At the time of this writing this person doesn't have a Charley Project Page or a WebSleuth Thread. There is literally NOTHING on this man. Which is very surprising since he was a State Representative at the time he was abducted. I came across his case while researching another. Everyone has heard of Jimmy Hoffa. But no one has heard of Clem Graver. Until Now.
Shurlock
CELINUS "CLEM" GRAVER
DATE OF BIRTH: 7/4/1900
DATE OF DISAPPEARANCE: 6/11/1953 AT HIS GARAGE AT 1013 W. 18TH PLACE
AGE: 53
OCCUPATION: STATE REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR OF THE 21ST WARD (15TH DISTRICT) IN CHICAGO & REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE BROKER. HE WAS FORMERLY A COURT BAILIFF. HE WAS SERVING HIS SECOND TERM IN THE LEGISLATURE.
POLITICAL PARTY: REPUBLICAN
WIFE: AMELIA GRAVER
SON: NORMAN GRAVER
RESIDENCE: 976 W. 18TH PLACE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
BROTHER: NATHAN GRAVER
BROTHER IN LAW: HARRY HOCHSTEIN
This is interesting.....
Looks like nothing came of it
DETAILS OF DISAPPEARANCE
On the evening of 11th of June in 1953 at around 9:30 pm Clem Graver was returning from a political function (meeting) at Republican Headquarters located at 809 W. 18th in Chicago, Illinois. He drove up to his garage at 1013 E 18th St in his Chrysler Sedan. (Half a block from his home) As he drove by he waived at his wife who was on the porch of their home located at 976 W. 18 Place in Chicago. He exited his car to open his garage doors. He then proceeded to get back in his car to pull his car inside the garage. After parking his car he attempted to close his garage doors. Before he could complete the task another car approached. The car was described as a Dark Colored Ford Sedan. Apparently the car had been tailing the Graver car home. 2 men got out of the Ford Sedan and pushed their way inside the garage. The garage doors were then closed from the inside. A moment later 3 men emerged. One was Graver with the 2 guys who had pushed their way inside his garage moments earlier. Graver's arms were placed behind his back and he was struggling with his apparent abductors. The Ford Sedan had a driver in it because the vehicle positioned itself closer to the garage in order to assist in the abduction. The driver wore a baseball cap. Graver was placed inside the car along with the abductors and it was driven away with it lights turned off. Graver previously had been in Springfield, Ill the prior day. He had left home around 6 pm that to attend the organizational meeting. At the time of the abduction Mrs. Graver was on her porch along with a friend Richard Pikelis (Profession: Ticket Seller at a Horse Track) who also witnessed the abduction. Mrs. Graver yelled "Look at what they're doing to my husband!" Pikelis also yelled "Hey, Cut that out!" to no avail.
- Graver's bloc was described as "Hoodlum Dominated".
- Men who guarded Clem Graver with guns were suspiciously absent the night of the abduction. (YEP!)
- Graver's Brother in Law Harry Hochstein also suspiciously vanished right after Graver's abduction. Only to reappear soon thereafter. And wouldn't answer direct questions from the police.
- Hochstein stated at the time of the abduction that he was in the "Truck Rental Business".
- Graver's estimated salary was around $5,000 a year. But his actual take home amount was in question. He lived modestly but his bankroll seemed inexhaustible.
- On 2-6-52 Charles Gross, A Republican Committeeman from the 31st Ward was gunned down and killed.
- Graver's brother in law Harry Hochstein was one shady dude! He was actually involved in a kidnapping himself at one point.
- Hochstein was a known friend and cohort of none other than Al Capone. Granted, This was years after Capone had any relevance in Chicago. Capone died in 1947.
Chicago Tribune-5/8/54
One Year Later- Corpus Christi Caller-Times 5-11-54
Police Re-Open Investigation (Terre Haute Tribune)
One Year Later- Corpus Christi Caller-Times 5-11-54
Chicago Tribune-5/16/54
Police Re-Open Investigation (Terre Haute Tribune)
Chicago Tribune 6-8-78
Chicago Tribune 11/22/1981
HARRY HOCHSTEIN
Clem Gravers Brother In Law
Clem Gravers Brother In Law
Chicago Tribune 9/11/28
Chicago Tribune 6/28/28
Chicago Tribune-May 12th 1954
CHICAGO TRIBUNE 2/27/60
This gives you an idea of the type of atmosphere the area had back then.....
Leads that fell through
Above: Joseph B Duffin
Additional Photos
Graver-Second on the right
Amelia Graver
Crowd gathered at Abduction Site
Additional Articles (Misc)
Norman Graver: Superintendent Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Tribune 5/8/65
MY THOUGHTS
To be honest didn't get into this case too much like I did with Leppert and Hartley. It's pretty apparent that his abduction was due to corruption of some kind. The guy was in bed with some pretty bad dudes. He was probably dead soon after the abduction. The kidnappers prob didn't want the drama of doing it in public. And Harry Hochstein, Graver's brother in law knew what happened. That I'm certain of. One good thing about this is that Clem's son Norman had a good career with the Chicago Transit Authority. And was not a corrupt official as his dad was. On a side note at the bottom of the page is a number one for no reason at all. I wasn't able to delete it. Just another one of the Blogger glitches that drive me insane.
