot himself in head.
ReplyDeleteAgent Melvin Purvis died in 1960 of gunshot wound and commited suicide former American government operative & secret agent long time ally of Agent Elliott Ness from Chicago Illinois United States.
Delete