Bremer Investigation Summary Part 01 (Final)

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JOHN EDGAR HOOVER 
DIRECTOR 
Neberal Surgau of investigation 
Uniteb Otero Department of Nuotire 
inuolingtrot, D. dt. 
I.G..#7 -576 	November 19, 1936 
THE KIDNAPING OF EDWARD GEORGE 
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA. 
History and EarlyAssociation of the 
Karpis-Barker Gang Prior to the Ab-
duction of Mr. Bremer. 
The citizens of the southwestern part of the United States had, 
for a number of years, known and feared many notorious criminals who lived by 
means outside of the law,' outlaws who plundered throughout the States of 
Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Another outlaw band had its origin 
in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and. Arkansas and the Cookson Hills of 
Oklahoma, which was later to be publicized as the notorious Karpis-Barker Gang, 
which except for its mobility and modern equipment of machine guns and fast 
automobiles was made up of typical southwestern bandits. The nucleus of this 
ruthless band of criminals was the Barkers. 
The mother of the Barker brothers, Herman, Lloyd, Fred and Arthur, 
was Arizona Barker, commonly known as Kate Darker and many of her friends 
called her Arrie Barker, but to her sons and their associates she was affec- 
tionately -known as 	 or "Mother." Kate Barker was born in the vicinity of 
Ash Grove, Missouri, known as the Ozark country, of Scotch-Irish parents, 
but it is also said that she had some Indian blood in her veins. She was of 
an ordinary family and during her early life it appears that she was reared 
in the vicinity of the plade of her birth. On September 14, 1892, as Arrie 
Clark, Kate was married to George E. Darker, at Ash Grove, Missouri and their 
early married life was spent at Aurora, Missouri, where their sons were born. 
About 1903 or 1904 the family moved from Aurora to debb City, Missouri, where 
Herman and Lloyd, the elder sons, attented grade schools, and by the time 
Herman Barker had completed his grade school education, the family moved to 
Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kate Barker's sons as early as 1915 encountered difficulty 
in being law-abiding citizens, as evidenced by the arrest of Herman Barker 
on March 5, 1915 at Joplin, Missouri on a charge of highway robbery. Fred 
and Arthur associated with other boys in the vicinity of Old Lincoln Forsythe 
School, Tulsa, Oklahoma and entered in games and played with the boys around 
the section known as Central Park. Many of the boys who associated with the 
sons of Kate Barker later became associates of these boys in their later 
lives and entered in criminal activities with them. Harry Campbell, and 
Volney Davis matured and grew up with the sons of Kate Barker and in later 
years they collectively engaged in lives of crime. Harry Campbell and Volney 
Davis became prominent members of the Karpis-Barker gang. 
Ma Barker in the formative period of her sons' lives was probably 
just an average mother of a family which had no aspirations or evidenced 
I.C. # 7-576 	— 	 November 19, 1936 
no desire to maintain any high plane socially. They were poor and existed 
through no prolific support from La's husband, George Barker, who was more 
or less a shiftless individual, but who later profited from the criminal 
earnings of his wife and sons, but he did not put himself into such a 
position that he could be later termed a member of the gang. During the 
time his wife and sons, with other members of their gang, were roving the 
country perpetrating bank robberies and kidnapings, George Barker was 
content to remain in the vicinity of Joplin, hissouri and operate a small 
filling station until such time as he was to share in the estate of his 
deceased wife and his deceased son, Fred Barker. 
The early religious training of the Barkers, as is the case in 
families of this particular section, was influenced by evangelistic and 
sporadic revivals. The parents of the Barkers and the other boys with 
whom they were associated did not reflect any special interest in educational 
training and as a result their sons were more or less illiterate. Several 
years prior to Kate Barker's separation from George Barker, which occurred 
approximately in the year 1928, and which was subsequent to the time that 
Herman, Lloyd, and Arthur received prison sentences, it is possible that Kate 
became loose in her moral life. She was seen with a neighbor of hers who 
was having outside dates with other men and was known to have been generally 
in the company of other men in the vicinity of Tulsa, Oklahoma. This led to 
Kate's separation from her husband. She lived with her sons at such periods 
when they were released from their penitentiary sentences and cast her lot 
with their lawlessness and criminal activities. Inasmuch as she was more 
intelligent than any of her sons, she ruled them with an iron will and found 
this expression of dominance easily exerted because of the submission of her 
sons Fred and Arthur. 
Ma Barker liked to live well. She purchased expensive clothing, 
furniture and other necessities from the spoils of her sons+ depredations. 
Na Barker was very jealous of her boys and did not wish to have them associate 
with girl friends. She would disclose the conversations had with various 
women members of the gang to her sons, particularly stressing the woments 
statements with reference to them. This procedure on her part caused •frequent 
evidence of dissension among the other women of the gang who, in most instances, 
made every effort to avoid the presence of La Barker. 
Although Kate Barker gave most of her attention to her boys, she had 
a paramour, one Arthur V. Dunlop )  alias George Anderson, believed to have met 
his fate as a result of his association with Kate Barker. Dunlop late in the 
year 1931 rented a cottage one and one-half miles from Thayer, hissouri, where 
I. C. #7-576 	- 3 - 	 November 19, 1936 
he lived with Ma Barker and Ma Barker at this time was joined by her son, 
Fred, who had been released from the Kansas State Penitentiary on March 
30, 1931. 
During the time that Fred Barker was in the penitentiary, where 
he had served a sentence for burglary, he became acquainted with Alvin 
Karpis, alias "Old Creepy", the alien. Alvin Karpis, like the Barker 
brothers, was from a poor and uneducated family. The parents of Alvin 
Karpis are Mr. and Mrs. John Karpavicz, who migrated to the United 
States from Lithuania. Upon first arriving in America, Mr. and Hrs. 
Karpavicz lived in New York City and thence moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan 
and then -to Montreal, Canada, where they remained for two years. It was at 
Montreal, Canada that Alvin Karpis was born on August 10, 1907. He was 
christened Francis Albin Marpaviecz. When Alvin Karpis was two years of -age, 
his family moved to Topeka, Kansas, where the family remained until 1923, 
after which they moved to Chicago, Illinois. Karpis shortly thereafter had 
an examination by a physician which disclosed that he had leakage of the 
heart and he was advised to take an extended vacation. Alvin then went to 
live with his sister, Mrs. Bert Grooms, at 1234 Monroe Street, Topeka, 
Kansas. It was at Topeka, Kansas that Alvin Karpis began an active criminal 
career, which was to lead him eventually to Ma Barker at Thayer, Missouri. 
Karpis in 1926 became involved in a burglary and was sentenced to 
serve ten years in the State Industrial Reformatory at Hutchinson, Kansas, 
where he was received on February 25, 1926. At the Reformatory Karpis 
was assigned as a baker's helper. This required long hours of work from 
early morning, seven days a week, which was not in accordance with the 
desires of Karpis and as a result he violated many rules of the Institution 
and served many days in solitary confinement. His mind was not idle while 
he was in solitary confinement and he planned ways of escape upon being 
released from "solitary". He plotted with another inmate, Charles Carroll, 
to escape and these two individuals were successful in escaping from the 
Institution on March 9, 1929. Karpis immediately rejoined his parents in 
Chicago, Illinois. The parents, while appearing to be law-abiding citizens, 
refrained from notifying the Kansas State authorities of the location of 
Alvin Karpis. They justified their position in this matter by the fact that 
it appeared Alvin Karpis was endeavoring to lead a law-abiding life and 
found employment with various bakers in Chicago, Illinois and also secured 
employment with a concern which sold medical equipment. 
While an escape and while living with his parents, Karpis was joined 
by Larry De Vol and Karpis turned away from his lawful pursuits and drifted 
to Kansas City, Missouri with De Vol, where they were arrested on March 23, 
1930 on the charge of auto, larceny and safe blowing. Karpis at this time had 
begun the use of aliases and at the time of his arrest gave his name as Raymond 
Y.C. # 7-576 	- 4 	 November 19, 1936 
Hadley. KalTis was not orosecuted on the charge of stealing the automobile, 
but on harch 25, 1930 he was returned to the Reformatory at Hutchinson, 
Kansas as an escapee. Due to the record which he had made for himself at the 
Reformatory, he was transferred to the Kansas State Penitentiary at Lansing, 
Kansas on May 19, 1930. 
While in the Kansas State Penitentiary, the friendship between Alvin 
Karpis and Fred Barker was formed. Karpis was assigned to work in the coal 
nines at the Kansas State Penitentiary and while engaged in this occupation 
Karpis arranged with other prisoners to buy their "pay coal", in order to 
hasten his release from the penitentiary. The prisoners were required to 
dig a certain quantity of coal each day and for each ton mined over the 
required assignment, the prisoner was given good time and by his own efforts 
and the efforts of those whose "pay coal" Karpis purchased, Karpis was 
released from the penitentiary on May 31, 1931. After his release, Karpis 
proceeded to Tulsa, Oklahoma and there joined, by prearranement, Fred Barker. 
The following month, on June 10, 1931, Karpis was arrested by the Police De-
partment at Tulsa as George Haller on investigation for burglary. Fred Barker 
was also arrested on this charge, which grew out of the theft of some jewelry. 
On September 10, 1931 Karpis, after entering a plea of guilty, was sentenced 
to serve four years in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on a charge of burglary, 
but as a restitution had been made the court paroled him. Fred Barker likewise 
!soaped serving a penitentiary sentence for this offense and he, with Karpis, 
proceeded to Thayer, iissouri. 
On December 18, 1931 Alvin Karpis and Fred Barker robbed a store in 
West Plains, Missouri, using a 1931 model De Soto automobile in the perpe-
tration of this robbery. On December 19, 1931 Alvin Karpis and Fred Barker 
drove into the Davidson Motor Company garage in west Plains, Missouri in 
the De Soto car which was recognized as being identical with the car used in 
the store robbery the day previous. Sheriff C. R. Kelly proceeded to the 
garage to conduct an investigation concerning the car and as he walked towards 
it to question the occupants thereof concerning the robbery, he was fired upon 
by them and subsequently died as a result of the wounds sustained. After the 
murder the police raided Dunlop's cottage at Thayer, iissouri on a report that 
suspicious persons were living there. _hey found in the cottage at Thayer, 
Missouri all the merchandise which had been stolen from the store at West 
Plains, Missouri, with the exception of some fifty tires. The raiders after 
the murder found the cottage at Thayer, hissouri had been abandoned hurriedly. 
Alvin Karpis and Fred Barker were positively identified as 'eing the slayers 
of the popular sheriff. Dunlop, Kate Barker, Fred Barker and Alvin Karpis 
had fled from the cottage to the home of Herbert Farmer near Joplin, Missouri 
and upon Farmer's advice and instructions they proceeded to St. Paul, 
minnesota. Herbert Farmer had been a close friend of the Barker family for 
many years and he was particularly friendly with Fred Barker, who spent much 
I. C. j7-576 	- 5 - 	 November 19, 1936 
of his early life in association with Herbert Faimer, who had an extensive 
criminal record and it is safe to assume that Fred Barker received consider-
able education in the school of crime from Farmer 
The murder of Sheriff Kelly caused the flight of another criminal 
from the vicinity of Thayer, Missouri to St. Paul. This individual, who 
was later to be prominently identified with the Karpis-Barker gang was 
Phoenix Donald, commonly known as William Weaver, who had been paroled 
from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on June 20, 1931, where he had previously 
been sentenced to serve a term of life imprisonment on the charge of murder. 
Weaver felt that his flight to St. Paul was necessary, in order to avoid 
becoming involved in further difficulties, in view of the fact that the auto-
mobile which had been used by Fred Barker and Alvin Karpis at the tipe of the 
murder of Sheriff Kelly had been abandoned by Karpis and Fred Barker near the 
home occupied by William Weaver at Thayer, Uissouri. 
William Weaver, in addition to his other aliases, was also known as 
"Lapland Willie" to his associates, due to 7eaver having been reared in that 
part of Arkansas adjacent to Missouri known as "Lapland". He began his 
criminal career in July, 1918, when he was arrested for vagrancy by the 
P'ice Department at. Joplin, Missouri. He also was arrested on May 26, 1922 
lLa  Special Agents of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway at Sapulpa, Oklahoma 
on a charge of auto theft, but was not prosecuted on this charge. Weaver was 
next involved with the law at Garden City, Kansas in July of that same year 
when he was arrested by the Sheriff's Office at Garden City, Kansas for 
attempting to assist in a jail delivery, but likewise was not prosecuted on 
this charge. Weaver, as Phoenix Donald, on April 7, 1925 was received at the 
Oklahoma State Penitentiary to serve a life term for murder, which crime 
Weaver committed while attempting to escape after committing a bank robbery 
in the State of Oklahoma. In this attempted escaae, he killed a member of the 
posse which was pursuing him and it was from this sentence he was paroled in 
1931. 
While in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, William Weaver became 
acquainted with Ha Barker's son, Arthur, commonly known as "Doc", who had 
been received at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on February 10, 1922 for 
the murder of James J. Sherrill, a night watchman at Tulsa, Oklahoma on 
August 26, 1921. Weaver at the penitentiary also becmae acquainted with 
Volney Davis, who had been convicted with "Doc" Barker for the murder of the 
night watchman during a commission of a burglary. Volney Davis was received 
at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary to serve a life term for this murder on 
February 3, 1923, but succeeded in escaping from that Institution on January 
8, 1925, but thirteen days later he was apprehended at Kansas City, Missouri 
and returned to the Penitentiary. 
I. C. #7-576 	6 - 	 November 19, 1936 
When Kate Barker, A. W. Dunlop, commonly Inown as "Old Tian" Dunlop, 
Fred Barker and Alvin Karpis sought refuge in St. Paul, hinnesota they 
rented a house at 1031 South Roberts Street, West St. Paul, hinnesota. 
The fugitives who were then being sought by the various state law enforcement 
authorities, did not lead normal lives at the Roberts Street address and this 
aroused the suspicions of the woman from whom the house was rented. she land-
lady observed that the occupants when leaving the house and returning to it, 
carried a violin case. The woman's son noticed the photographs of Fred Barker 
and Alvin Karpis in a. detective magazine, which indicated that they were wanted 
for the murder of Sheriff Kelly at west Plains, hissouri. On April 25, 1932 
at about 1:00 A.h., the suspicious activities of the occupants of this house 
were related to officers of the St. Paul Police Department, who delayed going 
to the house in question in order to apprehend these people. Approximately 
six hours later, Fred Barker, Alvin Karpis, Kate Barker, and A. 	Dunlop had 
packed their belongings and hurriedly departed. The following morning the 
body of A. W. Dunlop was found on the shores of Lake Freasted, rear ebster, 
Wisconsin. It was striped of clothing and an examination of the body dis-
closed that it had been shot three times at short range. Not far from the 
body there was found a bloodstained woman's glove. It is contended that 
Dunlop was killed by Fred Barker and Alvin Karpis, inasmuch as they believed 
he had tipped them off to the police. 
At St. Paul, hinnesota, Fred Barker, Alvin Karpis and ha Barker be-
came acquainted with Harry Sawyer, whose correct name is Harry Sandlovich, 
the "Kingpin and Fixer for the underworld in St. Paul." Harry Sawyer was 
born in Russia, immigrated to this country and settled in Lincoln, Nebraska, 
later movinEi to St. Paul, hinnesota, where he went into partnership with a 
notorious underworld character, Dan. Hogan. This contact for Karpis and Fred 
Barker was made for them through Herbert Farmer and it was because Herbert 
Farmer knew Harry Sawyer could afford protection to wanted individuals that 
he instructed Karpis and Fred Barker to proceed to St. Paul. 
Kate Barker and her son, Fred, with Alvin Karpis, found it necessary 
to temporarily leave St. Paul, hinnesota and find another refuge due to the 
investigation by law enforcement agencies of the murder of "Old Han" Dunlop. 
These fugitives proceeded to Kansas City, hissouri, where under the disguise 
of being respectable citizens, they established a residence in an exclusive 
residential district known as the Country Club Plaza. Alvin Karpis posed as 
the son of Kate Barker and La frequently referred to her "sons" as being in 
the "insurance business." At Kansas City, hissouri, Fred Barker and Alvin 
Karpis threw -  in their lot with other "hoodlums." These latter individuals 
were Francis Keating and Thomas Holden, escaped Federal prisoners from the 
United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, Harvey Bailey, a nationally 
I.C.#7-576 	- 7 - 	 November 19, 1936 
known bank robber and Larry De Vol, a friend of Karpis, with whom he was 
arrested in Kansas City, Missouri prior to his return to the Kansas State 
Industrial Reformatory at Hutchinson, Kansas. Also with this gang was 
Bernard Phillips, a policeman who had turned to the profession of bank 
robbery. The entire mob was residing in close proximity to each other in 
Kansas City, Missouri and planned new depredations. Kansas City was used 
as the hide-out. On June 17, 1932 Fred Darker, Keating, Holden, Bailey, 
De Vol, Karpis and Phillips made a raid on a Fort Scott, Kansas bank, after 
which they returned to Kansas City, Missouri and split the loot in the 
apartment occupied by Fred Barker, Ma Barker, and Alvin Karpis, located at 
4804 Jefferson Street, Kansas City, Missouri. 
On the date of -the robbery of the bank at Fort Scott, Kansas, 
another criminal who was to join the Karpis-Barker gang was released from 
the Kansas State Penitentiary at Lansing, Kansas. While in the penitentiary 
at Lansing, Kansas, Fred Barker and Alvin Karpis became acquainted with Jess 
Doyle, who had been received at that Institution on March 19, 1927 to serve a. 
five to ten year sentence for second degree burglary and grand larceny. 
Doyle had served a previous sentence in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary for 
the larceny of an automobile. He had been received at that Institution on 
April 21, 1921 and was released. at the expiration of his term on July 28, 
1926 and less than a year later, Doyle found himself in the State Penitentiary 
at Lansingi Kansas. Prior to the release of Fred. Barker, he made arrangements 
with Jess Doyle to meet the latter in -Kansas City, Missouri at the expiration 
of Doyle's term, which was on June 17, 1932. In accordance with this arrange-
ment, Jess Doyle inmediately proceeded to Kansas City, Missouri after his 
release and met Fred Darker in front of the Majestic Hotel. Fred Barker was 
well supplied with money at this time and from the spoils of the Fort Scott 
bank Fred gave Doyle four or five hundred dollars for clothes and other 
expenses. At Barker's apartment that night a celebration was held to 
celebrate the successful robbery of the bank and the release of Jess Doyle 
from the penitentiary. Those who attended this party in Fred Barker's apart-
ment were Francis Keating, Thomas Holden, Harvey Bailey, Larry De Vol, Alvin 
Karpis and Bernard Phillips. 
Kate Barker, with her son Fred and Karpis lived at the Longfellow 
Apartments in Kansas City, Missouri from May 12, 1932 until July 5, 1932, on 
which latter date they moved from this apartment as a safety measure, and 
began living at an apartment at 414 West 46th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri under the name of Mrs. A. F. Hunter and "sons". Ma Barker was the 
housekeeper for Fred and Karpis and for a few days they enjoyed the homelike 
atmosphere which Ma Barker endeavored to create. Larry De Vol was also living 
in the same apartment building in which Ma Darker lived. This tranquillity, 
however, was disturbed on July 7, 1932 by Special Agents of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation, who had been for some time endeavoring to cause the 
apprehension of Francis Keating and Thomas Holden to return them to Leaven- 
I.C.#7-576 	 - 9 - 	 November 19, 1936 
and through Harry Sawyer, Earl Christman and Helen Ferguson became acquainted 
with Alvin Karpis, Fred Barker and other members of the gang who at that time 
were frequenting St. Paul, Minnesota. The associates of the gang at this 
time included Frank Nash, also an escapee from the United States Penitentiary 
at Leavenworth, Kansas and. Nash, like Fred Barker, was an intimate friend of 
Herbert Farmer of Joplin, Missouri. On July 26, 1932 Karpis and Fred Barker, 
with their augmented gang, left their hide-out at White Bear Lake, Minnesota 
and _staged a daring daylight robbery of the Cloud County Bank at Concordia, 
Kansas, securing approximately 2/ 4.0,000 in bonds and an indefinite amount of 
cash-and after a successful escape returned to their hide-out at White Bear 
Lake, Minnesota. 
At this period of time, Arthur "Doc" Barker was confined in the Okla-
homa State Penitentiary and negotiations were under way looking towards the 
release of "Doc" Barker from the Penitentiary. The Karpis-Barker gang was 
now becoming well organized and through the efforts of Fred Barker and Alvin 
Karpis, a private detective at Leavenworth, Kansas by the name of Jack Glynn 
was seccessful in securing the release of "Doc" Barker from the Penitentiary 
on September 10, 1932. Immediately after the release of "Doc" Barker from 
the Penitentiary, he went to visit his father at Neosho, Missouri, as the 
condition of his parole was that he should leave the State of Oklahoma and 
never return. After a short visit with his father, "Doc" Barker joined his 
mother and brother Fred in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ma Barker now had two sons 
to provide her with a life of luxury. Her eldest son, Herman Barker, after 
an extensive criminal career beginning on March 5, 1915 by an arrest by the 
Police Department of Joplin, Missouri for a highway robbery and followed by 
several other arrests on. various charges, was cornered by police officers at 
Wichita, Kansas on August 29, 1927 after he had killed a police officer. 
Herman Barker committed suicide rather than submit to arrest. Lloyd Barker 
was also prevented from becoming a member of the gang due to his incarceration 
in the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, where he had been 
received on January 16, 1932 to serve a twenty-five year sentence for robbing 
the United States Mail. Efforts on the part of Fred Barker and other members 
of the gang to secure the release of Lloyd Barker on parole were not successful. 
Efforts, however, to secure the release of Volney Davis from the 
Oklahoma State Penitentiary were successful and on November 3, 1932, less 
than two months after the release of his fellow murderer, "Doc" Barker, Davis 
was granted a leave of absence from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, which 
leave of absence was to permit Volney Davis to roam the country at will until 
July 1, 1934, when he was to again report to the Penitentiary officials, which 
he failed to do. The reunion between Volney Davis and "Doc" Barker took place 
at Leavenworth, Kansas, after which they immediately proceeded to St. Paul, 
Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, Volney Davis took a vacation and with Kate 
Barker made a trip to California where they visited the latter's sister. From 
I.0 .#7-576 	- 10 - 	 November 19, 1936 
November 1932 to Decem• r 1932, Fred Barker, "Doc" Barker, Alvin Karpis and 
Jess Doyle were resi ng at the Twin Oaks Apartment in St. Paul, Minnesota. 
a 	I- 	 was in St. Paul, Minnesota at this time and was residing 
in an apartment on Grand Avenue. The citizens of the Minnesota Twin Cities 
and vicinity until this time had been unmolested so far as known from the 
depredations of the Karpis-Barker mob, but the gang planned new crimes and 
the immunity which had been enjoyed by the citizens in St. Paul and 
Minneapolis, Minnesota was to soon cease, for on December 16, 1932 Fred 
Barker, "Doc" Barker, Larry De Vol, Alvin Karpis, William Weaver, Verne 
Miller and Jess Doyle robbed the Third Northwestern Bank of Minneapolis at 
Minneapolis, Minnesota and during the perpetration of the robbery, two 
police officers and a civilian were murdered by machine gun bullets fired 
by members of this gang. The civilian was murdered because the robbers 
believed he was endeavoring to secure the license. number of the gang's 
getaway car. Five days later, Larry De Vol was arrested in an apartment 
house and there was found some sixteen to seventeen thousand dollars in his 
possession which was identified as part of the loot of the Third Northwester 
Bank robbery. He pleaded guilty to a charge of murder and was sentenced to 
serve life imprisonment in the Minnesota State Penitentiary at Stillwater, 
Minnesota. Immediately after the arrest of Larry De Vol, the news was carried 
to the other members of the gang by Harry Hull and a rapid exit was made from 
the Twin Cities by Fred Barker, "Dox" Barker, Alvin Karpis, Jess Doyle, 
William Weaver and Harry Hull, their destination being Reno, Nevada. At Reno 
they joined Earl Christman and Helen Ferguson, Kate Barker and Volney Davis 
who had returned from their vacation in California and were in Reno, Nevada, 
at the time other members of the gang arrived there. 
Prior to the conviction of Volney Davis for murder in the State of 
Oklahoma he had known and associated with Edna Murray. In tracing the 
history of Edna -Murray, it was learned that she was born in Marion, Kansas 
on Nay 26, 1898, the daughter of N. D. and Luella Stanley. When Edna was 
still a mall child, she moved with her father to Cardin, Oklahoma. Edna 
had one sister, Doris, later to become known as Doris O'Connor and three 
brothers, Matt, Floyd and Harry. The family's income was derived from the 
rent of miners' shanties which were owned by Edna's father near Cardin, 
Oklahoma. Edna Murray at the age of twenty-three was working as a waitress 
and cashier at the Imperial Cafe in Sapulpa, Oklahoma and it was here that 
she first became the sweetheart of Volney Davis. 'After Davis was sentenced 
to life imprisonment, Edna Murray left her employment in Sapulpa, Oklahoma 
and sought another means of livelihood in Kansas City, Missouri. Here she 
met Fred Sullivan, alias "Diamond Joe", a jewel thief, and it is said that 
Edna Murray married this man. Edna had twice before been married. Her 
first husband's name was Patton and by this marriage she had one son, Preston. 
Her second husband was Walter Price. Edna after meeting Sullivan continued 
to live with him until in the year 1924 when Sullivan was convicted of murder 
I. C. d7-576 	- 11 - 	 November 19, 1936 
and subsequently electrocuted at Little Rock, Arkansas, Jack Murray, a 
Kansas City, Missouri bootlegger, was Edna liurrayis next an and with 
hurray, Edna engaged in the illicit traffic of liquor, assisting rUrray 
in transporting the same from New Orleans, Louisiana to Kansas City, 
Missouri. These activities on the part of Edna Murray continued until 
the night of Aril 6, 1925, when she and Jack Lurray were arrested and 
charged with the holdup of one H. H. Southward at Kansas City, Missouri 
and for this crime Edna. and Jack Murray were convicted at Kansas City, 
Missouri on October 1, 1925 and each sentenced to serve a twenty-five 
year sentence in the Missouri State Penitentiary. From the alleged 
activities of Edna Nurray during this holdup, the press gnve her the 
sobriquet of the "Flapper Bandit" or the "Kissing Bandit". 
Edna Murray was confined. in the rissouri State Penitentiary on 
December 3, 1925 and soon acquired another nickname - "Rabbits", due to 
her agility in escaping from that Institution on Nay 2, 1927. After this 
escape, Edna remained at liberty -  until she was arrested in Chicago, 
Illinois and returned to the Missouri State Penitentiary on September 10, 
1931. Upon her return, Edna immediately began to plot another escape and 
on November 4, 1931 she again succeeded in escaping, but on this occasion 
her freedom was short-lived, as she was located and taken into custody the 
'ollowing day. Edna upon being returned to the Penitentiary at this time 
was placed in an individual cell, but she succeeded in conspiring with 
another inmate, Irene McCann, to escape the third time. Edna Nurray and 
Irene McCann succeeded in sawing the bars of their cells and escaped on 
December 13, 1932e She immediately proceeded to Kansas City, Missouri 
and in some manner, Volney Davis, who was then in Reno, Nevada with other 
members of the gang, learned of the escape of Edna and proceeded to Kansas 
City, Missouri, where he net the woman rho was to continue to live with 
him as his paramour and share in the loot of the notorious Karpis-Barker 
gang. Edna and Volney then joined the others in Reno, Nevada. 
While in Reno, Nevada, dessension arose between Harry Hull and other 
members of the gang, as Hull had not believed in the time honored axiom 
"honor among thieves" and had stolen 0250.00 and some clothes from Jess 
Doyle. Doyle anticipated that Hull would go to Kansas City, tissouri and 
he, with "Doc" Barker, set out by plane for that city in an effort to locate 
Hull and kill him. Their efforts in this regard, however, were unsuccessful. 
Early in February, 1933 found the members of the gang back in St. Paul, 
Minnesota, where they remained until Narch 4, 1933, when some member of the 
gang received information that the police were going to raid an apartment in 
which some members of -the mob resided. The next refuge for this band of 
criminals was Chicago, Illinois and its suburbs. During 'larch, 1933 they 
found refuge in various apartments in Oak Park, Illinois and found their 
_entertainment at a roadhouse operated by Louis Cernocky at Fox River Grove, 
llinois, which place had long been a rendezvous for such notorious criminals 
T. C. )7-576 	12 - 	 November 19, 1936 
as Francis Keating, Thomas Holden and Frank Nash. They also found enter-
tainment and refuge at the 0. P. Inn, hay wood, Illinois, operated by Louis ' 
"Doc" Stacci, who had long been a known associate of criminals. At Chicago, 
Illinois the robbery of a bank at Fairbury, Nebraska was planned and on 
April 4, 1933 the Fairbury National Bank, Fairbury, Nebraska, was held up 
by Fred Barker, Volney Davis, Frank Nash, "Doc" Barker, Alvin Karpis, Earl 
Christman, Jess Doyle and Edward Green, commonly known as Eddie Greefi l  an ex-
convict who had joined members of the Karpis-Barker gang in'St. Paul, 
Minnesota. Green vas an acnomnlished bank robber and due to the cicse 
friendship between Harry Sawyer and Eddie Green, Green made numerous 
acquaintances with "hoodlums" who were making St. Paul their haven, including 
the Karpis-Barker gang. He became the close confident of Volney Davis, Alvin 
Karpis, Fred Barker and "Doc" Barker. During the robbery in Fairbury, Nebraska l  
Earl Christman was severly wounded. He was immediately rushed to the home of 
Vernon C. Killer at 6612 Edgevale Road, Kansas City, hissouri. The hone of 
hiller was at that time considered a safe refuge for gangsters of the middle 
west. It was later destined to be highly publicized as a rendezvous for 
Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd and Adam aichetti, who gathered in Killer's home on 
the night of June 16, 1933 to formulate their plans for the unlawful delivery 
of Frank Nash, who was apprehended by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, at Hot Springs, Arkansas on June 16, 1933. An attempt was made 
by hiller, Floyd and ldchetti to free Frank rash as Special Agents and police 
officers emerged from the Union Station in Kansas City, Kissouri on June 17, 
1933. The attempt was bungled and instead of freeing Nash, he was the first 
to die in the blast of machine gun fire aimed at the officers by Killer and ' 
his associates. Special Agent Raymond J. Caffrey, Chief of Police Otto Reed, 
of McAlester, Oklahoma, and William J. Grooms and Frank Hermanson, Detectives 
of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Deaartment, died. as a result of this 
attempted delivery. Herbert Farmer and Louis "Doc" Stacci, harborers and confi-
dents of the Karpis-Barker Gang, were subsequently convicted in Federal Court 
at Kansas City, Missouri for conspiracy to deliver Frank Nash from the officers 
and each was sentenced to serve two years in a Federal Penitentiary and pay a 
fine of 110,000. At the time Christman vas being held in Verne Miller's home in 
Kansas City, Kissouri, the associates of Christman frantically sought the 
assistance of an underworld physician who was called upon to administer to the 
wounded Earl Christman. Christman, however, did not respond to this treatment 
and within a few days died and was buried in an unidentified grave. 
The day following the robbery of the Fairbury National Bank, Fred Barker 
expressed his desire for a woman companion. He thought of a woman by the name of 
Paula Harmon, whom  he had previously met at the home of his friend, Herbert 
Farmer, Joplin, Missouri. In accordance with Fred Barker's wishes, Vivian Mathis 
I.C.#7-576 	- 13 - 	 November 19, 1936 
the paramour of Verne Miller, telephone Paula Harmon and asked her to visit 
Kansas City. Paula accepted this invitation and thereafter met Fred Barker 
at Vivian Mathis' home. Paula Harmon was the widow of a notorious bank 
robber, Charles Harmon, who was killed while participating in tee robbery of 
the Kraft State 'ank at henomonie, Wisconsin on November 19, 1931. She was a 
native of Georgia, having been born at Desiorest, Georgia on February 11, 1904, 
the daughter of Annie and Bird Branon. When Paula was two or three years of 
age, her family moved to Port Arthur, Texas, where Paula later attended grade 
schools and it is said she attended an exclusive girls' finishing school in 
the South. She was first married to a man by the name of Dennis Wood at Port 
Arthur, Texas in the year 1921. Wood was employed as a mate on a ship and 
Paula's marriage to him was dissolved in the year 1922. She then secured 
employment as a comtometer operator in Houston, Texas and continued at this 
occupation until the year 1925, when she married Charles Harmon, who had just 
been released from the penitentiary at Huntsville, Texas after serving a term 
for bank robbery. She soon met the associates of her husband, Frank Nash, 
Verne Miller and Herbert Farmer and it was a short time after the release of 
Fred Barker from the penitentiary that she first met him at Farmer's home. 
During the married life of Paula and Charles Harmon they quarreled frequently 
and during one of these quarrels, Paula separated from her husband, and 
operated a house of ill fame in Chicago, Illinois,afor a short period of time. 
Paula Harmon and Fred Barker on May 29, 1933 established a home at 204 
Vernon Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota under the name of hr. and Ers. J. Stanley 
Smith. Other members of the gang established themselves in a cottage at Bald 
Eagle Lake, Minnesota in June of 1933. 
On June 15, 1933, hr. William A. Ham, Jr., of the Theodore Hamm Brew-
ing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, was kidnaped by "Doc" Barker, Fred Barker, 
Alvin Karpis, Charles J. Fitzgerald, Bryan Bolton and Fred Goetz and transporter. 
to Bensenville, Illinois, where he was held until his family had enriched the 
coffers of these notorious mobsters by ea00,000, which was paid as ransom for 
the release of hr. Hamm. Fred Goetz, had for a number of years known Jack 
Peifer and it was Peifer who originally conceived the plan to kidnap hr. Hamm. 
Before aligning himself with criminals, he was a student at the Engineering 
School of the University of Illinois and participated as a ,?layer on the foot-
ball team at that Institution. Upon leaving the University of Illinois, he 
worked as a life guard at the Clarendon Bathing Beach in Chicago, Illinois 
and while so employed he was arrested on June 5, 1925 by the Chicago Police 
Department on a charge of attempted rape of a seven year old girl. He was 
placed under a ,4 ,5,000 bond which his mother furnished, but subsequently he 
forfeited this bond and was never a,prehended to answer the charge. He there-
after became an associate of the so-called Al Capone Syndicate in Chicago and 
was linked with such notorious characters as Fred "Killer" Burke, Ted New-
berry, Gus Winkeler and Jack Klutas. Bryan Bolton was the "stooge" of Goetz. 
Fred Goetz was also known as J. George Zeigler and "Shotgun Zeigler." 
I.C.#7-576 	- 14 - 	 November 19, 1936 
It apeears that it was through the existing friendship between Peifer and 
members of the Karpis-Barker gang that Goetz became one of their associates. 
As the result of the relationship between Bryan Bolton and Goetz, he was 
invited to participate in the kidnaping of hr. Haar.. 
Charles J. Fitzgerald, an ex-convict with an extensive criminal 
record, had for a long period of time found refuge in St. Paul and 
hinneapolis, Minnesota, being an intimate friend of Harry Sawyer and Jack 
Peifer. Like Goetz and Bolton, Fitzgerald also had friends among the under-
world of Chicago, Illinois. 
Subsequent to the release of hr. Harrm on June 19, 1933, the gang 
which had now become a syndicate of crime fled from St. Paul, Linnesota to 
Chicago. 1:a Barker during the time that her sons Fred and "Doc" and their 
associates were engaged in the abduction of Mr. Hamm, was residing at 114 
Home Avenue, Cak Park, Illinois, where she was in association with Helen 
Ferguson, the former paramour of Earl Christman, Vo.lney Davis and Edna 
Murray, as hir. and hrs. E. V. Davis, were living in an apartment at 219 
North Second Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. The entire gang rented and 
established themselves in other apartments in Chicago, Illinois. However, 
their criminal proclivities did not remain dormant, for on August 30, 1933 
six bandits staged the robbery of a pay-roll which was being delivered to 
the Stockyards National Dank at .  South St. Paul, hinnesota, in which .30,000 
was obtained. During the course of the robbery, two police officers were 
shot by machine guns fired by the robbers, one of the officers being murdered 
and the other as a result of the wounds sustained is exnected to be an invalid 
for the rest of his life. At the time of the robbery, one of the officers 
who was shot was equipped with a Thompson submachine gun, which was taken by 
one of the bandits after the officer had been vounded. hore than a year later, 
a hide-out of the Karpis-Barker gang was raided at Cleveland, Ohio and there 
was found a "getaway" chart, which investigation disclosed began at zero at 
the Stockyards National Bank, South St. Paul, hinnesota and it is believed 
that this was a chart used by members of the Karpis-Barker gang in effecting 
their escape subsequent to the pay roll robbery. 
The mob moved swiftly to Chicago, Illinois and in less than a month 
• the newspapers announced the murder of a policeman in Chicago, Illinois, 
which murder occurred on September 22, 1933 as police officer Liles A. 
Cunningham endeavored to investigate an automobile accident near the inter-
section of Jackson Boulevard and Halsted Street in Chicago, Illinois, Officer 
Cunningham did not have the in formation that a few moments before two bank 
I.C.#7-576 	- 15 - 	 November 19, 1936 
messengers were held up by five men at Jackson Boulevard and Clark Street, 
Chicago, Illinois, seizing two sacks of registered mail which proved to 
be of no value to the bandits. In tracing the history of the Karpis-Barker 
gang, Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified that 
mob as being responsible for the murder of Officer Cunningham. 
It appears that during the year 1933, William J. Harrison became 
acquainted with members of the Karpis-Barker gang through Fred Goetz. 
Harrison originally was from St. Louis, nissouri, where he was born on 
September 27, 1900, He spent the major portion of his adolescent years in 
St. Louis. In about 1926 he went to Calumet City, Illinois, where he 
operated numerous speak-easies during the Prohibition era. He became 
acquainted with the Capone Syndicate of Chicago and fraternized with persons 
of such notoriety as "Killer" Burke, Gus Wirkeler and "Big" Homer Wilson. 
Harrison was a man of wide experience and as a result of his underworld 
activities was able to furnish members of the Karpis-Barker group some of 
their most valued contacts and without whom many of their sinister designs 
would not have been consummated. Harrison, despite his precarious under-
takings, was a man of wit and humor and served as a "court jester" or "court 
fool" to the amusement of his gangster affiliates. 
While various members of the Karpis-Barker gang were on the rampage 
throughout the middle west perpetrating bank robberies and kidnapings, Harry 
Campbell, a boyhood associate of the Barker brothers, had been content to 
confine his criminal activities to the State of Oklahoma, where he was 
associated with Glen Leroy Wright and Charles Cotner, Oklahoma outlaws of a 
very desperate character who subsequently were incarcerated in the Oklahoma 
State Penitentiary. Very few intimate details are known of his early life. 
Harry Campbell was born on New Year's Day in the year 1900 at rcClintoeville, 
Pennsylvania. His family later moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was reared 
and associated with the Barker boys, Volney Davis and Will Green. Green was 
later sentenced to serve a long term in the United States Penitentiary, 
Leavenworth, Kansas, and was one of the leaders of the gang which effected its 
escape from that Institution in December of 1931. Green later committed 
suicide rather than be apprehended. 
In 1930 Campbell became acquainted with Wynona Burdette, a part 
Cherokee Indian woman whose family was very poor. Wynona was one of more than 
a dozen childern in the family, nine of whom are now living. In the spring 
of 1933 Campbell frequented Casper, Wyoming, where it is alleged he engaged in 
the robbing of safes, but in a short while Campbell returned to Tulsa, Okla,- 
hama and remained in the company of Wynona Burdette until September, 1933, when 
he received a communication from Fred Barker to join the gang at the Savoy 
Hotel, Hammond, Indiana and was promised that there was "big money" to be had 
I.C.#7-576 	- 16 - 	 November 19, 1936 
by casting his lot with his old friends. Campbell soon-joined Fred Barker, 
"Doc" Barker, and -William J. Harrison in Hammond, Indiana and at the request 
of Harry Campbell, Willie Harrison thereafter made arrangements for Wynona 
Burdette to join Campbell in the Indiana City and soon thereafter the two 
Barkers, Harry Campbell and Wynona Burdette drove to St. Paul, Minnesota, 
where they joined other Members of the gang who were temporarily located 
there. This group on or about October 6, 1933 motored to Reno, Nevada, where 
the gang had good contacts with the political bosses at that place. 
On or about December 2, 1933, an automobile caravan left Reno, Nevada. 
It was the exodus from Reno of the members of the Karpis-Barker gang. The 
mob moved again as they had done so often before, but as has been previously 
related, it was not to a new field for their criminal activities but to St. Paul 
Minnesota, where the roving mob had found refuge on many prior occasions. 
Among those members of the gang who left Reno, Nevada in the month of December 
1933 were Alvin Karpis and his moll, Dolores Delaney, sister-in-law of Pat 
Riley, a Dillinger mobster, Fred Barker and his paramour, "Fat Witted" Paula 
Harmon, Volney Davis, Edna Murray and "Doc" Barker. Harry Campbell and Wynona. 
Burdette were also with Alvin Karpis and Fred Barker on the trek to St. Paul. 
The members of the Karpis-Barker gang, with the exception of Alvin Karpis and 
Dolores Delaney,- arrived in St. Paul l  Minnesota in the middle of December, 1933 
and proceeded directly to the farm of Harry Sawyer, a bootlegger, ex-car thief 
and harborer of criminals. Harry Sawyer lived on a farm with his wife, Gladys, 
who also was an intimate associate of the gang. Alvin Karpis and Dolores 
Delaney did not remain in St. Paul, but proceeded on to Chicago, Illinois. 	- 
Harry Campbell and Wynona Burdette, upon their arrival in St. Paul, Minnesota, 
made their residence at the Capitol Hotel under the names of Mr. and Mrs. 
George -Martin. Fred Darker and Paula Harmon rented an apartment at 628 Grand 
Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota under the names of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Bergstrom. 
Volney Davis and Edna Murray as Mr. and Yrs. V. E. Davis, moved into an apart-
ment at the Edgcumb Apartments, Osceola and Lexington Avenues in St. Paul. 
"Doc" Barker found shelter with William Weaver, who had not enjoyed the rounds 
of gambling and drinking with the others at Reno. William Weaver, at this 
time, maintained an apartment at 777 Shelby Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. 
The moll of gilliam Weaver was Myrtle Eaton, who was a native of Des Moines, 
Iowa . Myrtle Eaton had been an associate of criminals all her life and she 
maintained an apartment at 565 Portland Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota, which 
apartment was frequented by the various members of the gang. Myrtle Eaton by 
profession was a shoplifter and her record indicates that she was arrested for 
this offense by the Police Department at Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 
27, 1930 and was fined &'100.00. On December 9, 1930, as Sue Bond, alias Sue 
Hubble, she was arrested by the Police Department at St. Paul, Minnesota on 
charges of shoplifting, which charges were later dismissed on motion of the 
County Attorney. On December 29, 1931 she was arrested by the Police Department 
at Des Moines, Iowa as Mrs. Alice Martin on charges of investigation, but was 
not prosecuted. 
I.C.#7-576 	- 17 - 	 November 19, 1936 
At Chicago, Illinois, Alvin Karpis, who was known to his confederates 
as "Slim" or "Ray" and Dolorer Delaney took up their residence at the Orlando 
Hotel and later rented an apartment at 7133 -Yates Avenue under the names of 
Mr. and Mrs. William L. Lohnan. Fred Goetz, with his woman, Irene Dorsey, 
the daughter of a saloonkeeper, in the month of December 1933 was living at 
1934 Garfield Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois. Tubercular Bryan Bolton, alias 
Monte Carter, had been called from his health restoring activities in Arizona 
and in December of 1933 made his home with Goetz. Ma Barker was living quietly 
in an apartment on the exclusive South Short Drive in Chicago, Illinois. 
During the latter part of December 1933, Alvin Karpis and Fred Goetz 
joined the others of the gang who had settled in St. Paul, Minnesota, where 
conferences were held to lay plans for another kidnaping. These conferences 
were held in the apartments occupied by William Weaver and Myrtle Eaton and 
were attended by Alvin Karpis, William Weaver, Fred Goetz, Arthur "Doc" 
Barker, Fred Barker, Volney Davis, Harry Campbell and Harry Sawyer. One day 
Sawyer and Goetz visited a bowling alley known as a recreation parlor and as 
would be stated. in the language of the underworld, Sawyer "put the finger on 
Edward George Bremer." 
The gand had originally planned to rob the Commercial State Bank, 
St. Paul, Minnesota, of which Edward George Bremer was the President, but 
Sawyer in his dictatorial manner insisted that more money could be obtained 
if "Eddie Bremer was snatched." Definite plans were made for the kidnaping 
of Mr. Bremer, but on the night of January 13, 1934 after a conference at the 
apartment of Myrtle Eaton, Mr. P. N. McCord and two companions who were 
employed by the Northwest Airways Company were in the vicinity of Portland 
and St. Alban Streets in St. Paul, dressed in uniforms of the Airways Company, 
as Fred Darker and another of the gang left the apartment building in which 
Myrtle Eaton resided. The gangsters entered their car and started to drive 
a way, but upon seeing Hr. McCord and his friends, they believed that officers 
were following them and opened fire on the employees of the Airways Company 
seriouslywoundingiir. McCord. After this occurrence, Harry Sawyer insisted 
that because of the "heat" the shooting had caused in the town, the kidnap-
ing of Mr. Bremer be postponed; The members of the mob acquiesced to Sawyer's 
desires in this matter. 
THE KIDNAPING OF EDWARD GEORGE BREHM AND THE DOWNFALL 
OF THE KARPIS-BARKER GANG. 
Edward George Bremer each day during the school year drove his nine 
year old daughter Hertzy to the Summit School, which was a private institution. 
I. C. )7-576 	— 18 — 	 November 19, 1936 
located on Goodrich Avenue near Lexington Avenue and each morning he would 
proceed upon Goodrich Avenue after taking his daughter to school, cross 
Lexington Avenue and on to his duties at the bank. Each morning he brought 
his car to a stop at the traffic sign located at Lexington and Goodrich 
Avenues. This stop was made about a half a block distant from the apartment 
build.:_ng occupied by Edna Dirray and Volney Davis. On January 17, 1934, nr• 
Brener, in keeping with his usual custom, drove his daughter to school and 
arrived at the stop sign at Lexington and Goodrich Avenues between the hours 
of 8:30 and 9:00 A. N. When hr. Bremer made the stop, a man approached the 
left front door of the Lincoln sedan which r. Bremer drove, held a pistol 
to his side and told him "to move over" and simultaneously with the actions 
of this gunman, another opened the right front door of the car, struck Ir. 
Bremer over the head several tines with a blunt unstrument and pushed him 
to the floor of the car with his head under the instrument board. Taped 
goggles were placed over his eyes. Edward George Bremer, scion of one of 
the wealthiest and most prominent families in St. Paul and the northwest, 
was the victim of kidnapers, which kidnaping was effected by five men using 
two automobiles. 
Edward G. Breer is the on of Adolph Bremer, part owner of the 
Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company, and the newphew of Otto Brener, Chairman of 
the American National Bank, St. Paul, rinnesota and the tanager of the Hone 
Mners' Loan Corporation. Edward Bremer is married and has one daughter, 
Hertzy. 
At about 10:40 A. h. on January 17, 1934, Walter Nagee, Contractor of 
St. Paul, Minnesota and a close friend of the Bremer family, received a ' 
telephone call at his office, 118 West Central Avenue, St. Paul, rinnesota, 
from a man who gave his name as Charles lickee. The caller inforned hr. Nagee 
that "they" had his friend Bremer and that 1.r. Lagee was to go outside his 
office, where he would find a note. rr. Kagee complied with this instruction 
and immediately went to the side of the building in which his office is 
located and there under a side door found a ransom note addressed to him as 
"Chas. 14ee", which note read as follows: 
"You are hereby declared in on a very desperate undertaking. 
Dont try to cross us. Your future and B's are the important 
issue. Follow these instructions to the letter. Police have 
never helped in such a spot, and wont this time either. You 
better take care of the payoff first and let them do the 
detecting later. Because the police usually butt in your 
friend isnt none to comfortable now so don't delay the payment. 
We demand w200,000. Payment must be =le in 5 and 10 dollar 
bills — no new money — no consegutive numers — large variety of 
issues. Place to money in two large suit box cartons big enough 
to hold the full amount and tie with heavy cord. No contact will 
be made until you notify us that you are ready to pay as ve direct. 
You place an ad in the iLinneapolis Tribune as soon as yoU have the 
money ready. Under personal colum (We are ready Alice), You will 
I. C. #7-576 	- 19 - 	 November 19, 1936 
then receive your final instructions. Be prepared to leave 
at a minutes notice to make the payoff. Dont attempt to stall 
or outsmart us. Dont try to bargain. Dont plead poverty we 
know how much they have in their banks. Dont try to comminecate 
with us we'll do the directing. Threats arent necessary - you 
just do your part - we guarantee to do ours. 
Mr. Chas McGee 
I have named you as payoff man. You are responsable for my 
safety. I am responsable for the full amount of -the money. 
(Signed) E. G. Bremer 
Deal only when signature is used. 
Chas. McGee. Personal." 
The St. Paul Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
United States Department of Justice, and the St. Paul Police Department were 
immediately notified and an investigation was begun of the second major 
kidnaping which had occurred in St. Paul, Minnesota within six months' time. 
The automobile which ET. Bremer had been driving at the tine he was kidnaped 
[as found on the date the kidnaping occurred parked on 2dgcumb Road in 
St. Paul, Minnesota. The bloodstains on the steering wheel, the gear shift 
lever, the doorsill, the back of the front seat and on the floor of the car 
indicated to the investigators that a struggle had occurred. Fear was 
expressed by-the relatives of hr. Bremer and the officials investigating the 
kidnaping that possibly Mr. Bremer was dead. At about 6:00 o'clock on the 
morning of January 20, 1934, Dr. H. T. Nippert, 706 Lincoln Avenue, St. Paul, 
Minnesota, was awakened by a crash to which he paid no particular attention 
at the moment, but later in the morning Dr. Nippert received a telephone call 
and a voice told him to go to the vestibule of his home and see what he could 
find. Dr. Nippert immediately went downstairs and found that a bottle had 
been thrown through the plate glass front door and he also found an envelope 
addressed to him which apparently had been left under the door. Two other 
envelopes were in the one addressed to Dr. Nippert. One of the inclosed 
envelopes was addressed to Walter agee and the other to Mrs. Edward Bremer. 
Dr. Nippert promptly delivered the envelopes to Adolph Bremer. In the one 
addressed to Walter Magee was a note beginning "Chas. McGee" which read as 
follows: 
"You must be proud of yourself by now. If Bremer dont get 
back his family has you to thank. Youve made it almost impossible 
but were going to give one more cliance - the last. First of all 
all coppers must be pulled off. Second the dough must be ready. 
I.C.#7-576 	- 20 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Third we -must have a new signal. 'Ihen you are ready to meet 
our terms place a R.R.A. sticker in the center of each of 
your office windows. "ell know if the coppers are pulled or 
not. Remain at your office daily from noon until 8.00 p.m, 
Have the dough ready and where you can pet it within thirty 
minutes. You will be instructed how to deliver it. The 
money must not be hot as it will be examined before Bremer 
is released. If Dahill is so hot to meet us you can sand 
him out with the dough. "ell try to be ready for any trickery 
if at meted. 	his is positively our LLST atumpt. Don duck 
it. 
hr. Chas. hoGee 
I have named you,as payoff man. You are respons4ble for ay 
safety. I am responsable or the full amount ofthe money. 
E. G. Bremer" 
The above note was signed in ink, "E.G.BRETER". 
There was also a note in th handyri -uin of Lr. Edward Bremer 
addressed to Dr. 	 iTiopert, Lowry T3uildin , St. Paul, linnesota, which 
read as follows: 
"Dear Doctor: 
I am enclosing herewith two letters which please dilivir for me at 
once. Diliver theca both to my fath ..:r at the house -- 055 "est 7th 
St. or at the office, wherever he may be -- it is very it 
that they be delivered ri9t away s it means a lot to me. be sure 
however not to say a word to anyone else that you have been given 
these letters to diliver. The reason I am writing to you is because 
I know you can be trusted not to say anything. 
Edward G. Breaer". 
There were also two notes written in the handwriting of Lr. Bremer, 
one being addressed to "Dear "alter" and the other to Lrs. ' ,,dward Bremer, in 
which hr. Bremer addressed her as "Dearest Patz", which were as follows; 
"Dear malter: 
I'm sorry to have called on you but I felt you were the old standby. 
Assure Emily & Pat that Ilmallright. I knew you would use your 
head & work on this all alone - no police. The people that have me 
have given the imprission that you are not working alone. "alter, 
I.C.ir7-576 	- 21 - 	 November 19, 1936 
please do. I know you will for me. I've been told that the 
reason the first plan was not gone through with was because 
you were working with the police. Again I say please work 
all alone & I'm sure everything will come out allright. Be 
sure now - no trings allow here. You & You alone. These 
people are going to give you a new plan. Work according to 
their directions - & again I say - alone - no police - just 
you. 
Edward 
E.G.Bremer" 
"Dearest Patz. 
Please don't worry. I hope everything will carne out allright, 
Tell Hertzy to be a good little girl, her daddy is thinking of 
her all the time and to see you or her again is all that I want, 
I suppose you are worrying about the blood in the car. I have 
a cut on my head which bleed a lot but it has been dressed & is 
allright now. Tell Pa too not to worry. I'm treated nice & the 
only thing I have to ask is to keep the police out of this so 
that I am returned to you all safely. 
Yours, 
Ed." 
Nothing further was heard from the kidnapers until the morning of 
January 22, 1954 when hr. William P. Behrens arrived at his office, the 
Behrens Whitman Coal Company, 972 'rest 7th Street, St. Paul, hinnesota, 
where he was given a note which had been found that morning by Pr. C. A. 
Stahlmann, when he arrived at Mr. Behrens' office where he was employed as 
a bookkeeper. Pr. Stahlmann found upon opening the door to the office an 
envelope with a typewritten address to 'gaiter Magee or Adolph Bremer. Ivjr. 
Behrens opened this note and found the following typewritten message: 
"Chas hagee 
If you can wait O.K. with us. You people shot a lot of curves 
trying to get somebody killed then the copper's will be heroes 
but Eddie will be the marteer. The copper's think that great 
but Eddie dont. Were done taking the draws and you can go 
now. From now on you make the contact. Better not try 
it till you pull off every copper, newspaper, and radio station. 
From now on you get the silent treatment until you reach us 
someway yourself. Better not wait too long." 
I.C.#7-576 	 - 22 - 	 November 19, 1936 
In an effort to operate unmolested, the kidnapers were demanding 
that the law enforcement agencies cease investigation. On January 25, 1934 
hr. John hiller, 1209 Hague Avenue, St. Paul, Finnesota, received a telephone 
call between 6:00 and 7:00 o'clock in the evening and the caller instructed 
hr. hiller to go to his home and there he would find a Hill Brothers coffee 
can on his front porch. Upon his arrival at his home, hr. Miller found that 
his wife had already discovered the note. This note instructed that !A00,000 
must be delivered that night and the note was addressed to Chas. hcCee or 
Adolph Bremer. It instructed that the tag which was inclosed with the note 
be taken to the Jefferson Lines Bus Station. This tag was a baggage checks 
This note carried a warning that the recipients of this note should not stall 
and were to follow instructions. The note further instructed that the baggage 
check was for the baggage checking: locker in the waiting room of the station 
and further indicated that a handbag would be found at the bus station in 
which further instructions would be contained. Lr. Magee was instructed 
that this handbag should not be opened one minute before 8:20 P.h.. 
Walter hagee followed the instructions and proceeded to the bus depot 
and obtained a black zipper bag which bag contained a pillow and an additional 
note, which instructed hr. hagee to assume the name of John B. Brakeeham and 
to board a bus leaving St. Paul, hinnesota at 8:40 P.L. for Des hoines, Iowa. 
The pay-off, however, was not accomplished on this night and it was subsequent .- 
ly learned by the investigators that a ransom note purporting to have been 
signed in ink by hr. B. G. Bremer had been left at the New Hotel Brunswick, 
Faribault, hinnesota by a man who was dressed in overalls and appeared. to be 
a farmer. This individual stated to Arthur Lurray, who was at the hotel, 
that a bus from the Twin Cities could arrive at Faribault about 10:30 P.h. 
and that he wanted to leave the package with hr. hurray to give to a passenger 
on the bus and claimed that the package contained medicine, the man's father 
having forgotten to take it with him. As no one called for the package, it 
was held for one month by hr. hurray before it was opened and when opened it 
was found to contain a note addressed to "Chas. LeGee" or pay-off man 
(John B. Brakeeham). The note stated that all previous instructions were 
canceled. 
On February 5, 1934 hiss Lillian L. Dickman, secretary to 'Alward G. 
Bremer, received a note from a man who came to the back door of her home be-
tween 7:30 and 8:00 o'clock in the evening. The man who delivered this note 
asked "Are you Lillian Dickman" and when receiving a reply in the affirmative 
the man handed her a note and told her to take care of it. This note, which 
was in the handwriting of the kidnaped victim, was delivered to Adolph Bremer 
and urged that the ransom negotiations proceed in accordance with the 
instructions outlined by the kidnapers. 
I.C.#7-576 	- 23 - 	 November 19, 1936 
The following day at about 4:30 P.M., Father Deere, a Catholic priest 
of Prior Lake, Minnesota, was approached by an unknown man at the door of his 
home who asked Father Deere if he was acquainted with a family by the name of 
Bremer and when the unknown individual learned that Father Deere knew the 
Bremer Family, he thrust an envelope into his hand, which envelope contained a 
note addressed to Father Deere instructing him to deliver additional notes, 
which were in the envelope, to Adolph Bremer and Edward Bremer's wife. The 
note which was to be delivered to Adolph Bremer bore the salutation "Chas. 
McGee or Honest Adolph" and stated that "the coppers jimmed the last payoff." 
This note gave explicit instructions for the payment of the ransom money and 
warned that if the money was not paid -on this particular night the ransom 
demand would be increased to '500,000. 
Special Agents of the Federal Fureau of Investigation worked quietly 
so as not to interfere with the payment of the ransom money if it were the 
family's desire to do so. Immediately after the first demand for ransom had 
been made, Special Agents caused the serial numbers of the ransom bills to be 
recorded, which act proved to be of inestimable value in subsequent investigat-
ion. 
In compliance with the instructions contained in the ransom note 
addressed to "Chas. McGee or Honest Adolph", Walter Magee on the evening of 
February 6, 1934 obtained a Ford sedan and with the X200,000 in ransom money,, 
which was made up of five and ten dollar bills, drove in a circuitous route 
to 969 University Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, arriving at this point at 
approximately 8:00 P.11., where he found parked in front of that address a 
1933 Chevrolet coupe bearing Shell Oil Company signs on each door. Mr. Magee 
transferred the ransom. money from the Ford coupe and entered the Chevrolet 
car with the ransom money. In the left front door pocket of the Chevrolet 
coupe Mr. Magee found the keys to the car and an additional note which 
directed him further as to the delivery of the ransom. This note read as 
follows: 
"Go to Farmington, Minnesota. The Rochester bus will arrive 
there at 9:15 P.M. and leave at 9:25P.M. Follow one 
hundred yards in back of this bus, when it leaves Farmington 
until you come to four red lights on the left of the road; 
turn on the firSt road to the left and proceed at fifteen 
miles per hour until you see five flashes of lights; then 
stop and deposit packages of money on right hand side of 
road. Leave the two notes; get in car and go straight ahead." 
In compliance with the instructions contained in this last note, Mr. 
Magee as intermediary proceeded to Farmington, Minnesota, from there followed 
the bus to Cannon Falls, to Zumbrota, Minnesota and from this latter place 
Mr. Magee drove four or five miles until he saw the four red lights on the 
left side of the road on the bank of a hill. When Mr. Magee came to this 
I C 	- 24 - 	 November 19, 1936 
point he located a gravel road nearby leading to the left, down which he 
proceeded slowly and after traveling about one-half a mile, a car pulled 
up behind him and he saw the headlights of the car flash five times. Mr. 
Hagee then stopped the Chevrolet coupe, walked around to the rear of the 
car, opened the door of the right side and took out two suit boxes, placed 
them on the right hand side of the road and the ransom for the release of 
Edward George Breuer had been paid. 
At about 8:00 P.M. on February 7, 1934, Mr. Edward G. Bremer was 
released by his abductors at Rochester, Minnesota. hen he arrived at that 
place with his abductors, Mr. Bremer was instructed by them to get out of 
the car in the middle of the street and to stand with his back towards the 
direction in which the kidnapers' car was headed. He was then told to count 
slowly to fifteen, after which the bandage over his eyes could be removed. 
After Mr. Bremer had returned safely to his home, Special Agents were 
free to pursue the investigation of the kidnaping vigorously. Mr. Bremer, 
although having been injured at the time he was kidnaped and had been blind-
folded with taped goggles, was able to hear various sounds en route to the 
hide-out where he was held. The gang did not keep him blindfolded at all 
times at the hide-out and he was able to observe things which were later to 
be of assistance in identifying the place where he was held captive. 
Bremer was able to furnish the investigators with information that upon his 
arrival at the place where he was held he heard two dogs barking and these 
dogs appeared to be very close to the house and they barked on frequent 
occasions.. Hr. Bremer also heard a group of children playing in close 
proximity to the house and the noise of the children indicated that they were 
probably from four to eight years of age. Mr. Bremer also heard children 
passing through the yard adjoining the hide-out house. After the first few 
days of Hr. Bremer's confinement, the goggles which had been placed over his 
eyes at the time of his abduction were removed and he was permitted to sit in 
his room without an obstruction over his face and this afforded him an 
opportunity to observe the furnishings of the bedroom in which he was held. 
He made a mental picture of the wallpaper and was able to describe it in such 
detail that similar wallpaper was traced by Special Agents and found to have 
been sold by a large mail order house. A specimen of this wallpaper was 
obtained and Mr. Bremer was able to positively identify it as being similar 
to that which was on the walls in the bedroom. 
Although blindfolded, Mr. Bremer was able to furnish certain infor-
mation concerning the toilet room in which he was taken from time to time. 
he learned that the lever for flushing the toilet consisted of what appeared 
to be a metal screw. The enamel which had covered the screw had either been 
removed or broken. He observed a crack in the wall of the bedroom. Overhead 
Mr. Bremer heard a snail child crying and estimated the age of the child to 
be about one year and he also heard another child approximately four years of 
age playing on the floor above hire. Mr. Bremer was convinced that there was 
I.C.#7-576 	- 25 - 	 November 19, 1936 
a coal stove adjacent to the room in which he was held, as he heard sounds 
indicating that coal was being shoveled from a bin into a scuttle and the 
sound indicated that the coal was being kept in a position near the kitchen. 
Mr. Bremer was further able to describe the sounds of traffic, which traffic 
apparently was in close proximity to the hide-out house. He could hear the 
brakes being applied to either busses or trucks, which gave him the impression 
that he was near a "stop sign" on a main highway. Sounds of trains could 
also be heard, Mr. Bremer being of the opinion that these trains were probably 
interurban in character as they passed most frequently in the mornings and in 
the afternoons. In connection with the food which was served to him, Mr. 
Bremer advised the Special Agents that he was of the opinion the food was cooked 
by a man, because it was always too well seasoned; that on one occasion he was • 
served fish and on another occasion he was served fresh strawberry shortcake, 
which due to the season of the year was considered very unusual. 
Mr. Bremer was unable to state definitely the number of hours he was 
transported after being kidnaped at St. Paul, but after traveling several 
hours they arrived at the hide-out and his abductors dressed his wounded head, 
which wound had been inflicted upon him at the time he was kidnaped. Hr. 
Bremer was of the opinion that he traveled through a city of medium size en 
route to the hide-out, inasmuch as he heard street cars. Mr. Bremer also was 
—able to furnish the Special Agents with information concerning his return trip 
to Rochester, Minnesota. Mr. Bremer stated that upon leaving the hide-out 
sometime during the morning of February 7, 1934, he was placed in what appeared 
to be a one seated automobile by his abductors; that after riding a short 
distance he was transferred to another car and that this second car was a sedan. 
He was forced to enter the sedan and sit on the floor immediately behind the 
driver with his back against the front seat and his right side leaning against 
the left rear door. At this time his hand touched the butt of what appeared to 
be either a shotgun or a rifle on the floor. He also was able to ascertain 
that there was a tin can immediately on his left side on which he could 
comfortably rest his left elbow; that this can appeared to be an ordinary five 
gallon tin can which contained gasoline, as he could smell the strong odor of 
that fuel. Mr. Bremer estimated that after approximately one-half of the 
distance had been covered between the hide-out house and Rochester, Minnesota, 
the car in which he was riding turned off from the paved road and after ten or 
fifteen minutes the car pulled to the side of a road and the two men who were 
in the front seat of the car and the one in the rear seat guarding him got out 
and took out cf the car at least two tin cans containing. gasoline. He heard 
his abductors pour gasoline into the tank of the car in which he was riding, 
after which the journey was resumed. He recalled that his abductors at the 
time the tank of the automobile was refueled turned off the paved highway, 
because he heard gravel striking the windows of the car. 
With this information at hand, Special Agents continued their investi- 
gation and on February 10, 1934 the Sheriff of Columbia County, Wisconsin 
I.C.#7-576 	- 26 - 	 November 19, 1936 
turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation four large gasoline cans 
and a tin funnel which had been found by a farmer near Portage, Wisconsin. 
Due to the information furnished by Mr. Bremer concerning the refueling of 
the automobile used in the return trip from the hide-out house, these gasoline 
cans were immediately forwarded by Special Agents to .the Technical Laboratory 
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at Washington, D. C. The Laboratory 
examination of.the gasoline cans revealed a latent fingerprint, which finger-
print was identified as being identical with the right index fingerprint of 
Arthur "Doc" Barker. 
On February 8, 1934 Special Agents retraced the route taken by Walter 
Magee at the time he paid the ransom money and at a point several miles south 
of Zumbrota, -Minnesota, four flashlights were found equipped with red filmolens. 
These lights, which had been used as signal lights at the time Mr. Magee 
delivered the ransom money to the kidnapers, bore the trademark "Merit Product."' 
The Special Agents then began the task of tracing these flashlights and it was 
learned that flashlights of this make were sold at the F. & W. Grand Silver 
Store, 67 7th Street, St. Paul, Minnesota. At this store a girl employee iden-
tified the photograph of Alvin Karpis as having purchased the flashlights from 
her prior to the kidnaping of Mr. Bremer. 
Special Agents after the identification of Arthur "Doc" Barker and 
Alvin Karpis had definite leads and knew the identity of two of the actual par-
ticipants in the kidnaping of hr. Bremer. The Snecial Agents knew also that 
the gang which had extorted and robbed the citizens of the Twin Cities of more 
than 000,000 in less than a year's time were desperate criminals. Arthur 
"Doc" Barker and Alvin Karpis were not straneers to the Special Agents of the 
Federal -Bureau of investigation - their histories were known. 
On March 20, 1934, Fred Goetz met his death. He was murdered by mem-
bers of the underworld at Cicero, Illinois as he was leaving a saloon. His 
murderers eliminated him from further participation in the criminal activities 
of the Karpis-Barker gang by several shotgun blasts in his face, which pre-
vented recognition. He was identified by fingerprints. After the death of 
Fred Goetz, investigation revealed that he had participated in the abduction 
of Mr. Bremer. Efforts were made by Special Agents to locate Irene Dorsey, 
with wham Goetz had been living. Interviews with the parents of Irene Dorsey 
and Fred Goetz produced no infornation concerning her whereabouts other than 
that Irene Dorsey was somewhere in the west. Continued investigation revealed 
that Irene had sent to her parents the following telegram: 
"No contracts no signing partner to settle read and 
think. Use your wits, neither cloud is under control 
and all need Indian orders wait for them. Answer yes 
at once." Signed "Irene Dorsey, Larne Hotel, San 
Francisco, California." 
I.C.#7-576 	- 27 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Irene Dorsey was not located at the Larne Hotel. She was located in the 
mental ward of a hospital. Her association with the criminal Fred Goetz 
had been too much and her mind faltered under the strain. 
Subsequent investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
revealed that Fred Goetz, with Fred Barker and Volney Davis, had carried 
on ransom negotiations in St. Paul and had collected the 0200,000 from 
the intermediary. It was further learned that Volney Davis had been the 
individual who had openly approached Lillian Dickman and Father Deere in 
the negotiations for the payment of the ransom money. 
On February 9, 19Z4, two days subsequent to the release of ]r. -
Bremer, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began the distribution of the 
printed list containing the serial numbers of all the currency which coin, 
prised the ransom. These lists leer° distributed to all banks in the United 
States and in some foreign countries, with the request that should any of 
the listed currency ba detected in a bank the nearest division of the Federal 
Bureau of investigation was to be immediately notified. On 	 23, 1934 
the Chicago Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation received 
information that an individual appeared at the Uptown State Bank, 1050 Wilson 
Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, and presented e900.00 in five dollar bills and 
4100.00 in ten and twenty dollar bills and requested that ,100 bills be given 
in exchange therefor. The teller at the bank was suspicious of this exchange 
and compared the serial numbers appearing on the five and ten dollar bills 
with the ransom list. It was found to be ransom money. Special Agents of 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation acting promptly on this lead and having 
obtained a description of the individual who passed the money, who investi-
gation disclosed had appeared at other banking institutions in the city, 
redoubled their efforts to locate hime On April 26, 1934 an individual 
appeared at the City National Bank and Trust Company, Chicago, Illinois and 
desired a ,i8100.00 bill for ten 010 bills, which were determined by the officials 
of the bank to be ransom money. Again the Chicago Field Division of the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation was immediately notified and investigation 
disclosed that the individual who had exchanged the money had made the remark 
that he was a "bookie". A bookmakerts establishment at 226 South tells Street 
in Chicago was located. At this place Special Agents located William Edward 
Vidler, who admitted that he was the man who had been exchanging the money in 
Chicago, but denied that he knew it was ransom money. 
It was further learned that Vidierts associates in the exchange of the 
money were John J. :cLavehlin, commonly known as "Boss" hcLaujalin, a politi-
cal "ward heeler", John J. ncLaughlin, Jr. and Philip Delaney. On April 28, 
1934 "Boss" LcLaughlin was taken into custody by Special Agents. He was indig-
nant that he should be arrested. Telegrams were dispatched to the President 
of the United States and to the Attorney General by licLaughlinfs wifelprotesting 
I.C.#7 -576 	- 28 - 	 November 19, 1936 
theamst.The attempt failed and hcLaughlin remained in custody. _The ax-
Illinois State Legislator was unable to gain his freedom by endeavoring 
to use political influence. John Lciaughlin, Jr. and Philip Delaney 
were also arrested and charged with being money-changers. 'Then questioned 
concerning his part in the transaction, John J. kcLaughlin, Sr. stated 
that he first negotiated with one Frankie 7Tright in the lobby of a prominent 
hotel in Chicago; that he was later introduced by Uright to individuals known 
only to him as "Izzy" and "Slim"; that he agreed to exchange the money On a 
five per cent basis and understood from information furnished to him by 
"Izzy" and "Slim"; that the first e100,000 to be exchanged was the Hamm 
ransom money paid by Willi am A. Hamm of St. Paul to effect his release from 
a gang of kidnapers and that e200,000, paid by Edward G. Bremer, would be 
forthcoming at a later date to be exchanged. Special Agents of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation also learned that LcLaughlin had visited "Izzy" and 
"Slim" at a hotel on Irving Park Boulevard in Chicago, Illinois. Investi-
gation disclosed that the hotel in question was the Irving Hotel on Irving 
Park Boulevard and that thy- room in which bcLaughlin had met "Izzy" and 
"Slim" was rented by Dr. Joseph P. horan. 
It was further learned that additional rooms had been rented at the 
hotel by Dr. Loran on April 23, 25, 26 and 27, 1934. This investigation dis-
closed that an individual knern as Roy Gray, of 626 T'aveland Avenue, Chicago, 
Illinois, was a frequent visitor to Dr. Loran. Spacial Agents of the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation obtained a photograph of Roy Gray and after 
examining it found that it was identical with the photograph of Russell 
Gibson, for whom the Federal Bureau of Investigation had previously prepared 
an T:dentification Order, shoring Gibson to be wanted for violation of the 
National l'otor Vehicle Theft Act and also for robbing the American First 
National Bank messenger at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on hay 24, 1929. Special 
Agents of the Federal Bureau of investigation through their investigative 
efforts identified "Izzy 4,  as Oliver A. ,erg, who was wanted by the Illinois 
State Penitentiary at Joliet, Illinois. 
Special tgents on the niaht of August 22, 1934 arrested Oliver A. 
Berg at the home of his sister, 3248 North “inthrop Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. 
Nearby in a desk of the room in ,'ich Berg was taken into custody were found 
fully loaded revolvers which Berg had no opiortunity to use. Berg did not 
surrender peacefully and although he was advised of the identity of the 
Special Agents, ho screamed that he was "being taken for a ride." Berg 
boasted that he was one of the few surviving members of the so-called "Bugs" 
horan mob, which had terrorized Chicago, Illinois in the early prohibition 
days, the majority of that gang being annihilated on February 14, 1929, by 
what is now known as the St. Valentine's Day Lassacre, in which Fred Goetz 
is alleged to have been one of the machine zunners. 
I.C.#7-576 	- 29 - 	 November 19, 1936 
It appears that Berg had been received at the Southern Illinois 
State Penitentiary, Lenard, Illinois on December 15, 1926, to serve a 
sentence of ten years to life imprisonment after conviction on a charge 
of robbery with a gun. He appealed his case and while it was receiving 
consideration of the Appellate Court, he was released from the Illinois 
State Penitentiary on bond on November 7, 1931. The Appellate Court, 
hoever, sustained the sentence of the Lower Court and Berg did not 
return to the penitentiary until after his apprehension by Special Agents 
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
Inquiry into the back ground of Dr. Joseph P. Loran revealed that 
ha had an extensive practice in medicine, most of his patients being members 
of the underworld. Dr. Loran himself had served a sentence at the State 
Penitentiary, Joliet, Illinois for the crime of abortion. He was received 
at the penitentiary on November 17, 1928 for LaSalle County, Illinois, under 
sentence of one to ten years. Ile was paroled on April 7, 1930 and having 
violated the terms of his parole was returned to the penitentiary on January 
23, 1931. He was again paroled on December 15, 1931. While in the peni-
tentiary, Dr. Loran engaged in medical vork and is said to have operated upon 
approximately 4,500 persons, including prisoners and officials,during the 
period of his incarceration. While in the penitentiary, Dr. Loran met various 
labor leaders who visited that Institution and through these contacts he became 
the physician for the Chicano Chauffeurs; Teamsters and Helpers' Union, with 
headquarters in Maywood, Illinois, subsequent to the time ho was released from 
the penitentiary. As physician for this union, Dr.. Loran became very closely 
associated with the Touhy mob and the Capone Syndicate. During August of 1933 
the union was reorganized and at the time Dr. Loran was dropped as its 
physician. He thereafter established himself in an office on Irving Park 
Boulevard, where many of his friends from the underworld continued to call upon 
him. 
Ftcd GootZ and -Irene Dorsey subsequent to the release of hr. Bremer 
moved from their apartment at 1934 "Jest Garfield Boulevard to an apartment 
located at 7827 South Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois. After the collection 
of the ransom money from the Bremer Family, it was taken to the apartment of 
Fred Goetz by Voiney Davis, Goetz and Bryan Bolton, but later in order to 
better conceal the loot, Goetz took the ransom money and buried it in the 
garage of Simon Cinotto, Irene Dorsey's uncle, at Wilmington, Illinois. 
At the time hr. iremer was being held kidnaped victim, the women 
members of the mob concealed themselves in apartments located in Chicago, 
Illinois. Edna ;'array, Wynona Burdette and Paula Harmon secured an apartment 
together at 6212 University Avenue. The arrangements for this apartment were 
made by William J. Harrison. ha Barker at this time was residing in an apart-
ment at 7269 South Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, which apartment she 
occupied until September, 1934. Here she waited patiently for her sons 
to successfully consummate their latest crime. Harrison also did 
- 30 - 	 November 19, 1936 
other favors for the gang and on January 27, 1934, Harrison, with Wynona 
Burdette and Edna Murray, traveled from Chicago, Illinois to Toledo, Ohio and 
registered at the Algeo Hotel. The purpose of this trip was to secure license 
plates for the automobile of Fred Barker. Harrison during the time he was 
operating speakeasies at Calumet City, Illinois had as a partner, Bert Angus, 
who at the time of the visit in February, 1934 of Harrison to Toledo, Ohio was 
operating a roadhouse known as the Casino Club, Point Place, Ohio, a suburb of 
Toledo, Ohio, in partnership with his ex-convict brother Ted Angus and imme-
diately upon Harrison's arrival in Toledo he contacted his old friend Bert 
Angus and through a bartender arranged for the purchase of a set of license 
plates. During the same afternoon, while Edna Murray, Wynona Burdette and 
Harrison were sleeping in their rooms at the Algeo Hotel,two police officers, 
upon orders of Captain George Timiney, in charge of the so-called "hoodlum" 
squad of the Toledo, Ohio Police Departnent, in order to play a practical 
joke on Harrison, caused Harrison's arrest. Harrison pleaded that he was a 
good friend of Bert Angus, but the officers refused to heed his. pleadings, 
but finally agreed to take him to the Casino Club to ascertain whether Bert 
Angus would vouch for him. As a part of the hoax, Bert Angus and Captain 
Timiney refused to recognize Harrison. In the meantime, the women in the 
hotel room were frantic. They feared that possibly the Karpis-Barker gang had 
already been identified as the kidnapers of Mr. Bremer. Immediately after 
securing the license plates, Harrison, with Wynona Burdette and Edna Murray, 
returned to Chicago, Illinois. 
Just prior to the release of Mr. Bremer, dissent arose among Edna 
Murray, Wynona Burdette and Paula Harmon and Paula secured another apartment 
located at 6708 Constance Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, where Fred Barker pre-
sumably resided with her after collection of the ransom money. The landlord 
later complained that this apartment was vacated without notice the latter 
part of February 1934 and left in a disorderly condition. Due to the reliable 
contact that Harrison had established in Toledo, Ohio, Fred Barker and Paula 
Harmon after leaving the apartment on Constance Avenue proceeded to the vicin-
ity of Toledo, Ohio and there as Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Bradford, rented an apart-
ment at 4905 Summit Street, Point Place, Ohio. 
In late February, 1934, Volney Davis, posing as a gambler and ex-prize 
fighter, with Edna Murray, moved to Aurora, Illinois, where they had an apart-
ment at 415 Fox Street. Volney and Edna believed that they would be in less 
fear of apprehension if they did not live in too close proximity to other mem-
bers of the gang. Their wishes in this matter were soon shattered, as 
William Weaver and Myrtle Eaton also moved to Aurora, Illinois and rented a 
room at 50 South 4th Street and later moved into an apartment at 411 Claim 
Street. "Doc" Darker also made his home with Weaver and Myrtle Eaton at the 
latter address. Weaver represented himself to the citizens of Aurora as being 
William Thornton, a man engaged in the slot machine business. "Doc" Barker 
was known as :1r. Morley. 
C.#7-576 	- 31 - 	 November 19, 1936 
After the assassination of Fred Goetz, the gang deemed it advisable 
to move the ransom money from its burial place at Wilmington, Illinois and 
thereafter, on or about March 23, 1934, Kate Barker and Irene Dorsey 
contacted Volney Davis at his apartment in Aurora, Illinois and on that 
night Volney Davis, with Kate Barker and Irene Dorsey, removed the ransom 
money from Wilmington, Illinois, taking it to the apartment of Fred Barker 
in Chicago, Illinois, who had returned from Toledo, Ohio. Thereafter the 
ransom negotiations with "Boss" hcLaughlin began on or about April 18, 1934 
and the money was taken to the apartment of William Weaver at Aurora, Illinois. 
The money was then routed through Dr. Moran to the money-changers in Chicago, 
Illinois. 
During the months of March and April 1934, loran's rooms at the Irving 
Hotel were used as a rendezvous by "Doc" Barker, Oliver A. Berg, "Boss" 
McLaughlin, Russell Gibson and other members of the Karpis-Barker gang. The 
rooms of Dr. Moran contained at various times many thousands of dollars of 
the ransom money. After the money had been exchanged, it was returned to Dr. 
horan's rooms, where percentages were paid for the exchanges and other 
quantities Of ransom money were given to NcLaughlin for further exchange. 
Moran received his "cut" for the assistance which he rendered. Oliver A. 
Berg, Russell Gibson and James Wilson, the nephew of Dr. Moran, were assisting 
the mobsters by making trips with them to Aurora, Illinois to secure money for 
--urposes of exchange in Chicago and Wilson was running other errands which 
,ere required. James Wilson became involved with this notorious mob because 
he had hoped that his uncle, Dr. Moran, would secure sufficient renumeration 
from the exchange of the ransom money to permit his uncle defraying his 
expenses for a medical course in college. 
Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ascertained that 
on or about the 10th of March, 1934, Dr. Doran operated on the fingers and 
faces of Alvin Karpis and Fred Barker in his rooms at the Irving Hotel, in an 
unsuccessful effort to alter their fingerprints and facial characteristics to 
prevent identification. After those operations, Alvin Karpis and Fred Barker 
convalesced in a room provided for them by Oliver Berg at the home of his 
sister on Winthrop Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Fred Barker was suffering 
from the operations the night Fred Goetz was killed. This prevented him from 
taking an active part in the removal of the ransom money from Wilmington, 
Illinois. It is said that Fred Barker was a "raving maniac", due to the pain 
caused by the unsuccessful operations performed by the ex-convict doctor. 
On April 22, 1934 at the lodge known as Little Bohemia at Spider Lake, 
Wisconsin, John Dillinger and his mobsters evaded capture by Special Agents 
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and fled to St. Paul, Minnesota and 
thence to Chicago, Illinois. In this escape John Hamilton, the gangster 
associate of Dillinger, was wounded. Refuge was sought and obtained by 
i. C. #7-576 	- 32 - 	 November 19,1936 
Dillinger, Hamer Van Meter and the wounded Hamilton from members of the 
Karpis-Darker gang. Through mutual contacts of Dillinger and members of 
the Karpis-Barker gang, which were members of the Capone Syndicate, 
Dillinger was put in touch with Elmer Farmer at Bensenville, Illinois and 
through Elmer Farmer arrangements were made to take John Hamilton to the 
home of Volney Davis at Aurora, Illinois, at which place Hamilton died and 
after his death he was buried by Volney Davis, "Doc" Barker, John Dillinger, 
Homer Van Neter, William Weaver and Harry Campbell in a gravel pit near 
Oswego, Illinois. The body of Hamilton was later recovered on August 28, . 
1935 by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
On the day that "Boss" McLaughlin was arrested with his colleagues 
in Chicago, Illinois, a dramatic incident occurred at Aurora, Illinois. 
The gang did not know whether "Boss" McLaughlin would talk. They anticipated 
that if he did talk the gang's hide-out at Aurora would become known. They 
decided to be prepared "Doc" Barker, Harry Campbell, Volney Davis and 
William weaver, together with their guests John Dillinger and Homer Van Meter, 
guarded the windows and the doors of Volney Davis' apartment all through the 
night, each being armed with a machine gun, anticipating a raid by Special 
Agents. The following morning, Russell Gibson brought them the details of 
what he had learned concerning the arrest of the money changers. Coincident 
Pith the announcement in the press on April 28, 1934 of the arrest of John J. 
ZcLaughlin, Sr. and the others, Dr. Joseph P. Moran abandoned his room at 
the Irving Hotel and together with Oliver A. Berg, Russell Gibson and James 
Wilson, fled to Toledo, Ohio. 
Prior to the occurrences at Aurora, Illinois and immediately after the 
release cf Mr. Bremer, Harry Campbell and Wynona Burdette, under the names of 
Mr. and Mrs. George Nelson, rented an apartment at the Jarvis Apartments in 
Toledo, Ohio and later, on March 25, 1934, Harry Campbell and wynona Burdette, 
as Mr. and Mrs. George Winfield, rented a house at 2831 131st Street, Point 
Place, Ohio and apparently Harry Campbell returned to Chicago and Aurora on 
various occasions during the ransom exchange negotiations. 
Alvin Karpis and Dolores Delaney, on April 18, 1934, as Mr. and Mrs. 
Edward L. Baudry, rented an apartment at the Jarvis Apartments in Toledo, at 
which place they continued to reside until May 18, 1934. 
Edna Murray after fleeing from Aurora, Illinois subsequent to the 
ap-Drehension of "Boss" McLaughlin, made a trip to Kansas City, Missouri and 
vicinity and later joined Volney Davis in Toledo, Ohio, where on May 9, 1934 
they rented an apartment at the burdalla Apartments under the names of Mr. 
and Mrs. H. J. Morley. 
The investigation by Special Agents revealed that although the gang 
had fled from Chicago and Aurora, Illinois, they were making every effort to 
avoid detection and identification. Arrangements were made at Toledo for 
I. C. #7-576 	- 33 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Volney Davis, Harry Campbell and "Doc" Barker to undergo facial and finger 
operations similar to those which had been performed on Karpis and Barker 
at Chicago, Illinois. On the night Dr. loran was to perform these operations, 
with the assistance of James Wilson, at the home of Harry Campbell in Point 
Place, Ohio, Harry Campbell alarmed the other members of the gang by advising 
that he believed the house was under surveillance by police officers. The 
operations were postponed while Fred Barker made inquiries, through Ted Angus, 
whether that situation really existed. Upon receiving information that there 
was nothing at which they should be alarmed, Dr. Moran performed the 
operations. It was later said that Harry Campbell lacked courage in going 
through with the operations; that he took the means of postponing it by advis-
ing his associates that there was danger of a police raid. Volney Davis, 
Harry Campbell and "Doc" Barker were nursed during their convalescent period 
by James Wilson, Wynona Burdette and Edna Murray. They suffered severe pain 
in their fingers and had to be fed by those attending them. The favorite "hang 
out" for the mob after their flight from Chicago was the Casino Club. Here 
the gang spent their money freely and enjoyed the fruits of their crime. 
Charles J. Fitzgerald, better known as "Old Fitz" or the "Old Man", was with 
other members of the gang in Toledo and enjoyed the recreation and entertain-
ment at the Casino Club with them. Fitzgerald was popular among the members 
of the club and others who visited that place, as he would frequently "buy a 
beer and a whiskey for the house." 
In June 1934 William Weaver and Myrtle Eaton, as Mr. and Mrs. J. A. 
Orhose, rented a cottage at Grand Forest Beach, Ohio. Likewise Edna Murray 
and Volney Davis took a cottage on Lake Erie near the cottage of William 
Weaver and Myrtle Eaton, in an effort to avoid the company of other members 
of the gang, but this was unsuccessful, as various members congregated at 
these cottages. Discord arose aaong the various members and as a result, 
William Weaver and Volney Davis, who were characterized as the malcontents 
of the gang, were given their share of the ransom money, which to the best 
information obtainable, was approximately between .18,000 and ' ?20,000 each. 
After securing his share of the ransom money, Volney Davis made a 
trip to Buffalo, New York, where he exchanged for unmarked currency a portion 
of his share of the ransom money. Davis after making this trip to Buffalo, 
secured a Ford truck, left Grand Forest Beach, Ohio and proceeded in the truck 
to Glasgow, Montana, where he was later joined by Edna Murray. Davis intended 
severing his connections with the Karpis-Barker gang forever and contemplated 
going into business at Glasgow, Montana with Corey Bales, with whom he had be-
come acquainted while in Aurora, Illinois. At Glasgow, Montana, Davis and 
Bales leased a plot of land near the Fort Peck Dam and built thereon a night 
club which was also to be used as a gambling establishment. Volney Davis and 
Edna Murray enjoyed the free life of the West for only a short time, as they 
..C. #7-576 	- 34 - 	 November 19, 1936 
received information that Special Agents were conducting an investigation 
in the vicinity of Glasgow, Montana concerning them and they immediately 
fled to Kansas City, Missouri. 
William Weaver, after securing his share of the ransom money in 
August, 1934, left the other members of the gang and proceeded, with Myrtle 
Eaton, to Allandale, Florida, where they took up residence on a snail 
chicken farm. 
Alvin Karpis also reasoned that if so many of the gang continued 
to associate together it would ultimately cause their apprehension, so he, 
with Dolores Delaney, moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where in early May of 1934 
they rented an apartment, the location of which has never been determined. 
They were soon joined by Fred Barker and Paula Harmon, who on May 20, 1934 
rented an apartment at 10515 Parkhurst Avenue, where they resided under the 
names of Mr. and Mrs. J. Earl Matterson. On June 8, 1934, Alvin Karpis and 
his moll, as Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Milgreth, rented a house at 18109 Flamingo 
Avenue, where they continued to live until July 6, 1934, on which latter 
date they rented a house at 3973 West 140th Street. On August 16, 1934, as Mr. 
and Mrs. J. Earl Matterson, Fred Barker and his woman began living at 4419 
West 171st Street, Cleveland, Ohio. 
Harry Sawyer, after the kidnaping and release of Mr. Bremer continued 
to reside with his wife, Gladys, in St. Paul, Minnesota, until April, 1934, 
when he fled with his wife to Las Vegas, Nevada to avoid prosecution in 
connection with the abduction of Mr. Bremer. Harry Sawyer had not received 
his share of the ransom money and therefore in June, 1934, he communicated with 
Alvin Karpis by letter at General Delivery, Cleveland, Ohio, and made arrange-
ments to meet Karpis in Cleveland and thereafter did join other members of 
the gang in that city. 
On or about August 21, 1934, Harry Campbell and viynona Burdette left 
their cottage at Grand Forest Beach, Ohio and also moved into Cleveland, Ohio, 
where as Mr. and Mrs. George Walcott they rented an apartment at 7009 Franklin 
Boulevard. "Doc" Barker also resided at this address with them. Harrison 
also associated with those members of the gang living in Cleveland, Ohio. 
Alvin Karpis, Fred Barker, Harry Campbell, Harry Sawyer, "Doc" Barker and 
William Harrison were enjoying their rest at Cleveland, Ohio, frequenting 
the Harvard Club, a notorious gambling establishment in Newburg Heights, 
Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, which was operated by James "Shimg" Patton and 
Arthur W. Hedebrand. The gang in September of 1934 still possessed approx-
imately 7,100,000 of the original ransom money and to avoid detection, efforts 
were being made by them to exchange the ransom money for money which could 
not be detected by the serial numbers. William Harrison and Harry Sawyer 
were designated as the emissaries of the mob to proceed to Miami, Florida 
and make arrangements for this exchange and on September 1, 1934, Sawyer and 
--wrison were at the El Commodore Hotel in Miami, Florida. 
.C.#7-576 	- 35 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Four days later, on September 5, 1934, the tranquillity enjoyed by those 
who remained in Cleveland, Ohio was materially disturbed, for on that date 
Itname Burdette, Gladys Sawyer and Paula Harmon visited the bar in the Cleveland 
Hotel at Cleveland, Ohio, where they indulged heavily in intoxicating liquors. 
They became boisterous and as a result they were arrested by the Cleveland, 
Ohio Police Department on charges of being drunk aad disorderly. They were 
taken from the hotel screaming, fearing that their identities would become 
known. Special Agents learned of the arrest of the women and identified them 
as being associates of the Karpis-Barker gang. Again it was time for the 
remaining members of the gang in Cleveland to move. Dolores Delaney was 
instructed by Alvin Karpis to immediately proceed to Toledo, Ohio and register 
at the Algeo Hotel. At this place the Delaney woman received further instructions 
from Karpis to proceed to Chicago, Illinois. Fred Barker and Alvin Karpis 
followed and thereafter Karpis met Dolores Delaney in Chicago and Fred Barker 
met his mother and the next place Of refuge was Miami, Florida. Special Agents, 
after the identification of the women were made, conducted an investigation at 
the various residences which had been occupied by the gangsters, but found that 
they had fled. Paula Harmon, Wynona Burdette and Gladys Sawyer, after being 
questioned concerning the wanderings of the gang, wore released. Gladys Sawyer 
returned to her home in St. Paul, but later rejoined her husband and proceeded 
to the State of Mississippi. After the release of Wynona Burdette, she pro- 
-eded to the home of her sister in Tulsa, Oklahoma and later to the home of 
aother sister near Hominy, Oklahoma. iynona had vowed that she was through 
with gangsters and their activities. She expressed a hope that she could again 
secure a position in her native state and remain there as a law-abiding citizen. 
Paula Harmon, upon being discharged frcyl custody, returned to her home at Port 
Arthur, Texas, later to be committed to a state hospital for mental disorders. 
She thereafter at no time associated with other members of the mob. 
William Harrison and Harry Sawyer had, in the meantime, started 
negotiations with Cassius McDonald to make further exchanges of the ransom 
money. Cassius McDonald, a man of fifty years of age, for twenty-five years 
had engaged in gambling activities in Chicago, Detroit and Havana, Cuba. He 
maintained a residence at Trombley Road and Lake St. Clair, Detroit, Michigan, 
where he entertained many prominent politicians. For ten years, McDonald 
had spent a considerable portion of his time in Cuba, as a result of which he 
gained control of the gambling activities in Havana. On September 5, 1934, 
McDonald traveled by air to Havana, Cuba, where he contacted a brokerage firm, 
stating to the officials of that firm that he had a quantity of small denomi-
nation American bills with which he desired to purchase Cuban gold. McDonald 
introduced himself to the brokerage firm as Mr. O'Brien. McDonald exchanged 
$18,000 of the ransom money and received $14,000 in Cuban gold exchange. 
I.C.#7-576 	November 19, 1936 
The following day McDonald went to the National City Bank in Havana, Cuba, 
where arrangements were made for the sale of the Cuban gold through that 
tank and McDonald received fourteen one thousand dollar bills in exchange 
therefor. Later, on September 10, 1934, McDonald under the name O'Brien 
again contacted the brokerage firm and made arrangements to exchange Y12,000 
in ransom money for larger bills. The representatives of the brokerage firm 
were Rene Bolivar and Juan Ruiz and on the occasion of his second visit to 
the firm, McDonald invited Bolivar and Ruiz to his room at the National 
Hotel, at which place they observed 4illian J. Harrison. McDonald while in 
the hotel room produced a newspaper wrapped package which contained .72,000 
in small bills. Bolivar thereafter went to the Chase National Bank. in Havana, 
Cuba. with McDonald and the money was exchanged for one thousand dollar bills. 
The Chase National Bank charged a discount of one-fourth of one per cent on 
the transaction. 
Alvin Karpis and Dolores Delaney on September 20, 1934 registered at 
the El Commodore Hotel in Miami, Florida as Mr. and Mrs. J. Wagner of Detroit, 
Michigan, but on the following day they checked out of this hotel and took 
refuge in Havana, Cuba. At Havana, Cuba they visited the Park View Hotel and 
presented to the Manager, Nathaniel Heller, a card signed by Joe Adams, the 
Manager of the El Commodore Hotel, which card bore the messacze "this man is 
all right". Karpis believed that La Cuba he would find relaxation. from the 
pressing search being conducted by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation. Through the efforts of Nathaniel holler, Karpis rented a 
cottage at Veradore Beach in Cuba and he and Dolores Delaney once. more 
"settled down". 
Other members of the Karpis-Barker pang who during September 1934 
registered at the El Commodore Hotel were Marry Campbell, Fred and Kato 
Barker. Na Darker appeared at the hotel on September 30, 1934 and registered 
as Mrs. G. E. Ryan of South Bend, Indiana. Harry Campbell, as G. L. Summers, 
and Fred Darker, as T. C. Blackburn, of St. Charles, Illinois, registered at 
the hotel on September 29, 1934 and remained there until Novaaber 7, 1934, as 
did Na Barker. During the residence of Fred Barker at the El Commodore Hotel 
he expressed a desire to Joe Adams, the Manager, that he would like to have a 
cottage where he and his mother could reside and enjoy a quiet life. Joe 
Adams had a friend who owned a cottage which would supply the need of Fred 
Barker. Adams, through this friend, secured the rental of a cottage for Fred 
Barker and his mother which was located on Lake Weir at Oklawaha, Florida. 
After this cottage was rented by Fred Barker, he and his mother left the 
El Cowmodore Hotel on November 7, 1934 and took up their residence on Lake 
Weir. 
Harry Campbell became lonesome for .,v'ynona Burdette and a few days 
before Thanksgiving of 1934 he drove to Oklahoma to the home of'Wynona Burdette's 
-- sister at Hominy, Oklahoma and there rejoined Wynona. wynona cast aside the 
resolution she had previously made and returned with Campbell to the State of 
I.C.#7-576 	- 37 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Florida, where they began living with Fred Barker and his mother on Lake deir. 
Karpis, ,in. the meantime, with Dolores Delaney, had continued to reside in 
Havana, Cuba, but in the early part of December 1934, Karpis again decided it 
was best to move. His photograph had appeared in the Havana newspapers and he 
feared someone night recognize him. The couple returned to Miami, Florida. 
Again Joe Adams came to the assistance of a member of the gang and assisted 
Dolores Delaney and Karpis in renting a house at 1121 85th Street, h.E., Hiami, 
Florida, where the couple resided as Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Green. 
While those activities were taking place in Miami, Florida and Havana, 
Cuba, James Nilson had not seen his uncle, Dr. Moran, for several weeks, so ho 
left Toledo, Ohio and proceeded to Chicago, Illinois and. then to Denver, 
Colorado, where on September 4, 1934 ho surrendered to the Denver Field Division 
of the Federal Bureau of Tnvestiation. 
"Doc" Barker, prior to going to Toledo, Ohio in April 1934 had boon 
termed by his associates as a woman hater, except for his frequent visits to 
houses of prostitution. At Toledo, Ohio "Doc" Barker became infatuated with 
Mildred Kuhlman, who was a friend of Madeline. Angus, the wife of Ted Angus, 
who had afforded the gang protection. Mildred was also friendly with Thelma 
and Rene Hoist, sisters of Madeline Angus. After the gang had loft the vicinity 
of Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio, "Doc" Darker persuaded Mildred Kuhlman with 
promises of many luxuries to return with him to Chicago, Illinois. Through 
the investigative efforts of Special Agents it was established that Mildred 
Kuhlman on December 11, 1934 registered at the Morrison Hotel in Chicago, 
Illinois. An immediate surveillance was instituted of this woman and it 
disclosed that Mildred KuhInan resided at 432 Serf Street, Chicago, Illinois; 
that she was friendly and almost in constant company with a woman known as 
Patricia Longquest. The investigation further disclosed that "Doc" Barker 
was residing with the Kuhlman woman at the Serf Street address and that "Doc" 
and Mildred were associating with William Harrison and Russell Gibson in 
Chicago. It was also ascertained that in keeping with the usual practice, 
Harrison had rented an apartment at 3920 Pine Grove Avenue in Chicago as J.B. 
Bolton and Special Agents 	 determined that Russell Gibson and "Doc" 
Barker frequented the place. 
The apprehension of those fu gitives was dclaycd, as the infomation 
which had boon obtained throughout the course of the investigation of the 
Bremer kidnaping had indicated that memb ers of the galk, usually resided in 
the sane general vicinity and it was not until investigation definitely dis-
closed that Alvin Karpis and other members of the gang were not associating 
with "Doc" Barker in Chicago that action was taken to apprehend those fugitives 
who had been located. On the night of January 8, 1935 the apartent at 3920 
Pine Grove Avenue was surrounded. Other Special ALents covered the ad ,  dress at 
432 Serf' Street and at about 6;30 P.N. on that dote "Dec" Barker ano Mildred 
I. C. #7-576 - 38 - 	 November 19,1936 
Kuhlman left the premises and were taken into custody by Special Agents. "Doc" 
Barker had no opportunity to resist. An immediate search of the apartment 
which had been occupied by "Doc" Barker and Mildred Kuhlman revealed a large 
black leather case in which there was contained a Thompson submachine gun from 
which the serial number had been removed. The Technical Laboratory of the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation subsequently restored this number and it was 
found that it was the machine gun which had been stolen by members of the 
Karpis-Barker gang at the time they staged the pay roll robbery in South St. 
Paul on August 30, 1933 and killed a policeman. 
At about 10:45 P. . on January 8, 1935 a Special Agent gave the 
command to the occupants at 3920 Pine Grove Avenue to surrender. Clara Gibson, 
wife of Russell Gibson, Ruth Heidt, the ex,-wife of William J. Harrison, and 
Bryan Bolton complied with this command. Ignoring the plea of his wife who 
frantically begged him to surrender, RussellGibson chose to fight it out. He 
equipped himself with a bulletproof vest, a .32 Caliber Colt automatic pistol 
and a Browning automatic rifle and endeavored to force an escape through the 
rear door of the apartment. Gibson cautiously opened the door, but upon 
observing a Special Agent guarding the entrance, Gibson raised the automatic 
rifle and fired. His aim was poor. The Special Agent returned the fire and 
--Gibson fell at the foot of the stairway mortally wounded. Gibson died a few 
hours later in a hospital in Chicago, Illinois with a curse on his lips for 
all law enforcement officers. A few days later, ironically on his birthday, 
Gibson was buried in a cemetery at Chicago, Illinois. There was no large gang-
ster funeral, but only a few of his nearest relatives attended. There were no 
friends as pallbearers, but the employees of the cemetery due to the cold wind 
which was blowing hurried the casket which contained the remains of Russell 
Gibson from the hearse to the burial place. 
Upon entering the apartment at 3920 Pine Grove Avenue, Special Agents 
found a small arsenal. Among the guns found were the following: 
1 .32 Colt automatic pistol #481720 
1 .38 police positive revolver #273652 
2 Browning 30,06 automatic rifles 
1 Auto burglar 20 gauge Ithaca Gun Company Shotgun #361601 
1 .351 rifle fitted with front machine gun grip and Cutts 
compensator 
together with a large quantity of ammunition. A map was found in the effects 
of "Doc" Barker, on which map appeared a penciled circle around the town of 
Ocala, lorida, which circle encompassed the territory in which Lake Weir was 
located Other information had been obtained by Special Agents that in the 
vicinit, of where the other members of the gang were hiding out the residents 
talked f an alligator known as "Old Joe." In possession of this valuable 
I. C. #7-576 	— 39 — 	 November 19, 1936 
information, Special Agents began an extensive investigation in the vicinity 
of Ocala and Oklawaha, Florida, which investigation disclosed that Fred Barker 
and his mother were residing in a cottage located on Lake Weir, this being the 
cottage which had been secured for them through the efforts of Joe Adams. It 
vies further learned that a few days prior to the location of this cottage, 
Harry Campbell andvynenzBurdette had been visitors there. At about 5:30 
o'clock on the morning of January 16, 1935 Special Agents surrounded the Barker 
"hang out" and the Special Agent in Charge approached the house, demanding the 
occupants to surrender. After a period of aparoxinateAy fifteen minutes, no 
answer wes received and the Special Agent in Charge commanded that Kate and 
Fred Barker surrender. For a few minutes there was no answer, then a voice 
was heard to say "all right go ahead." The Special Agents interpreted this 
remark as meaning that Kate and Fred Barker were going to surrender, but it had 
a far different meaning, for the answer to the Special Agent's last command 
was a blast of machine gun fire from the house. The machine gun fire was 
answered by tear gas bombs, rifle fire and m.aciein eun fir- frem weapons in 
the hands of the Special Agents. Kate Barker battled until death and when the 
house was entered later in the morning, Special Agents found the bodies of 
Fred Barker and Kate Barker. A 045 caliber automatic pistol was found near 
the body of Fred Barker and a machine gun lay at ha Barker's left hand. -  A 
search of the house after the battle had ceased disclosed 114,000 in $1,000 
bills and investigation revealed that these $1,000 bills were a part of those 
which had been obtained by Cassius TicDonald in Havana, Cuba in exchange for 
Bremer ransom money. There was also found other currency of smaller denomina-
tions totaling approximately $293000. 
A small arsenal was located in the house which consisted of — 
2 Thompson submachine guns 
1 Browning .12 gauge automatic shotgun 
1 Remington .12 gauge pump shotgun 
2 .45 caliber automatic pistols 
1 .33 caliber Winchester rifle and ' 
1 .380 caliber Colt automatic pistol, 
together with machine gun drums, automatic pistol clips and a quantity of 
ammunition. 
There was also found in the house a letter signed by "B.L. Barnes" 
which was a letter to Fred Barker from his brother "Doc." This letter read 
as follows: 
"Hello ever one how is that old sunshine down there fine I hope. 
Boy it is not so hot up here, for we are haveing some winter. 
I Bet you and Buff are not catching no fish now for I think 
caught then all when I was down there. I took care of that 
I. .7-576 	 - 40 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Duisness for you Boys it was done Just as good as if you had 
did it your self. T an Just like the standard oil always at 
your service ha ha. tea, Bo, you Know the Boy with the rosey 
cheek that Yoxey is up here looking for hin and if it is alright 
to send hin down. I have not seen chuck yet I have Been Busy on 
that other he was nerrty hard to locate. But will see hin right 
away, and see if he wants some down there. tell mother that deer 
was mighty fine and I said hello and her and the squaw had better 
not let you Bums Beat then in catching fish ha ha well I will 
close for this tine as ever your Big Bud 
B. L. Barnes" 
This letter became significant in explaining the disappearance of one member 
of the gang. 
Kate and Fred Barker were deserted in death by their companions and 
their bodies remained unburied from January 16, 1935 until October 1, 1935. 
On the latter date Kate and her son Fred were buried at an unknown,unkept 
countryside graveyard, full of undergrowth and weeds known as the Williams 
Cemetery, Welch, Oklahoma. The services Mere attended by a call' number of 
relatives and curious onlookers. It was estimated that approximately twenty-
five people attended the services which included six undertakers. The funeral 
sermon was preached to the living, with no mention being made of the deceased. 
The minister invoked the blessings of the Deity upon the surviving members of 
the family. The minister qualified the request for such blessings with the 
statement "If it be Thy will". The bodies were buried next to the grave of 
Herman Darker, 1:ais eldest son. 
At the ti .ethe shooting took place at Oklawaha, Florida, Alvin 
Karpis and Dolores Delaney resided in a house on 85th Street in Kiami, 
Florida. They had as visitors Harry Campbell and iJynona Burdette, who had 
left the house occupied by Fred barker and his mother at Oklawaha, Florida 
for a trip to Miami on January 13, 1935. Wynona Burdette was to assist 
Dolores Delaney, as the latter was an expectant mother. The news of the 
death of Fred and Kate Barker reached riami, Florida on the evening of 
January 16, 1935. It was time for Karpis and Campbell to renew their flight. 
Plans for the departure were made hurriedly and the gang's new errand boy, 
an orchestra leader by the name of Henry "Duke" Randall, was dispatched to 
the El Commodoro Hotel, where c1, 200was secured for Karpis from Joe Adams, 
who had been holding the same for the fugitive. The night of January 16, 
1935 found Dolores Delaney and Wynona Burdette aboard a train bound for 
Atlantic City, New Jersey. They carried with them as credentials a note 
signed by "Duke" Randall addressed to William A. ilorley, part owner of the 
Danmor Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey. The message requested Morley to 
take care of his friend Mrs. Graham and to see that she obtained a good 
I. C. #7-576 	— 41 — 	 November 19, 1936 
doctor and good care. The women arrived at Atlantic City, New Jersey about 
2:00 o'clock on the afternoon of January 18, 1935 and registered at the 
Danmor hotel as Mrs. A. B. Graham and. sister of Macon, Georgia. At about 
1:00 o'clock in the morning the following day Karpis and Campbell appeared. 
at the Danmor Hotel driving a Buick sedan bearing Florida license D-5-306. 
Karpis registered at the hotel as R. S. Carson and Campbell used the name of 
G. C. Cameron. Special Agents had learned of the license number of the car 
in the possession of Karpis and a description of the car and the desperate 
character of its occupants were broadcast. Early on the morning of Janaury 
20, 1935 a police officer located the car in the Coast Garage at Atlantic 
City, New Jersey and this officer, with too fellow officers, of the Atlantic 
City Police Department, then proceeded to the Dannor Hotel to investigate. 
The officers approached the third floor of the hotel with drawn guns. In the 
hallway they found a frightened man dressed only in his underwear and when 
questioned by the officers he stated that he would be glad to have the man 
who was in the room in which the officers were interested to come out in the 
hallway. The ruse worked. Karpis dashed into Campbell's room and they came 
out together firing a machine gun and after an exchange of shots with the 
officers, Karpis and Campbell succeeded in perfecting their escape. Dolores 
Delaney was wounded in the leg. She andwynonaEtrdette succeeded in escap-
ing from the hotel and crouched in the alley, awaiting the arrival of Karpis 
and Campbell to rescue them. However, during the period of tine they were 
waiting for the fugitives they deliberated upon the safety of their men and 
it was decided that to continue the flight with Karpis and Campbell at this 
time, due to the condition of. Dolores Delaney, would only hinder their flight. 
The women remained in the alley until taken into custody by officers. 
After escaping from the hotel, Karpis and Campbell succeeded in steal-
ing a Pontiac coach from a local garage and in this car they fled from Atlantic 
City, New Jersey, after unsuccessful efforts to locate their women. They 
abandoned the stolen Pontiac car near Quakertown, Pennsylvania and at about 
midnight on January 20, 1935 the fugitives kidnaped Dr. Horace H. Hunsicker of 
Allentown, Pennsylvania and at the point of a machine gun forced the doctor to 
drive them in his car from a point near Sellersville, Pennsylvania to Guilford 
Center, Ohio, at which place Dr. Hunsicker was forced to enter the Guilford 
Center Grange Hall, where he was bound, gagged and abandoned. Karpis and 
Campbell fled an to Toledo, Ohio in the doctor's car and later disposed of it 
by leaving the car at a point near LaSalle, Michigan. 
A few days subsequent to the arrest of "Doc" Barker, Special Agents 
learned that the hide—out in which Hr. Bremer had boon hold was located at 
Bensenville, Illinois. Simultaneously with the raid which had boon conducted 
at Oklawaha, Florida which resulted in the deaths of Fred and Ha Barker, 
Special Agents raided the address at 180 Nay Street, Bensenville, Illinois. 
The building at this address was owned by Her:.: an Baucke and it was found that 
a former tenant who had occupied a portion of this building in January and 
February of 1934 had moved several months prior to the raid. 
I. C. #7-576 	— 42 — 	 November 19, 1936 
On January 19, 1935 Mr. Brener positively identified the portion of 
the building which had. formerly been occupied by Harold Alderton as being 
the house in which he had been held a kidnaped victim. Mr. Bremer was 
successful in identifying the design of the wallpaper in the room in which 
he was held. Mr. Bremer was also -successful in identifying the crack in the 
wallpaper in a corner of the roon l  the position of the window and height of 
the window sill, the eloctire light drop, the step between the living room 
and the bedroom and the broken toilet.handle. It was also found that the 
bedroom in which Mr. Bremer had been held was situated as had previously 
been described by him. The entrance to the house was through the kitchen, 
as had been related by Mr. Bremer. There was a bedroom adjoining the room 
in which he was held and the wooden floor in the house answered the descrip-
tion as previously obtained from the victim of the kidnaping. 
Investigation disclosed th t Elmer Farmer, the tavern owner at 
Bensenville, Illinois who had been a close associate and harborer of the 
Karpis—Barker gang, had secured the use of Aldertonts hone for the use of 
the kidnapers at the request of Fred Goetz. It was ascertained that in 
December of 1934 Fred Goetz and Alvin Karpis appeared at Bensenville and 
examined the prospective hide—out. At that time they agreed to pay Harold 
Alderton $1,000 for the use of his home and Farmer likewise was to receil 4e 
$11000 for his services in connection lith the kidnaping of Hr. Bremer. 
Elmer Farmer was arrested at Bensenville, Illinois on the morning of January 
16, 1935 and confessed that he participated in the conspiracy to kidnap Mr. 
Bremer. 
Harold Alderton, an ex—bootlegger, was arrested on January 17, 1935 
by Special Agents at Marion, Indiana and likewise admitted that Mr. Bremer 
had been held in his home and tnat he had received ,',1,000 for his services 
in connection with the kidnaping. 
Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation after finding 
that Volney Davis and Edna Murray had discontinued their operations in 
Glasgow, Montana, continued their investigation to locate those fugitives, 
which investigation disclosed that Volney Davis and Edna Murray were in 
association with Jess Doyle and Doris OtConnor in Kansas City, Missouri. 
Volney and Edna in February of 1935 were residing at 3028 Baltimore Avenue, 
Kansas City, Missouri, under the names of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Harper. Jess 
Doyle and his paramour, Doris OtConnor had left the other members of the 
Karpis—Barker gang at St. Paul, Minnesota on January 16, 1934 and together 
with Eddie and Bessie Green proceeded to Topeka, Kansas. Later, after a 
visit to Cardin, Oklahoma to visit with Doris OtConnorts relatives, they 
moved to Aurora, Illinois in May, 1934, at the request of Edna Murray, who 
as previously related, was the sister of Doris OtConnor. They remined in 
Aurora until June 1934 and then returned to Kansas City, Missouri, residing 
I. C. #7-576 	— 43 — 	 Uovember 19, 1936 
at 4.112 Locust Street. Prior to determining o exact address of Edna 
Hurray and Volney Davis in Kansas City, Special Agents ascertained that Davis 
had stored in a local garage at Kansas City, Tassouri, a Pontiac car. A 
surveillance was maintained of this car, and Volney Davis was captured at 
Ste Louis, Lissouri on February 6, 1935, and immediately arrangements were 
made to remove him from Kansas City. En route to Chicago, Illinois, Joe 
airplane in which the Agents with their prisoner were travelling made a forced 
landing near Yorkville, Illinois, on the night of February 7, 1935, and 
during the confusion which resulted, Davis effected his escape. He remained 
at liberty until he was recaptured at Chicago, Illinois, on June 1, 1935. 
Davis was questioned concerning a 100 counterfeit bill which was removed 
from his person subsequent to his capture in Kansas City, nsseuri. He 
claimed that the bill came from Walter "Irish" O'Halley, who was being sought 
by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with the kidnaping of 
August Luer of Alton, Illinois. Davis maintained that he did not pass counter—
f eit money, but merely carried it with him so that in the event he was 
arrested by officers of the law, he could tender them the $100 bill in return 
for his liberty, believing that he could effect his escape before the 
officer who had accepted the bribe would discover the bill was counterfeit. 
Davis never offered the counterfeit bill to the Special Agents who apprehended 
him. 
Volney Davis after his capture outwardly became penitent and in a 
moment of his remorse he wrote the following letter to his parents: 
"Ply dear Nether, Father and Sisters: 	 June 3, 1935. 
At last I am in a position where I can write to you all again. 
And I am sure glad that I can for it has been awful to be running 
around over the country and not being able to write to the only 
ones in this world that really loves me. I an here in jail and 
have entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy in this case, I 
guess you have read about it in the papers. I will be sentenced 
on Friday this week, I don't know what I will get but I expect 
it will be a life sentence. I guess I will be sent to the 
government prison out in California, but before I go there 
will be hold for thirty days in some prison here. But I won't 
be here long enough time for
`  ou to cone to see ne. But just 
as soon as I am whore you can have time to cone to see me I 
will let you knew when and where to come. I have some property 
and some money I want to turn over to you but if it is so you can 
I want you to bring Ruby with you as there will be quite a bit 
of running around and she can do it better than you. 
I would like to see all of you before I go away for good but I 
nay be impossible as it will cost too much. Tell all the kids 
hello for me and tell the boys to take a lesson from my ex—' 
perience and never touch anything that don't belong to then. 
For a man can get more enjoyment out of ten dollars he has earned 
I. C. if7-576 	— 43A — 	 November 19, 1936. 
honestly than he can a thousand got dishonestly. I know from sad 
experience. I am telling you this to tell them because it may 
do some good and I know my life has been spared for some reason 
ih this world and if I can keep some young boys from going wrong 
I have accomplished something in this world. I would give any-
thing if I could start over again, for I know I could be success-
ful in business if I was free for I have been fairly successful 
in business transactions while I have been dodging the law and 
I know if I had been free to have taken care of them like any 
other citizen I could have done much better. 
Papa and Mamma I don't want you all to feel too bad about this for 
after all you will know where I am at night when you go to sleep 
and I won't be in danger of being killed any moment. And I promise 
if such a thing should happen as I am ever a free man again I will 
make an hohest living regardless of how little I can earn. And I 
will be a model prisoner where over I go and for ever length of 
time I get. I have been treated good here and am well in body. I 
hope wherever:-I go that I get work that won't be injurious to my 
health. Well, I don't know .  much more to write but I will sure 
write ever time I get a chance and try to make up for the last time. 
Tell Uncle Newt hello and I sure would like to see him. 
I am going to write a letter to Bertha soon and Irene. I think I 
know their address, but in case I don't you tell them you heard from 
me. 
Be sure to tell me how Buelah is and when you saw her last. I sure 
do hope she gets well. 
Guess Mildred is O.K. I hope so. Well, I will close. With all my 
love to you all, as ever, 
Volney Davis" 
After the arrest of Voiney Davis, Edna Murray and Jess Doyle sought 
refuge at Pittsburg, Kansas, where on February 7, 1935, Doyle was located by 
Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the cooperation 
of the Police Department at Pittsburg, Kansas and engaged Doyle in a gun battle. 
Doyle escaped, but during the day he appeared at Girard, Kansas, where he 
surrendered to the Sheriff. 
On this same date, Edna Murray was taken into custody by Special 
Agents, together with two individuals who had harbored her, Harry C. Stanley, 
her brother, and his wife, Mary Stanley. Harry C. Stanley was subsequently 
convicted on the charge of harboring a fugitive from justice in Federal Court 
in the District of Kansas and was sentenced on March 12, 1935, to serve six 
months in the Sedgwick County Jail at lachita, Kansas and was also fined $1,000. 
Mary Stanley, on the same date, was given a five year suspended sentence on the 
same charge. 
I. C. #7-576 	— 43B — 	 November 19, 1936. 
The extensive investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation revealed that Alvin Karpis, "Doc" Barker, Harry Campbell ' 
William Weaver, Fred Goetz, Fred Barker and Volney Davis were in St. Paul, 
Minnesota the morning of Mr. Bremer!s abduction and eyewitnesses stated 
that five or six men using two automobiles were at the corner of Lexington 
and Goodrich Avenues at the time the kJLthaping took place. Alvin Karpis 
and Harry Campbell subsequently admitted, after their capture, that they 
were present the morning when Er. Bremer was abducted. It Was further 
ascertained that Mr. Prosier had been transported to the hide—out at 
Bensenville, Illinois by Alvin Karpis, Harry Campbell, William Weaver and 
"Doc" Barker, who also acted as guards over Mr. Bremer while the latter 
was being held; that Bryan Bolton, irlilliam Harrison, Elmer Farmer and 
Harold Alderton had taken care of the needs of the guards and their prisoner 
by supplying thou with food, whiskey and by running other errands. Informa-
tion was also obtained by the Special Agents that the guards at the hide—out 
had Chafed at the delay in the collection of the ransom money and that 
considerable liquor had boon consumed, especially by William Weaver and 
Harry Campbell. The hoodlums had arguments among themselves and several 
days before the release of Mr. Bremer one member of the gang was ordered to 
leave the hide—out. This member was William Weaver, who had become tired 
of his cramped quarters and the delay in the payment of the ransom money, 
as a result of which he spent too much time strolling up and down in the 
alley adjacent to the hide—out. The rest of the gang feared detection if 
one of their number was observed outside of the hide—out house. "Doc" 
Barker endeavored to enliven the days by initating the voice of a Mexican 
and, if possible, also to load Hr. Bremer to believe that a foreigner 
was one of his Euards. Karpis while at the hide—out studied naps and 
made charts; although it has never been definitely determined, it is 
believed that Karpis was compiling getaway charts, possibly for some futurO 
crime, or a chart which would be used in returning Mr. Bremer to Rochester, 
Minnesota. The gang kept machine guns in the hide—out to be used in the 
event law enforcement agencies discovered where Mr. Bremer was held. 
I.C.#7-576 	- 44 - 	 November 19, 1936. 
There was returned at St. Paul, Minnesota on hay 4, 1934 an indictment 
which cnarsed Arthur R. Darker, Alvin Karpis, John J. McLaughlin, Sr., John 
J. licLaughlin, Jr., 	 E. Vidier, Phillip J. Delaney, "Slim", "Izzy", 
iriht, John Doe and Richard Roe with conspiracy to kidnap Hr. Brener 
and transport him from St. Paul, Minnesota to the State of Illinois. Due to 
the results achieved by Special Agents during the course of the investigation, 
the Federal Grand Jury at St. Paul, Minnesota on January 22, 1935, returned 
indictments superseding the indictment returned on May 4, 1934. One of the 
new indictments charged Arthur R. Barker, Alvin Karpis, Volney Davis, Harry 
Campbell, Eimer Farmer, Harold Alderton, William weaver, Harry Sawyer, 
william J. Harrison, Bryan Bolton, John Doe and Richard Roe with the kid-
naning of Mr. Brener and transporting him from St. Paul, Minnesota to 
Bensenville, Illinois. A second indictment was also returned on this date, 
naming in addition to those previously indicted, Dr. Joseph P. Moran, Oliver 
A. Berg, John J. McLaughlin, Edna Hurray, Myrtle Eaton, James J. kilson, 
Jess Doyle, William E. Vidler, Phillip J. Delaney, and one "`Whitey", who 
was later determined to be identical with Bruno Austin. This indictment 
charged the individuals named with conspiring with each other and with 
Fred Goetz, Fred Barker, Russell Gibson and Kate Barker to kidnap and 
transport in interstate commerce Edward George Brener. 
On April 15, 1935 the trial of Arthur h. Parker, Oliver A. 3erg, Elmer 
Farmer, Harold Alderton, Jess Doyle, Edna Murray, Phillip Delaney, "Doss" 
McLaughlin, william Vidler, Janes Nilson and Bryan Bolton began in the Federal 
Courts Building at St. Paul, Minnesota before Federal Judge M. 1.1. Joyce. 
Bryan Lolton at the beginning of the trial entered a plea of guilty, but 
sentence was deferred as to him until August 25, 1936, when he was sentenced 
to serve three years in prison for his complicity in the kidnaping. The 
Government, after the selection of the jury, began the introduction of 
evidence with Mr. Dra -Aer as the first witness, who related the details of 
his kidnaping. Thereafter during the course of the trial, Alvin Karpis was 
identified as the purchaser of the flashlights. Over strenuous objections 
of defense counsel, the gasoline can which bore the fingerprint of "Doc" 
Darker was introduce(:: into evidence. An employee of the Technical Laboratory 
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation qualified as an expert witness and 
I.C.e/-576 	- 44 - 	 November 19, 1936. 
There was returned at St. Paul, Minnesota on May 4, 1934 an indictment 
which charged Arthur R. Darker, Alvin Karpis, John J. McLaughlin, Sr., John 
J. McLaughlin, Jr., William E. Vidier, Phillip J. Delaney, "Slim", "Izzy", 
franIde ;;right, John Doe and Richard Roe with conspiracy to kidnap Mr. Bremer 
and transport him from St. Paul, Minnesota to the State of Illinois. Due to 
the reEults achieved by Special Agents during the course of the investigation, 
the Federal Grand Jury at St. Paul, Minnesota on January 22, 1935, returned 
indictments superseding the indictment returned on May 4, 1934. One of the 
new indictments charged Arthur R. Parker, Alvin Karpis, Volney Davis, Harry 
Campbell, Eimer Farmer, Harold Alderton, William Weaver, Harry Sawyer, 
william J. Harrison, Bryan Bolton, John Doe and Richard Roe with the kid-
naping of Mr. Bremer and transporting him from St. Paul, Minnesota to 
Bensenville, Illinois. A second indictment was also returned on this date, 
naming in addition to those previously indicted, Dr. Joseph P. Moran, Oliver 
A. Berg, John J. McLaughlin, Edna Murray, Myrtle Eaton, James J. Wilson, 
Jess Doyle, William E. Vidler, Phillip J. Delaney, and one "Whitey", who 
was later determined to be identical vith Bruno Austin. This indictment 
charged the individuals named with conspiring with each other and with 
Fred Goetz, Fred Barker, Russell Gibson and Kate Barker to kidnap and 
transport in interstate commerce Edward George Breaer. 
On April 15, 1935 the trial of Arthur R. Barker, Oliver A. Berg, Elmer 
Farmer, Harold Alderton, Jess Doyle, Edna hurray, Phillip Delaney, "Loss" 
McLaughlin, William Vidler, James Wilson and Dr ran Bolton began in the Federal 
Courts Building at St. Paul, Minnesota before Federal Judge M. H. Joyce. 
Bryan Bolton at the beginning of the trial entered a plea of guilty, but 
sentence was deferred as to him until August 25, 1936, when he was sentenced 
to serve three years in prison for his complicity in the kidnaping. The 
Government, after the selection of the jury, began the introduction of 
evidence with Hr. Bremer as the first witness, who related the details of 
his kidnaping. Thereafter durinr: the course of the trial, Alvin Karpis was 
identified as the purchaser of the flashlights. Over strenuous objections 
of defense counsel, the gasoline can which bore the fingerprint of "Doc" 
Barker was introduced into evidence. An employee of the Technical Laboratory 
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation qualified as an expert witness and 
1.C.#7-576 	- 45 - 	 November 19, 1936 
in simple language which was capable of being understood by everyone, 
explained briefly the science of fingerprinting and declared that the 
possibility of the fingerprint found on the gasoline can being that of anyone 
other than "Doc" Barker would only be one chance in several billion and 
declared emphatically that the possibility of there being a duplication 
of fingerprints was so remote as to be out of the question entirely. 
On cross-examination defense counsel, which obviously were untutored in 
the science of fingerprinting, made no effort to get at the real ouestions 
involved in the fingerprint evidence, but made every effort to seize upon the 
ridiculous in an effort to confuse the minds of the jurors. These questions 
were capably explained by the witnesses and no question was left in the minds 
of the jurors as to the true identity of the fingerprint. "Doc" Barker sat 
through the proceedings in utter silence, glaring as the witnesses took the 
stand against him. The sharp criminal eyes of "Doc" Barker had no effect on 
the witnesses. 
At the conclusion of the Oovernment's case on Nay 6, 1935, the charges 
against Jess Doyle and Edna Hurray were dismissed. Jess Doyle was later re-
turned to the State of Nebraska, where he entered a plea of guilty at Fairbury, 
Nebraska on a charge that he participated in the robbery of the Fairbury 
National Bank on April 4, 1933. He was subsequently sentenced to serve ten 
years in the Nebraska State Penitentiary for this crime. Edna :Murray was re-
turned to the Missouri State Penitentiary at Jefferson City, Hissouri to com-
plete the remainder of her twenty-five year sentence for highway robbery and 
she received an additional two year sentence on the charge of escaping from 
that institution. 
Bruno Austin on Nay 6, 1935 was discharged from custody on the order 
of the Court, but only to be rearrested in Chicago and at that place on October 
11, 1935 he was convicted of murder and sentenced to serve life imprisonment 
in the Illinois State Penitentiary. 
During the course of the trial, Elmer Farmer on May 13, 1935 entered 
a plea of guilty to the conspiracy indictment and on June 7, 1935 was sen-
tenced to serve twenty-five years' imprisonment. "Doe Barker had no defense 
to offer and did not take the stand in his own behalf. The trial of the 
defendants who had not been dismissed or otherwise disposed of was concluded 
on Nay 16 ;  1935 and the jury began its deliberations. The money changers 
during the course of presenting their defense had contended they did not 
know the money exchanged by them was :Bremer ransom money and they nervously 
awaited the return of the jury. On Nay 17, 1995 the jury returned a verdict 
of guilty as to Arthur R. Barker, Oliver A. Berg, James J. Wilson, John J. 
NcLaujilin, Sr. and Harold Aiderton and on this same date "Doc"B 'arker and 
Oliver A. Berg were sentenced to serve life imprisonment. Vidler and 
Delaney were acquitted. On June 7, 1935 Harold :aderton received a sentence 
of twenty years' imprisonment. 1TcLaughlin and Gilson were sentenced 
- 46 - 	 November 19, 1936 
to serve five years each; McLaughlin died a few months later in the United 
States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. Oliver A. Berg, after his 
conviction and sentence, was returned to the Illinois State Penitentiary 
to complete his sentence at that place and a Federal detainer was filed 
against him. Elmer Farmer, Harold Alderton and Arthur R. Barker were 
temporarily detained at the United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas, 
and later were reaoved to the United States Penitentiary at Alcatraz, at 
which place they must serve their sentences. 
James J. Filson was ordered to serve his sentence at the United 
States Industrial Reformatory at Chillicothe, Ohio, but he was later 
transferred to the Northeastern Penitentiary at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. 
After the arrest of Volney Davis at Chicago, Illinois on June 1, 1935, 
he was removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where on June 3, 1935 he entered a 
plea of Guilty to the innicent charging him with conspiracy to kidnap Zr. 
Bremer and was immediately sentenced to serve life imprisonaent. Davis 
likewise was temporarily detained at the United States Penitentiry, Leaven-
worth,  Knsas and subsequently transferred to the United States Penitentiary 
at Alcatraz. 
After the arrest of ,Iynona Burdette and Dolores Delaney at Atlantic 
City, Hew Jersey, they were tomporarily removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
where a son was born to Dolores Delaney. These women were subsequently 
removed. to Miami, Florida, where on March 25, 1935 they entered pleas of 
guilty in the Federal Court to the charges of harboring a fugitive from 
justice, and misprision of a felony and on that same date each was sentenced 
to serve a five year term in the United States Detention Farm, Milan, Michigan. 
Fr. and Mrs. John Karpavicz, father and mother of Alvin Karpis, took custody 
of the son of Dolores Delaney, who was christened Raymond Alvin Karpavicz. 
The investigation continued by the Federal 'Bureau of Investigation to 
locate the remaining fugitives in this case and on May 3, 1935 Harry Sawyer 
was apprehended by Special Agents at Pass Christian, Missisippi, a deputy 
sheriff and a Mississippi State Highway officer cooperating with the Agents 
in the apprehension. Sawyer, after the ransom negotiations in Miami, Florida 
and Havana, Cuba, joined his wife and together they proceeded to the Mississippi 
town, where Harry Sawyer was operating a drinking and gambling "joint" for 
colored persons, This created suspicion in the minds of the white citizens 
in this southern state and ultimately led to the identification and appre-
hension of Sawyer. This was not the first arrest which Harry Sawyer had 
experienced as the records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation show that 
on December 12, 1914 Sawyer was arrested on charges of breaking and entering 
the offices of the Standard Oil Company in Lincoln, Nebraska. On April 25, 
I. C. 17-576 	- 4.7  - 	 November 19, 1936 
1915 he entered a pica of guilty 	the court ordered him released on parole 
for a parioJ.-oitve years .and- Sawyer was subsequently dismissed from parole 
on Sbrc6nbor 25, 1917. Sawyer was again_arrested on September 11, 1918 at St. 
Paul, Minnesota on charges of attempted grand larceny and was subsequently 
fined :5100,00. He was again arrested on January 2, 1920 on charges of robbery 
and v:as later turned over to the Police Department at Lincoln, Nebraska on 
char7es of jumping a bond, after being arrested for auto theft. He was sub-
sequently released under a a,000 bond, which was later forfeited. After the 
arrest of Harry Sawyer at Pass Christian, Mississippi, he was immediately 
removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was committed to the Ramsey County 
Jail in default of $100,000 bend, to await trial on the charges of kidnaping 
Mr. Bremer, 
William Weaver and Myrtle Eaton had successfully eluded the company 
of the other members o the Karpis-Barker gang and had continued to enjoy their 
small chicken farm at Allandale, Florida, to which place they had fled after 
leaving Grand Forest Beach, Ohio. On Sunday morning, September 1, 1935, 
the house which was occupied by William Weaver and Myrtle Eaton at Mondale, 
Florida, was surrounded by 'Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
Weaver 13 ft the house early on this morning to 7ct his Sunday newspapers and 
was confronted by Special Agents who took him into custody, Immediately 
thereafter, Myrtle Eaton was arrested in the house in which were found several 
firearms, including various small firearms and two shotguns. Special Agents 
also found that Weaver and Myrtle Eaton had in their custody a small boy who 
was known to the neighbors as Bobbie Osborne. The fugitives had obtained -
custody of this child from its mother and they were residing at Allandale, 
Florida as Mr. and Mrs, J. W. Osborne, posing as respectable citizens. 
Immediately -  after their capture, Myrtle Eaton and William Weaver were removed 
to St. Paul, Minnesota and committed to the Ramsey County Jail in default of 
bond. 
On November 27; 1935 a new indictment was returned by the Federal 
Grand Jury at St. Paul, Minnesota and in addition to those individuals who 
had been previously indicted, Cassius McDonald was included as a defendant in 
the conspiracy. McDonald was arrested by Special Agents at Detroit, Michigan 
on September 26, 1935, after conclusive evidence had been obtained that 
McDonald exchanged the ransom money in Havana, Cuba, with full knowledge that 
it was the Bremer ransom money. 
A second trial in the Bremer case was begun at St. Paul, Minnesota 
in Federal Court on January 6, 1936 and the defendants at this time who N.ced 
the bar of justice were William Weaver, Harry Sawyer and Cassius TcDonald. 
Harry Sawyer was confident of acquittal, but admitted on the witness stand 
that he had harbored and associated with members of the Karpis-Barker gang 
for a number of years. William Weaver likewise denied his guilt and 
I. C. 17-676 	— 47 — 	 November 19, 1936 
1915 he entered a Dion of guilty and the court ordered him released on parole 
fur a poriody-ortvo years and Sawyer was subsequently dismissed from parole 
on StTc,ember 25, 1917. Sawyer was again_ arrested on September 11, 1918 at St. 
Paul, Minnesota on charges of attempted grand larceny and was subsequently 
fined c100.00. He was again arrested on January 2, 1920 on charges of robbery 
and rna1.5' later turned over to the Police Department at Lincoln, Nebraska on 
charges of jumping a bond, after being arrested for auto theft. He was sub-
sequently released under a 31,000 bond, which was later forfeited. After the 
arrest of Harry Sawyer at Pass Christian, Mississippi, he was immediately 
removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was committed to the Ramsey County 
Jail in default of $100,000 bond, to await trial on the charges of kidnaping 
Mr. Bremer. 
William Weaver and Myrtle Eaton had successfully eluded the company 
of the other memters of the Karpis—Barker gang and had continued to enjoy their 
small chicken farm at Allandale, Florida, to which place they had fled after 
leaving Grand Forest Beach, Ohio. On Sunday morning, September 1, 1935, 
the house which was occupied by William Weaver and PTyrtle Eaton at Allandale, 
Florida, was surrounded by Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
Weaver Jo  ft the house early on this morning to get his Sunday newspapers and 
was confronted by Special Agents who took him into custody. Immediately 
thereafter, Myrtle Eaton was arrested in the house in which were found several 
firearms, including various small firearms and two shotguns. Special Agents 
also found that Weaver and Myrtle Eaton had in their custody a small boy who 
MS known to the neighbors as Bobbie Osborne. The fugitives had obtained 
custody of this child from its mother and they were residing at Allandale, 
Florida as Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Osborne, posing as respectable citizens. 
Inmediately'after their capture, Myrtle Eaton and William Weaver were removed 
to St. Paul, Minnesota and committed to the Ramsey County Jail in default of 
bond. 
On November 27, 1935 a new indictment was returned by the Federal 
Grand Jury at St. Paul, Minnesota and in addition to those individuals who 
had been previously indicted, Cassius McDonald was included as a defendant in 
the conspiracy. McDonald was arrested by Special Agents at Detroit, Michigan 
on September 26, 1935, after conclusive evidence had been obtained that 
McDonald exchanged the ransom money in Havana, Cuba, with full knowledge that 
it was the Bremer ransom money. 
A second trial in the Bremer case was begun at St. Paul, iiinnesota 
in Federal Court on January 6, 1936 and the defendants at this time who faced 
the bar of justice were William Weaver, Harry Sawyer and Cassius 1TcDonald. 
Harry Sawyer was confident of acquittal, but admitted on the witness stand 
that he had harbored and associated with members of the Karpis—Barker gang 
for a- number of years. William Weaver likewise denied his guilt and 
I. C. J7-576 	 — 47 — 	 Novenber 19, 1936 
1915 he entered a.lalca of guilty and the court ordered him released on parole 
for a perioJ-JI -two yearseand Sawyer was subsequently :dismissed frau parole 
on  ,57,pr;oEber 25, 1917. Sawyer was again_ arrested on September 11, 1918 at St. 
Paul, Minnesota on charges of attempted grand larceny and was subsequently 
fined $100.00. He was again arrested on January 2, 1920 on charges of robbery 
and 	later turned over to the Police Department at Lincoln, Nebraska on 
charges of jumping a bond, after being arrested for auto theft. He was sub-
sequently released under a ,V,31,000 bond, which was later forfeited. After the 
arrest of Harry Sawyer at Pass Christian, Mississippi, he was immediately 
removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was committed to the Ramsey County 
Jail in default of $100,000 bond, to await trial on the charges of kidnaping 
Mr. Bremer. 
William Weaver and Myrtle Eaton had successfully eluded the company 
of the other members of the Karpis-Barker gang and had continued to enjoy their 
small chicken farm 	Allandale, Florida, to which place they had fled after 
leaving Grand Forest Beach, Ohio. On Sunday morning, September 1, 1935, 
the house which was occupied by William Weaver and Eyrtle Eaton at Allandale, 
Florida, was surrounded by Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
Weaver L ft the house early on this morning to get his Sunday newspapers and 
was confronted by Special Agents who took him into custody. Immediately 
thereafter, Myrtle Eaton was arrested in the house in which were found several 
firearms, including various small firearms and two shotguns. Special Agents 
also found that Weaver and Myrtle Eaton had in their custody a small boy who 
was known to the neighbors as Bobbie Osborne. The fugitives had obtained -
custody of this child from its mother and they were residing at Allandale, 
Florida as Er. and. hrs. J. W. Osborne, posing as respectable citizens. 
Immediately -after their capture, Myrtle Eaton and William Weaver were removed 
to St. Paul, Minnesota and committed to the Ramsey County Jail in default of 
bond. 
On November 27, 1935 a new indictment was returned by the Federal 
Grand Jury at St. Paul, Minnesota and in addition to those individuals who 
had been previously indicted, Cassius McDonald was included as a defendant in 
the conspiracy. McDonald was arrested by Special Agents at Detroit, Michigan 
on September 26, 1935, after conclusive evidence had been obtained that 
McDonald exchanged the ransom money in Havana, Cuba, with full knowledge that 
it was the Bremer ransom money. 
A second trial in the Bremer case was begun at St. Paul, Minnesota 
in Federal Court on January 6, 1936 and the defendants at this time who faced 
the bar of justice were William Weaver, Harry Sawyer and Cassius I;cDonald. 
Harry Sawyer was confident of acquittal, but admitted on the witness stand 
that ho had harbored and associated with members of the Karpis-Barker gang 
for a number of years. William Weaver likewise denied his guilt and 
I. C. 17-576 	- 48 - 	 November 19, 1936 
contented that he has being prosecuted only because he had associated with members 
of the Karpis-Barker gang. Cassius 1TcDonald endeavored to persuade the jury that 
he did not know the money exchanged in Cuba was the Bremer ransom money. The 
evidence was clear to the jury and after a two weeks' trial, which concluded on 
January 24, 1936, a verdict of guilty was returned against all three defendants. On 
that same date William Weaver and Harry Sawyer were sentenced to serve life imprison-
ment and after being incarcerated in the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, 
Kansas were transferred to Alcatraz. The sentence of Cassius eDonald was deferred 
until Feb7uary 1, 1935, at which time he was sentenced to serve fifteen years in 
the Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. 
Cn June 6, 1940, Judge Richard J. Hopkins of the United. States District 
Court released IcDonald on a habeas corpus writ at Kansas City, Kansas. 
Immediately following the release of UcDonald, the office of the United 
States Attorney at Topeka, Kansas, advised that this case would be appealed to the 
United States Court of Appeals. 
The United States Court of Appeals at Denver, Colorado, on June 12, 1941, 
reversed the decision of the lower court in releasing NcDonald on a writ of habeas 
corpus. Ho action was taken to return IcDonald to Federal custody until the 
expiration of various lengths of time allowed to the petitioners to perfect an 
appeal from the decision of the Circuit Court of Appeals. On Jul- 17, 1941, the 
Circuit Court of Appeals denied eDonald's petition for rehearing. 
licDonald's petition for a writ of certiorari filed in the Supreme Court of 
he United States was denied on October 13, 1941. He was remanded to the custody of 
the warden at Leavenworth Penitentiary and on October 24, 1941, District Judge 
Hopkins at Topeka signed an order requiring that licDonald surrender himself within 
five days of that date. licDonald reentered Leavenworth Penitentiary October 30, 1941 
The conspiracy indictment which vas pending against ilyrtle Eaton was dis-
missed at St. Paul, nnnesota and on February 26, 1936, she was indicted at Tampa, 
Florida, charged with harboring -William Weaver. She denied her guilt, but on June 3, 
1936, 'Pt Jacksonville, Florida, Nyrtle -.:at on was found guilty by• a jury. On June 
10, 1936 she was sentenced to serve six months in jail and pay a fine of 1, O00.00. 
After the death of Fred Barker, I:a Darker and Russell Gibson and the appre-
hension of other members of the Karpis-Darker gang, Karpis and Campbell in January 
of 1935 found the ranks of the once powerful mob depleted of gunmen who could assist 
in further depredations, which were considered necessary for the fugitives' existence 
After their return to Toledo, Ohio in January of 1935, Karpis and Campbell were 
afforded protection and shelter by the members of the underworld with whom they had 
been in contact during the mom prosperous days of the gang immediately subsequent to 
the abduction of hr. Bremer in Cleveland, Ohio, from which place they had so 
hurriedly departed in September of 1934. Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation continued the investigation to locate the remaining fugitives and it 
was learned that one of the first recruits secured by Karpis and Campbell was Fred 
Hunter, of Leavittsburg, Ohio. It is not definitely known in what manner Hunter 
first became acquainted with Karpis and Campbell, but it appears that the ac- • 
---quaintanceship was made through mutual friends at the Harvard Club, Hewburgii 
weights, Ohio, who cent Farpis to the Hollyhock Night Club in Warren, Ohio, in 
Karch, 1935, where he met Hunter. 
I. C. 97-576 	— 49 — 	 November 19, 1936 
Fred Hunter, an ex—convict, was born October 13, 1899 at Warren, Ohio and 
was one of a family of six children. Hunter had five brothers and one sister. The 
father of the family, George Hunter, made an unsuccessful effort to raise his child-
ren to be law—abiding citizens. Fred Hunter's mother died in 1910 and while the 
father worked daily as a blacksmith and boilermaker, at least three of his sons 
began careers of crime. Fred -Hunter, as Fred John Henderson, was first arrested by 
the Police Department, Toledo, Ohio, on June 3, 1920 for carrying a concealed weapon 
and in lieu of paying a $200.00 fine' and costs he was committed to the Lucas County 
Jail, Toledo, Ohio, on June 22, 1920, where he served a jail sentence. On October 
28, 1922, Hunter was arrested by the Police Department at Akron, Ohio as a fugitive 
from justice from Warren, Ohio. He was thereafter convicted for larceny and 
possession of dynamite and on April 17, 1933 was received at the State Penitentiary, 
Columbus, Ohio to serve an indeterminate sentence of three to twenty—seven years. 
William Hunter, another son of George Hunter, began his criminal career on 
July 31, 1919 when he burglarized a hardware store at Warren, Ohio and stole goods 
and merchandise valued at 50.00. He pleaded guilty to this charge; was committed 
to the State Reformatory, at Lansfield, Ohio. William Hunter thereafter was receive( 
at the State Penitentiary, Columbus, Ohio on June 2, 1928 to serve a one to fifteen 
year sentence for burglary and larceny. On April 26, 1932 William Hunter was fined 
$150.00 and costs at Warren, Ohio for receiving and concealing stolen property. In 
lieu of paying this fine he served time in the County Jail at Warren, Ohio. On 
December 19, 1934 William Hunter was received at the United States Penitentiary /  
Atlanta, Georgia, to serve two years for violation of the internal Revenue Act. 
Another brother, Albert, has also served a sentence at the Ohio State 
Reformatory, kansfield, Ohio, for burglary. 
Fred Hunter, prior to the time he became associated with Karpis and 
Campbell, was a gambler and also engaged to some extent in selling gambling 
paraphernalia. He was also a devotee of cockfighting. 
Karpis and Campbell returned to the southwest for a second recruit by the 
name of John Brock, who came highly recommended due to his extensive criminal record 
which began on January 15, 1919 when he was received at the State Reformatory, 
Granite, Oklahoma, to serve a term of three years for grand larceny. The records of 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation reveal that Brock's second arrest occurred on 
July 13, 1922 when he was arrested by the Sheriff's Office at Hutchinson, Kansas for 
investigation. He was next arrested on October 1, 1922 as J. C. Creighton by the 
Sheriff's Office at Enid, Oklahoma, at which place he was arrested for investigation. 
Erock also was arrested on suspicion by the Sheriff's Office at Pawnee, Oklahoma as 
J. D. Adams on Nay 17, 1923. On January 19, 1930 as John Brock he was arrested as 
a vagrant by the Police Department at Tucson, Arizona and served twenty days in the 
City Jail. He was likewise arrested as a vagrant by the Police Department at Tulsa, 
Oklahoma on Narch 12, 1931 and fined 49.00 and costs. On October 18, 1931 he was 
received at the State Penitentiary, licAlester, Oklahoma, to serve- five yeart after 
committing an assault with intent to kill. During the time Brock was confined in 
the Oklahoma State Penitentiary he became acquainted with three of the criminals who 
later became prominent members of the Karpis—Barker gang — "Doc" Barker, Volney Davis 
--and William Weaver. 
In Earch of 1935 Karpis and Campbell proceeded to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where 
they contacted George "Burrhead" Heady, well—known associate of thieves and 
I. C. ,77-576 	— 50 — 	 Kovember 19, 1936 
harborer of criminals. Campbell had previously associated with Heady at 
the time Campbell vac characterized as an oil field petty thief and was 
conmitting crimes with Glen Leroy Wright -and Jimmie Lawson, who later 
became well—known criminals in the southwest. This was prior to the time 
that Campbell graduated to "big tine" crime. Heady recommended Brock to 
Karpis and Campbell as a man of ability and the introduction of Brock to 
themwas consummated on a highway near Tulsa, Oklahoma and Brock agreed 
to "pull a .job".with Harpis and Campbell'. Brock was given instructions to 
meet Karpis and Campbell in Toledo, Ohio, from which place Brock was 
to the Harvard Club in Cleveland, Ohio on an errand for Alvin Karpis. He 
later rejoined his new associates in Toledo, Ohio and plans were formulated 
for another crime. In April of 1935 Karpis and Campbell disappeared for 
several days, leaving Brock in Cleveland. He became apprehensive that some 
misfortune had occurred to Karpis and Campbell and returned to his home at 
Tulsa, Oklahoma. 
On April 24, 1935 a'mail truck was robbed at Warren, Ohio by three 
heavily armed men and 372,000 in loot, composed of currency and bonds, was 
obtained by the bandits. Thereafter, two well—known criminals, George 
Sargent and Anthony Labrizzetta, -were identified as two of the participants 
in the robbery of the mail truck, Sargent and Labrizzetta denied their 
guilt, but were brought to trial. The jury convicted them after deliberating 
ten minutes. Each was sentenced to serve twenty—five years in a Federal 
penitentiary. The court granted Sargent and Labrizzetta a new trial, but 
they were again convicted at their second trial. Subsequent investigation 
disclosed that the two convicted men were innocent of the crime and that 
Karpis and Campbell were the guilty parties. 
I:arpis and Campbell with new capital planned new crimes and through 
"Burrhead" Heady, sought to reestablish the Karpis—Barker gang and after 
the mail robbery they returned to Talsa, Oklahoma and again contacted Heady 
and Brock. On September 3, 1935 Heady proceeded to the Oklahoma State 
Penitentiary and met a half—breed,Indian by the name of San Coker at the 
prison gates, who on that date was earoled from the institution where he had 
been serving a thirty—year sentence for bank robbery. It is said that Karpis 
and Campbell supplied the funds necessary to secure the release of Coker from 
the penitentiary. Coker was first received at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary 
on Harch 17, 1924 to serve a thirty year sentence for bank robbery and he 
received his first parole from that institution on January 11, 1931 and within 
a few weeks was returned to the -institution as a parole violator. He escaped 
on February 24,'1931. On hay 9, 1931 he was arrested by the Police Daaartment 
at Saint Joseph, hissouri for investigation and on the 10th of the following 
month he was arrested by the Police Department at Tulsa, Oklahoma as a 
fugitive from the State Penitentiary. This arrest occurred at the time Fred 
Barker and Alvin Karnis were arrested at Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 10, 1931, 
charged with a jewel burglary. Coker was not as fortunate as Harpis and Fred 
Barker, as after this arrest he was returned to Okmulgee, Oklahoma to await 
trial for the jewel theft. 
1. C. j7-576 	- 51 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Although he was not prosecuted for that crime, he was returned to the Okla-
homa State Penitentiary on June 19, 1931, to complete his sentence for -  bank 
robbery. Coker remained confined in the institution until September 3, 1935, 
when .he was again released on parole. Coker, after his release on parole 
froi-a the penitentiary, proceeded with Heady to the latter's home in Tulsa, 
Oklahoma and the two of them began celebrating Coker's good fortune by con-
suming considerable quantities of liquor and two or three weeks thereafter 
Coker proceeded to Toledo, Ohio and joined Karpis and Campbell, 
About the first of November 1935, Fred Hunter returned to Tulsa, 
Oklahoma and solicited the aid of John Brock in a new criminal venture which 
was being planned. Brock agreed to participate in the new -crime-and with 
Hunter traveled by train from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Cleveland, Ohio, arriving 
there on or about November 4, 1935. At Cleveland, Ohio Hunter and Brock 
parted, Hunter proceeding to Youngstown, Ohio, while Brock went to Toledo 
and reeistered in a local hotel. However, the following day he was joined at 
the latter place by Fred Hunter and the two of them proceeded to the Toledo 
hide-out of Karpis and Campbell, which place was a local house of prostitution. 
On the afternoon of November 7, 1935 five bandits armed with two - 
machine guns, a shotgun and automatic pistols held up Erie Train No. 622 at 
Garrettsville, Ohio, which wes en route from Detroit, ilichian to -Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania and there ees stolen from the United States rail 334,000 in 
currency and several thousand dollars in securities. During the course of 
the robbery the train crew was intimidated and one of the robbers fired a shot 
into the mail car. After Special Agents received information concerning the 
"wild west" manner in which the robbery was pereetrated, the possibility that 
Karpis and Campbell were responsible for this crime as considered and investi-
gation resulted in the identification of the fugitives wanted in the Bremer 
kidnapine as being two of the particieants in the holdup of the mail train. 
Special Agents further learned by their investigation that after the robbery, 
Karpis, Campbell, Hunter, Brock and the fifth member of the bandit gang known 
as "Sam", retreated to a garage in Port Clinton, Ohio operated by one John 
Zetzer, an ex-convict. Here the loot waS divided and the gang see)arated, 
Campbell and "Sam" going to Toledo, Ohio. 
Karpis, Brock and Hunter had made elaborate plans for a "getaway". 
The former methods used by modern bandits in driving long distances in a' 
fast automobile after the commission of a crime were too slow for Karpin, 
'unter and Brock, so arrangements had been Made through Zetzer, a pilot, 
for the use of an airplane. Early on the morning of Kovember 0, 1935 the 
three mail train bandits boarded en airplane near Port Clinton, Ohio and 
with Zetzer as the pilot, flew to Hot Springs, Arkansas, Karpis and 
Hunter remained at of Springs while Brock returned to his home in Tulsa, 
Oklahoma. 
During the course of the investigation conducted by Special Agents, 
- 52 - 	 November 19, 1936 
it was learned that on October 19, 1935 one Thomas J. Shaw had gone to the 
Universal Notor Company in Akron, Ohio for the purpose of buying a Ford 
automobile for cash and after making preliminary arrangements for the 
purchase of this car, Shaw proceeded to the vicinity of the Portage Hotel, 
where he was arrested as a suspicious person and approximately three hours 
later a local gambler called at the Akron Police Department and arranged 
for the release of Shaw on bond. Thereafter, on October 25, 1935, under 
the name of Carl Baker, the individual who had previously been arrested as 
Thomas J. Shaw purchased from the Knowles Brown Notor Company, 1440 West 
25th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, a Plymouth sedan. The eyewitnesses to the 
Garrettsville mail robbery obtained the license number of the automobile 
used by the bandits at that time and through this it was learned that the 
Plymouth sedan which had been purchased by Carl Baker was the car used in the 
robbery. 
At the time Thaaas J. Shaw was arrested by the Police Department at 
Akron, Ohio, his fingerprints were forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investi-
gation and:they were identified as being identical with Hilton Lett, who on 
November 2, 1930 had been arrested by the Police Department at Wichita, Kansas 
for varrancy. The record further disclosed that Lett had been arrested for 
investigation by the Police Department at Coffeyville, Kansas on February 10, 
1931 and on September 3, 1932; that he also had been again arrested by the 
Police Department at Coffeyville on November 6, 1935 and on November 7, 1935, 
the date of the 	 robbery -  at Garrettsville, Ohio, Lett was confined in the 
County Jail at mates Center, Kansas on a charge of robbery, for which he was 
not prosecuted. Prior to this time the Federal Bureau of investigation had 
inforaation that Nilton Lett was an associate of Harry Campbell and that Lett 
had also been eaployed as a shiller at the Harvard Club at NewburghTeights, 
Ohio, where members of the gang frequently spent their time. 
After Campbell returned to Toledo, Ohio from Port Clinton, Ohio, he 
continued for the next several months to spend the majority of his time in 
Toledo. Campbell found refuge with Clara and Ed HcGraw at a rooming house 
operated by them at 2011 Adams Street. He also frequented the many taverns 
located in the vicinity of his place of refuge. 
A short time after Karpie and Campbell returned to Toledo, Ohio sub-
sequent to their escape from Atlantic City, New Jersey, Campbell met a girl 
by the name of Gertrude Billiter at the kcGraw rooming house and thereafter, 
on May 29, 1935, Campbell, under the name of Clarence C. killer, married 
Gertrude at Bowling Green, Ohio. Campbell, with his wife, frequented a tavern 
known as the Goulet's Grill, located at 21301 ;Monroe Street, Toledo, Ohio. 
Campbell also had as a companion at Goulet's Grill and other taverns in Toledo, 
Ohio and vicinity, the Sheriff of Lucas County, James O'Reilly. after the 
robbery of the mail train at Garrettsville, Ohio, Campbell returned to these 
associates. Sam Coker, at the time of the robbery of the train was ill in a 
I.C.#7-576 	— 53 — 	 November 19, 1936 
hospital in Toledo, which prevented him from being a participant in that 
crime. He however, continued his association with Campbell at Toledo, 
Ohio after the successful consummation of that robbery. 
While Campbell was spending his time in Toledo, Ohio, Karpis and 
Hunter were enjoying the pleasures of the health resort at Hot Springs, 
Arkansas. narpis also made a trip to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he 
engaged in his favorite pastime of fishing in the Gulf of TTexico. He 
also glade a trip to the west coast of Florida for a similar purpose. 
harpis after his retreat to Not Springs, Arkansas also made infrequent 
trips to Cleveland, Toledo and Canton, Ohio. 
On the afternoon of 	1, 1936, through investigative efforts of 
Special :,ents of the Federal Lureau of Investigation, it was determined 
that Alvin Karpis, with Fred Hunter, and his woman, Connie Norris, were 
located in Apartment 1, 33,13 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, where 
Hunter naintained a residence under the name of Ed O'Hara. The apartment 
building in which Karpis arZ the others were located was surrounded by 
Special Agents at approximately 5:50 P.N. on Nay 1, 1936 and as the Special 
Agents were about to enter the fugitive's apartment building, Karpis and 
hunter eaereed, with the intention of entering a Plymouth coupe which was 
parked in front of the building. Special Agents commanded Karpis and Hunter 
to surrender and they complied peacefully. Subsequent to the apprehension 
of Karpi s, it was learned he had maintained an apartment at 3300 Saint 
Charles Street, New Orleans, Louisiana and it was further learned that the 
raid on the apartment on Canal Street was timely, as Karpis claimed he was 
making preparations to go on another fishing trip. A search of the Plymouth 
coupe and the apartment in which Karpis and Hunter had been located revealed 
that Hunter and Karpis had been prepared to resist arrest if the opportunity 
was presented, as there were found a rifle, two .45 caliber automatic 
pistols and a .380 caliber pistol. Later, a Terraplane coupe, which had 
been used by Karpis, was located and it was found to contain a .22 caliber 
rifle, a .22 caliber automatic pistol and a .45 Colt automatic pistol. After 
the capture of Karpis, he was i=ediately removed to St. Paul, Ilinnesota and 
committed to the Ramsey County Jail in default of one half a million dollar 
bond, to await trial. Hunter was committed to the Federal Jail at New 
Orleans, Louisiana, to await prosecution on the charge of harboring Karpis. 
The investigation was continued by Special Agents at Toledo, Ohio for 
the purpose of locatine Harry Campbell and it was learned that Campbell, under 
the name of C. 	 Was residing in Pepartment 1, 2132 Tionroe Street, 
Toledo, Ohio. It was further ascertained that Ca -nnbell was known in the 
vicinity as Robert or Bob 	 At daybreak on Nay 7, 1956, Special .,gents 
conducted a raid c this apartment and there apprehended Harry Campbell. A 
-576 	- 54 - 	 November 19, 1936 
search of the apartment revealed that Campbell had concealed under a 
pillow on the bed in the room in which he was apprehended,a .45 
caliber Colt automatic pistol which he did not have an opportunity to 
use. 
On the same morning, Sam Coker was taken into custody by Special 
Agents in a private home a few blocks away from where Harry Campbell had 
been residing;. Harry Campbell was removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where 
he was committed to the Ramsey County Jail in default of a 200,000 bond, 
to await the disposition of his case, while Sari Coker was returned to the 
Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester, Oklahoma on May 9, 1936 to 
complete his unexpired term for bank robbery. Harry Campbell did not elect 
to stand trial for the kidnaping of Mr. Bremer and on May 12, 1936 he 
entered a plea of guiltya St. Paul, Minnesota and on the same date was 
sentenced to serve life imprisonment. 
Fred Hunter, after being indicted at New Orleans, Louisiana on May 
27, 1936, entered a plea of guilty to the charge of harboring Alvin Karpis 
and was sentenced to serve two years in the United States Penitentiary at 
Atlanta, Georgia. 
On July 27, 1936 Alvin harpis entered a plea of guilty to the 
indictment charging 	with the kidnaping of Alliam A. Hane l  Jr. and he 
received a life sentence. Harpis and Campbell were temporarily committed 
to the United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas and on August 3, 
1936 were transferred to the island prison at Alcatraz, California, to 
remain there the rest of their lives. 
During the course of the investigation to apprehend the various 
members of the Karpis-Barker gang, Special Agents learned that William J. 
Harrison, who had been closely associated with the mob, had unwittingly 
communicated to other associates of the gang who were not in the inner 
circle certain information which it was felt should not have been divulged. 
Using a ruse, Harrison on the night of January 5, 1935 was lured by some 
of his companions to an abandoned barn in the vicinity of Ontarioville, 
Illinois. when he entered the barn, in the hope of effecting his mission, 
he was shot to death by severalof his erstwhile associates. His body was 
then soaked with gasoline, placed in an appropriate position and the barn 
set on fire. The structure was completely demolished. On January 6, 1935 
the charred outline of an apparently unidentified body of a human being 
was observed in the smoldering embers. The Sheriff's Office at Wheaton, 
Illinois made a search for identifying items left at the scene of the crime 
and an Elgin wrist watch and a gold linked bracelet were found beside the 
body. There was also found what remained of a pair of octagon shaped eye-
glasses. In addition thereto, there were found a five gallon gasoline can 
and a crank for a Model A Ford automobile. 
During the last days of August, 1935, Special Agents of the Federal 
I.C.#7-576 	 - 55 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Bureau of Investigation ascertained definitely that Harrison had been murdered 
by certain of his companions and that his body had been burned in an old barn 
to prevent identification. Special Agents secured from the Sheriffts Office 
at Wheaton, Illinois pertinent data concerning the wrist watch which had been 
found near the corpse. Systematic inquiry in the vicinity of Hammond, Indiana 
and Calumet City, Illinois where Harrison had spent considerable time, dis-
closed that on August 21, 1933 Harrison had a wrist watch repaired by a jeweler 
friend in Hammond, Indiana. The jeweler had scratched his repair number, 
C-6331  on the inside of the case and this entry appeared on the case of the 
Elgin watch which had been found by the unidentified corpse at Ontarioville, 
Illinois on January 6, 1935. 
The finding of the body of William J. Harrison gave significance to 
the letter which had been found at Oklawaha, Florida written by "Doc": Bakker 
to his brother Fred and in which it was stated "I took care of that buisness 
for you Boys it was done Just as good as if you had did it your self." 
As for Dr. Joseph p. Loran, Special Agents ascertained that he was 
last seen, according to the best information available, at the Casino Club, 
Toledo, Ohio, during the latter part of July, 1934. Dr. Loran had been at 
- the club with "Doc" Barker, Russell Gibson and other members of the gang and 
became quite intoxicated. His associates tried to quiet him and it is 
alleged that Dr. Moran made the remark "I have you guys in the palms of my 
hands." This statement apparently was the signing of his death warrant. He 
left the club with two of the gang and did not return. The present where-
abouts of Dr. I/loran is best deterained by a remark Fred Barker made to a -
member of the mob - "Doc will do no more operating. The fishes probably have 
eat him up by now. 
I. C. #7-576 	- 56 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Harboring Charged Resulting From 
The Bremer Kidnaping Case  
Following the release of Edward George Bremer, various members of 
the Barker-Karpis gang proceeded to Toledo, Ohio, and in the fall of 1934 moved 
to Cleveland, Ohio, where they frequented the notorious Harvard Club, a gambling 
rendezvous. The Harvard Club was ascertained to be under the supervision of 
Arthur W. Hebebrand, the Club being located in Newburg Heights, a suburb of 
Cleveland, Ohio. 
Investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation developed that 
the Harvard Club was operated in open defiance of the law; that many of the 
employees had criminal records, and a great number of the patrons of the Club 
were underworld characters. The place was so notorious that the operators 
were able, on January 11, 1936, to openly defy a raiding party comerised of 
the prosecuting attorney of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and special deputies when 
an attempt was made to raid this gambling center. On this occasion the raid-
ing party was threatened with death by machine gun fire and was thus held 
at bay until all of the gambling equipment had been moved from the rear end 
of the Club. The Club was closed for a few weeks, but reopened in a new 
location a short distance away, where thereafter, it did a flourishing 
business. 
In September, 134, the presence of the Barker-Karpis gang in 
Cleveland, Ohio, was discovered but the male members of the gang were success-
ful in eluding arrest. However, Alvin Karpis and Harry Campbell later re-
appeared in Cleveland, Ohio, during February of 1935, following their escape 
from police officers in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Upon their arrival in 
Cleveland, they began associating with Arthur W. Hebebrand and continued this 
association until some time in November, 1935. Of course, during the time 
that they were frequenting the Harvard Club, Alvin Karpis and Harry Campbell 
were considered among the most wanted fugitives in the United 777,tates. 
Hebebrand, though cognizant of the criminal records of these individuals, 
permitted Alvin Karpis, Harry Campbell and also Fred Barker to visit the 
Harvard Club and gamble at any time they so desired. He also assisted these 
criminals in renting a house in Cleveland where they might remain in hiding. 
Investigation established that the house rented by Alvin Karpis was rented 
under the name of H. G. hilgreth. It further appeared that Hebebrand assisted 
these criminals by purchasing clothing for them during the daytime in order 
that their presence in Cleveland might not be detected. 
Concerning the personal history of Hebebrand, investigation 
established that he was of German descent, born in Cleveland, Ohio, on 
Parch 30, 1897, and was 40 years of age at the time of his association with 
these convicts. In his earlier youth, he learned the carpenter trade and 
subsequently entered the building and real estate business in Cleveland, 
Ohio. In this capacity he rose to a position of some imoortance in Cleveland 
and it was while conducting his real 'estate business that he and others 
opened the Harvard Club in Newburg Hei,7hts. Hebebrand and his wife, Alice, 
resided in a very moderate home at 21256 horet:ood Parkway in Cocky River, 
Ohio, which is a suburb of Cleveland. The: Hebebrands ostensibly lived 
happily at their home with two small adopted children. 
I. C. ho7 —576 	— 57 — 	 November 19, 1936 
The files of the FBI disclose that Hebebrand was arrested by the 
Cleveland, Ohio, Police Department on April 1, 1929, on a charge of man-
s]aughter. The record reflects tat this arrest was quashed on lay 7, 1929, 
when a T olle Prosequi was anbered; that he was arrested also by the Cleveland, 
Ohio, Police Department in January 1936, charged with operating a gambling 
establishment for which he was fined 500 and costs and sentenced to serve 
30 days in the Cuyahoga County Jail in Cleveland. 
When the Harvard Club became known  to Special Agents of the Federal 
Bureau of investigation, it was established that John Francis "Sharkey" Gorman 
was also a trusted employee of this Club and worked in close association with 
Arthur Hebebrand. Gorman acted as messenger for Hebebrand and also for Harry 
Cam)bell and Alvin Karpis during which time he was well aware of their 
criminal record and that they were wanted for kidnaping by Special Agents of 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. John Gorman, who was known 1.7 ,  his close 
associates as "Sharkey", was 36 years of age at that tine, having been born in 
Cleveland, Ohio, on September 13, 1901. He was married and resided with his 
wife at 6202 Franklin Boulevard in Cleveland. 
Though the Identification Division of the FBI failed to disclose a 
prior criminal record concerning Gorman, investigation established that in 1924 
he served 75 days in a workhouse at Dayton, Ohio, on a .charge of violation of 
the Kational Prohibition Let. The records in the Cleveland, Ohio, Police 
Department also show that Gorman had been arrested on several occasions for 
fighting and for investigation charges. 
As the association of Hebebrand and Gorman with members of the 
Barker—Karpis gang was definitely established thrugh their own admissions to 
the effect that they new these individuals were wanted by law enforcement 
officers, both were arrested by Special Agents and were indicted at Cleveland, 
Ohio, on June 10, 1937, by a Federal Grand Jury in three counts charging them 
with being accessories after the fact to the kidnaping of T]dward George Bremer; 
conspiring as accessories after the fact to the kidnaping of Bremer; also, for 
conspiracy to harbor Alvin Karpis and Harry Campbell, knowing these 
individuals to be fugitives from 	and wanted by the Government in 
this kidnaping. On June 30, 1937, in the United States District Court at 
Cleveland, Ohio, both Hebebrand and Gorman entered pleas of guilty to the entire 
indictment, and on the same date Nebebrand was sentenced to serve two years in 
a United States Federal penitentiary and fined a,000. Gorman was also sen-
tenced, on June 30th, to serve three years in a United States penitentiary 
and fined '1,000. 
The Strange Death of Arthur E. Barker alias "Doc" Barker 
Following the imposition of a life sentence on Arthur E. Darker on 
flay 17, 1935, at St. Paul, Iinnesota l  Lurker was received at the United States 
Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, on lay 25, 1935, to start serving his 
life sentence. However, on October 23, 1935, he nas transferred to the United 
States Penitentiary at Alcatraz Island, California, arriving there on October 
26, where he was thereafter confined. During the course of Barker's con- 
I.C.Z7-576 	November 19, 1936 
finanent at Alcatraz, he was known to be one of the worst troublemakers and 
aritators ever to be had on the "rock." he was continually quarreling and 
fighting and on October 30, 1933, was placed in solitary confinement for 
engaging in a fist fight. He was removed from solitary confinement on 
November 8, 1933, and thereafter confined in an isolation block. 
On January 13, 1939, the San Francisco Field Office of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation was notified that five men had escaped from the cell 
house at Alcatraz, the identities of whom were established to be Arthur E. 
"Doc!! Parker, Dale Stamphill, Rufus McCain, Henry Young and Alliam Martin. 
It was noted, at the time of the escape, there was a very bad fog on Alcatraz 
island and in the vicinity of San Francisco area. It was noted that this 
was one of the foggiest nights of that year and newspapers carried several 
stories of boats running aground due to the poor visibility. One of the 
Prison guards, in making a routine check at about 3:37 A. II. on that date, 
noticed the bars cut in the cell assigned to Dale Stamphill. He immediately 
gave an alarm and a further check was made of the isolation cells in the D 
block. This disclosed that five men were missing, the identities of when 
are above stated. All cells were found to have been cut, and the 
window opposite the cell of Young had a portion of the bar removed, 
sufficient to enable a person to soueeze through to the outside. 
After getting through the window, the prisoners dropped approxi-
mately eight feet to the ground and thereafter apparently escaped down the 
steep grade lawns and shrubbery inaediately adjacent to the building on 
the Golden Gate side of the Island. Immediate alarms were sounded and due 
consideration was given to the apprehension of these notorious criminals, 
all of whom have lengthy criminal records in the files of the FBI in 
'Aasiington, D. G. Darker and Stamphill were first sighted in a cove almost 
directly beneath the road guard tower on the side of the island facing San 
Francisco. both men resisted arrest and were fired upon by prison guards 
and seriously wounded. Young, NcCain and m=artin surrendered without 
resistance, the latter of whom was successfully saved from drowning when 
he was found trying to swim to freedom. The apprehensions were effected 
and the return of all prisoner -a was completed before 5:30 A. H., on the 
same date, by prison officials. 
Investigation established that all five individuals had endeavored 
to construct a raft of driftwood, lumber and other available material, using 
clothes and strips of sheets to bind the raft together. Investigation further 
established that due to the concerted efforts of these notorious criminals, 
it had taken them approximately one month of detailed planning to perfect 
their means of escape and that each of the five prisoners had worked on the 
bars in his respective cell, when time would allow, during the night and day. 
It was likewise learned that the escape was planned by "Doc" Barker and 
though it had been ready for at least a month, their only reason for waiting 
was for the right foggy night to appear. It was ascertained that the saws 
and screw-jack, the implements used by the prisoners, were smugaled into the 
isolation ward many weeks before by Stamphill, who later committed a violation 
of prison rules expressly so he might be placed in the isolation ward into 
I.L./ r-5 	- 59 - 	 November 19, 1936 
which he had already smuggled the tools to be used in effecting the escape. 
The saw blades went through prisoner inspection in view of the fact that they 
had been glued into musical instruments believed. to be mouth harps. Follow-
ing the use of the blades, they were thrown in the lavatories to avoid being 
found. 
"Doc" Barker died on the evening of January 13, 1939, in the 
prison hospital at Alcatraz. It was later learned after he was apprehended, 
Barker, while lying on his deathbed, exclaimed to one of the guards, "I am 
crazy as Hell. I should never have tried it." This fateful day truly 
proved to be unlucky for "Doc" Barker as it was in fact Friday, the 
thirteenth. 
Three of Barker's associates in this prison escape were  well known 
to Special Agents of the FBI through previous crimes in which they had been 
sought by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 
Dale Stamphill was found guilty of kidnaping and bank robbery on 
October 26, 1937, in the United States District Court at Oklahoma City, 
Oklahoma, and on the sate day was sentenced to serve the rest of his natural 
life in a United States penitentiary with the reoomeendation that he be in-
carcerated in the United States Penitentiary of :Jcatraz island, California. 
This individual escaped from the Oklahoma State Aeformatory, Granite, Okla-
hala,  on February 17, 1)35, with other inmates after killing a guard of that 
reformatory in making their escape. Subseleently, on February 27, 1935, 
Stanphill with two other ineates, robbed the First National Bank at Sailing, 
Oklahoma, with the use of firearms and in order to avoid apprehension kidnaped 
Dr. Fred Lewis N;rers and transported him in his automobile in interstate 
commerce from Leedy, Oklahoma, to Glazier, Texas. 
Henry Young, on December 29, 1934, entered a plea of guilty to an 
indictment returned. against him on December 19, 1934, charging him with the 
robbery of the First National Bank at Lind, wa.shington. On December 29, 
1934, he was sentenced to serve a term of 20 years in the custody of the At-
torney General on each of two counts to run concurrently. At the time of 
sentence the court recoaeended the United States Penitentiary at Alcatraz 
Island, California, as the place of incarceration for this sentence. This 
individual had been paroladfrom the i/4ashington State Penitentiary on October 
12, 1934, and was on parole at the time of the commission of this bank 
robbery. 
On May 30, 1935, at Muskoee, Oklahoma, an indictment was returned 
charging Rufus Roy McCain with the robbery of the Idabel National Bank, 
Idabel, Oklahoma, on May 15, 1934, in three counts and with the violation 
of the National Motor Vehicle Theft Act in two counts. On June 11, 1935, 
McCain was sentenced on the bank robbery indictment to 20 years on the first 
count, 25 years on the second count, and 99 years on the third and last 
count. He was fined :.100 on each of these counts, and on the Lational 
Motor VehicleTheft Act indictment, was sentenced to serve five years on 
each of the two counts, all sentences to run concurrently, McCain was serv-
ing these sentences at Alcatraz at the time of his attempted break. 
I. C. #7-576 	•" 60 	
November 19, 1936 
The last of Barker's associates in this undertakin was William 
Jiartin, alias hartin Tyree, colored, who was received at the United States 
Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island, California, harch 16, 1937, to serve 25 years 
for the post office assault and armed robbery. 
Harboring Charges at Hot Springs, Arkansas, Resulting 
From the Kidnaping of Edward Gorge Bremer 
During the course of the investigation conducted by Special Agents 
of the FBI regarding the abduction of Hr. Bremer, it was learned that members 
of the Karpis—Barker gang spent many months in Toledo. and Cleveland, Ohio, 
but as their presence in those localities was becoming known to individuals 
other than their cnn nascoi ts, tnny b' ,nto to 4: for 	n hidin7 place. 
They then learned through their contact with other underworld characters 
that Hot Springs, Arkansas, would be an idetl retreat. Of course, after 
the members of the gang had shared the x,200,000 ransom money collected from 
toe Bremer family, they spent it freely in drinking, vice and gambling. 
In June, 1935, Alvin Karpis, together with Fred Hunter, moved to 
Hot Springs, Arkansas, residing in cottages on the various lakes nearby, at 
which tine they were in daily contact with houses of prostitution operated 
in Hot Springs by Jewell LaVerne Grayson, alias Grace Goldstein. Grace Goldstein, 
by which name rAae.was commonly known, became the constant companion of Alvin Karpi 
and one of her prostitutes, Ruth Hamm Robsion, alias Connie Lon-is, associated 
herself with Fred Hunter. They were visited in their rendezvous in Hot Springs, 
by Harry Campbell and others of the gang from time to time, and they all moved 
about freely in Hot Springs without any apparent fear of arrest. The associ-
ation of Karpis and Hunter with Grace Goldstein and Connie horns continued 
alnoot uninterruptedly until the apprehension of Alvin Karpis in Dew Orleans, 
Louisiana, by Special Agents of the FBI on Lay 1, 1936. 
The Hot Springs, Arkansas, Police Department was found to be operated 
in a very lax manner under the leadership of Joseph Wakelin, the Chief of 
Police. Trusted associates of Chief Takelin, in operating the Hot Springs 
Police Department were Herbert "Dutch" Akers, the Chief of Detectives, Cecil 
Brock, Lieutenant in Charge of the Identification Division, and Garnett A. 
noore, a duly appointed police officer. During the course of the investigation 
to locate members of the Karpis—Barker gang, it was determined that as early 
as April, 1934, Special A gents of the FBI, distributed from time to time wanted 
notices for Alvin Karpis, Arthur "Doc" Barker, Harry Sawyer, and wanted fugi., 
tives to the Hot Springs Police Department. It was further disclosed that 
one of these wanted notices was tacked on a door in the City Jail in such a 
manner that it was in full view of all officers employed in the Police De-
partment and since it was directly located in front of the Police Department 
mailbox, all officers naturally had ample opportunity to see it when getting 
their mail. This wanted notice was found to have been on this door for at 
least a year until it had turned yellow with age. Of course, in addition, all 
newspapers in Hot Springs carried nress releases concerning these criminals as 
a result of which it was common knowledge that they were badly wanted by the 
Government. 
I.C.#7-576 	 - 61 - 	November 19, 1936 
When Alvin Karpis and Fred Hunter first went to Hot Springs, they 
contacted Morris Loftis and Mrs. Al C. Dyer and rented a cottage from them 
at what was known as Dyer's Landing where they remained, entirely unmolested, 
though it was later determined both Loftis and hrs. Dyer knew the identity of 
Karpis and Hunter. Subsequently, through their own statements, they admitted 
having told Karpis and Hunter in December, 1935, of the details of an investi-
gation conducted by Agents of the FBI at Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the pre-
ceding month of October, for the purpose of locating and apprehending members 
of that gang. It was also established by investigation that members of the 
Hot Springs, Arkansas, Police Department were aware of the identity of Alvin 
Karpis and were visitors at the houses of prostitution operated by Grace 
Goldstein in Hot Springs. Herbert "Dutch" Akers was observed on one 
occasion in direct conversation with Alvin Karpis, and Chief of Police 
Joseph LTakelin had almost nightly clandestine meetings with Grace Goldstein 
during the time Karpis and Hunter resided in Hot Springs. During this time 
none of the officers of the Hot Springs Police Department made any effort to 
pprehend either Karpis or Hunter or made any overtures to notify the local 
field offices of the FBI as to their presence in that locality. 
Investigation also established that, on April 25, 1935, Alvin 
Karpis, Fred Hunter, Harry Campbell and another unknown person robbed a mail 
truck at Warren, Ohio, obtaining Y72,000 in loot. Following the perpetration 
of this robbery, Karpis and Hunter immediately proceeded to Hot Springs, 
Arkansas, to "cool off." For many years prior to that time, of course, Hot 
Springs had attained a national reputation as a place of refuge and retreat 
for badly wanted criminals who desired seclusion from arrest or discovery. 
In June, 1935, Grace Goldstein was operating a house of prostitution 
at 123 Palm Street, Hot Springs, and was generally considered the paramour 
of Chief of Police Joseph "akelin. However, upon the arrival of Karpis in 
Hot Springs, he spent most of his time in her company, residing at various 
residences until March 26, 1936. During this tine, of course, she knew his 
true identity but refused to provide any information to the FBI as to his 
whereabouts. Grace Goldstein later admitted that she had rented various 
places of residence for Karpis and was acquainted with the fact that during 
this time he was engaged in various criminal enterprises. She likewise 
arranged for a hideout for Karpis where he night come immediately after he 
and Fred Hunter had robbed a mail train at Garrettsville, Ohio, on November 
7, 1935, at which robbery Karpis and Hunter obtained , i34,000. There was also 
some indication that Grace Goldstein obtained some :40,000 worth of bonds 
which was part of this loot; however, she consistently refused to admit 
this or advise the location of these bonds. 
Concerning the personal history of Grace Goldstein, it was ascertained 
that she had operated a house of prostitution since approximately 17 years of 
age. She first operated in 	Orleans, Louisiana, where she married Paul 
Gazen. She moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, some time in 1930 where she there-
after operated houses of prostitution at various places in that vicinity. 
I.C.#7-576 	- 62 - 	 November 19, 1936 
Grace Goldstein was born and raised in the vicinity of Blossom, Texas. At 
the time of her association with this group of criminals, she was approximately 
32 years of age. She subsequently obtained a divorce from her first husband, 
Paul Gazen, but no children resulted from their marriage. The mother of Grace 
Goldstein, together with three sisters and three brothers, all resided on farms 
in the vicinity of Blossom, Texas. All relatives of Grace Goldstein were poor 
and had a difficult time in making a living. The Identification Division of 
the FBI does not reflect a prior c
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