for mayor of Cleveland in 1947, it is surmised that had he run earlier in life, he would have had a good chance of winning, however this late in life he was beaten in a landslide. Soon after his defeat he, his third wife and adopted son moved to the sleepy town of Coudersport, Pennsylvania. He was having financial problems at the time but hoped the publication of The Untouchables would solve that once and for all. However just before its publication he passed away of a heart attack at the age of 54. Ness left several contributions in his passing. Among them, the use of the polygraph in police work, and the first successful two way radio networking of police in a city. He also left an undeniable mark upon the city of Cleveland, virtually ridding it of corruption on all levels. The downfall of Capone was the most obvious of his great achievements. Yet Ness left behind one contribution which few men have managed to leave. A legend. Ness aspired to become a hero in the true sense of the word. Throughout history true tales of heroes are few and far between. He became an idol not only for the people of Chicago, Cleveland and Ohio but for the entire nation. His name to this day stimulates a fascination with the mob, corruption and the men who stood against it. He was also the man who hunted down one of the first documented serial killers in history. Ness left behind a living legend of integrity, honesty, and indomitable spirit. Even though he no longer lives his legacy will carry his memory on in the form of stories, movies, novels and the like. Perhaps Ness is the exemption to the phrase, "Heroes don't die, they merely fade away." For Eliot Ness is one hero, who never faded away....
