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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. Magee 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 Bremer 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. When he arrived at that palce 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 blindfolded 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. Mr. 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. Mr. Brememr 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 Mr. 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 any 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 speciman 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 information 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 small 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 him. Mr. Bremer was convinced that there was

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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. Mr. Bremer was of the opinion that he traveled through a city of medium size en route to the hide-out, inasmuch as he heard streetcars. 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 of 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 investigation and on February 10, 1934 the Sheriff of Columbia County, Wisconsin

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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 fingerprint 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 ranson 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. & B. Grand Silver Store, 67 7th Street, St. Paul, Minnesota. At this store a girl employee identified 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 participants in the kidnaping of Mr. Bremer. The Special Agents knew also that the gang which had extorted and robbed the citizens of the Twin Cities of more that $300,000 in less than a year's time were desperate criminals. Arthur "Doc" Barker and Alvin Karpis were not strangers 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 members 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 to the face, which prevented 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 whom Goetz had been living. Interviews with the parents of Irene Dorsey, and Fred Goetz produced no information 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:

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Irene Dorsey was not located at the Larna 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 $200,000 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, 1934, two days subsequent to the release of Mr. Bremer, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began the distribution of the printed list containing the serial numbers of all the currency which comprized the ransom. These lists were distributed to all banks in the United States and in some foreign countries, with the request that should any of the listed currency be detected in a bank the nearest division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was to be immediately notified. On April 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 $900.00 in five dollar bills and $100.00 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 investigation disclosed had appreared at other banking instituations in the city, redoubled their efforts to locate him. On April 26, 1934 an individual desired a $100.00 bill for ten $10 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 bookmaker's establishment at 226 South Wells 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 Vidler's associates in the exchange of the money were John J. McLaughlin, commonly known as "Boss" McLaughlin, a political "ward heeler", John J. McLaughlin, Jr. and Philip Delaney. On April 28, 1934 "Boss" McLaughlin was taken into custody by Special Agents. He was indignant that he should be arrested. Telegrams were dispatched to the President of the United States and to the Attorney General by McLaughlin's wife, protesting the

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arrest. The attempt failed and McLaughlin remained in custody. The ex-Illinois State Legislator was unable to gain his freedom by endeavoring to use political influence. John McLaughlin, Jr. and Philip Delaney were also arrested and charged with being money-changers. When questioned concerning his part in the transaction, John J. McLaughlin, St. stated that he first negotiated with one Frankie Wright in the lobby of a prominent hotel in Chicago; that he was later introduced by Wright to individuals known only to him as "Izzy" and "Slim"; that he agreed to exchange the money on a five per cent cut basis and understood from information furnished to him by "Izzy" and "Slim" that the first $100,000 to be exchanged was the Hamm ransom money paid by William A. Hamm of St. Paul to effect his release from a gang of kidnapers and that $200,000, 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 McLaughlin had visited "Izzy" and "Slim" at a hotel on Irving Park Boulevard in Chicago, Illinois. Investigation disclosed that the hotel in question was the Irving Hotel on Irving Park Boulevard and that the room in which McLaughlin had met "Izzy" and "Slim" was rented by Dr. Joseph Moran.

It was further learned that additional rooms had been rented at the hotel by Dr. Moran on April 23, 25, 26 and 27, 1934. This investigation disclosed that an individual known as Roy Gray, of 626 Waveland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, was a frequent visitor to Dr. Moran. Special 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 Identification Order, showing Gibson to be wanted for violation of the National Motor Vehicle Theft Act and also for robbing the American First National Bank messenger at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 24, 1929. Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation through their investigative efforts identified "Izzy" as Oliver A. Berg, who was wanted by the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet, Illinois.

Special Agents on the night of August 22, 1934 arrested Oliver A. Berg at the home of his sister, 5248 North Winthrop Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Nearby in a desk of the room in which Berg was taken into custody were found fully loaded revolvers which Berg had no opportunity to use. Berg did not surrender peacefully and although he was advised of the identity of the Special Agents, he 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" Moran 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 Massacre, in which Fred Goetz is alleged to have been one of the machine gunners.

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It appears that Berg had been received at the Southern Illinois State Penitentiary, M_nard, 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 Novbember 7, 1931. The Appellate Court, however, 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 background of Dr. Joseph P. Moran revealed that he had an extensive practice in medicine, most of his patients being members of the underworld. Dr. Moran 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, 1926 for LaSalle County, Illinois, under sentence of one to ten years. He was paroled 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 penitentiary, Dr. Moran engaged in medical work 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. Moran met various labor leaders who visited that Institution and through these contacts he became the physician for the Chiago Chauffeurs, Teamsters and Helpers' Union, with headquarters in Maywood, Illinois, subsequent to the time he was released from the penitentiary. As physician for this union, Dr. Moran 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. Moran was dropped as its physician. He thereafter established himslef in an office on Irving Park Boulevard, where many of his friends from the underworld continued to call upon him.

Fred Goetz and Irene Dorsey subsequent to the release of Mr. Bremer moved from their apartment at 1934 West Garfield Boulevard to an apartment located at 7827 South Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois. After the collection of the ransom money from the Bremer famiy, it was taken to the apartment of Fred Goetz by Volney 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 Mr. Bremer was being held a kidnaped victim, the women members of the mob concealed themselves in apartments located in Chicago, Illinois. Edna Murray, Wynona Burdette and Paula Harmon secured an apartment together at 6212 University Avenue. The arrangements for this apartment were made by William J. Harrison. Ma Barker at this time was residing in an apartment 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

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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 speak-easies 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 immediatley 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 Capain George Timiney, in charge of the so-called "hoodlum" squad of Toledo, Ohio Police Department, 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 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 presumably resided with her after the 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 vicinity of Toledo, Ohio and there as Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Bredford, rented an apartment 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 apartment 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 members 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" Barker 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 Mr. Morley.

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