Washington Times, 17 December 1929, page 3: Gentleman chief of bank gang linked with 7 killings

Page 3 of the Washington Times, 17 December 1929, under the banner “GENTLEMAN CHIEF OF BANK GANG LINKED WITH 7 KILLINGS” and the column head “SLAYER OF MORAN GANG.” The story is datelined “CHICAGO, Dec. 17 (I.N.S.)” and opens: “Claimed by police to be the leader of the gang of killers who massacred seven “Bugs” Moran gangsters here last Valentine’s day, Fred R. Burke today was the object of a man-hunt.”

It says Burke was wanted for the killing of a St. Joseph, Michigan, policeman “last Saturday night,” and quotes police: “We are certain that the machine guns found in Burke’s bungalow at St. Joseph were the same that mowed down Moran’s gangsters.” It adds that “Definite tests of bullets fired from the captured guns are to be made by Col. Calvin Goddard, ballistics expert, now on his way here from New York,” and that Burke’s identity became known when police questioned the woman with whom he had lived.

The page reports police claims made before the ballistic tests. The test results were reported six days later; see the Evening Star and Indianapolis Times pages of 23 December 1929. This archive does not name the woman questioned.