Wynona Burdett and the FBI file: Barker-Karpis Gang
I.C.#7-576
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November 19, 1936
Home of Fred and Ma Barker in Forida where shoot out took place.
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 was further learned that a few days prior to the location of this cottage, Harry Campbell and Wynona Burdette 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 approximately fifteen minutes, no answer was 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 machine gun fire from weapons in the hands of the Special Agents. Kate Barker battle until death and when the house was entered later in the morning, Special Agents found the bodies of Fred Barker and Kate Barker. A .45 caliber automatic pistol was found near the body of Fred Barker and a machine gun lay at Ma Barker's left hand. A search of the house after the battle had ceased disclosed $14,000 in $1,000 bills and investigation revealed that these $1,000 bills were a part of those which had been obtained by Cassius McDonald in Havana, Cuba in exchange for Bremer ransom money. There was also found other currency of smaller denominations totaling approximately $293.00.
A small arsenal was located in the house which consisted of -
2 Thompson submachine guns
1 Browning .12 guage automatic shotgun
1 Remington .12 guage pump shotgun
2 .45 caliber automatic pistols
1 ._3 caliber Winchester rifle and
1 .380 caliber Colt automatic pistol,
together with machine gun drums, automatic pistol clips and a quantity of ammunition.
Thee 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 I caught then all when I was down there. I took care of that
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I.C.#7-576
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November 19, 1936
Business for you Boys it was done Just as good as if you had did it your self. I an Just like the standard oil always at your service ha ha. tell, Bo, you Know the Boy with the rosey cheek that Moxxy 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 perrty hard to locate. But will see hin right away, and see if he wants come 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 haha well I will close for this tine as ever you Big Bud
B. L. Barnes"
This letter became significant in explaing the disappearence 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 later date Kate and her son Fred were buried at an unknown, unkept countryside graveyard, full of undergowth and weeds known as the Williams Cemetery, Welch, Oklahoma. The services were attended by a small 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 Diety upon the surviving members of the family. The minister qualifeid the request for such blessings with the statement "If it by Thy will". The bodies were buried next to the grave of Herman Barker, Ma's oldest son.
At the time the shooting took place at Oklawaha, Florida, Alvin Karpis and Dolores Delaney resided in a house on 85th Street in Miami, Florida. They had as visitors Harry Campbell and Wynona 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 Miami, 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 $1,200 was 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. Morley, 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
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I.C.#7-576
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November 19, 1936
doctor and good care. The women arrive at Altantic City, New Jersy about 2:00 o'clock on the afternoon of January 18, 1935 and registerd 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 Danmore 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 moring of January 20, 1935 a police officer located the car in the Coast Garage at Atlantic City, New Jersey and this officer, with two fellow officers, of the Altantic City Police Department, then proceeded to the Danmor 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 officers he stated that he would be glad to have the man who was in the room in which the offiers 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 and Wynona Burdette succeeded in escaping from the hotel and crouched in the alley, awaiting the arrival of Karpis and Campbell to rescue them. However, during the period of time 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 stealing a Pontiac coach from a local garage and in this car they fled from Atlantic City, New Jersey, after unsuccedful efforts to locate their women. They abandoned the stolen Pontiac car near Qua___town, Pennsylvania and at about midnight on January 20, 1935 the fugitives kidnaped Dr. Horace M. 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 fored to enter the Guilford Center Graf__ Hall, where he was bound, gagged and abandoned. Karpis and Campbell fled on 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 Mr. Bremer had been held was located at Bensenville, Illinois. Simultaneously with which had been conducted at Oklawaha, Florida which resulted in the deaths of Fred and Ma Barker, Special Agents raided the address at 180 May Street, Bensenville, Illinois. The building at this address was owned by Herman Baucke and it was found that a former tenant who had occupied a portion of this building in January and February 1934 had moved several months prior to the raid.
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I.C.#7-576
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November 19, 1936
On January 19, 1935 Mr. Bremer 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 wallpaer in a corner of the room, the position of the window and height of the window sill, the electric 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 description as previoulsy obtained from the victim of the kidnaping.
Investigation disclosed that 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 Alderton's home for the use of the kidnapers at the request of Fred Goetz. It was ascertained that in December of 193[4?] Fred Goetz and Alvin Karpis appeared at Bensenville and examined the prosecutive hide-out. At that time they agreed to pay Harold Alderton $1,000 for his services in connection with the kidnaping of Mr. 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 that 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 these fugitives, which investigation disclosed that Volney Davis and Edna murray were in association with jess Doyle and Doris O'Connor 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 O'Connor 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 Dors O'Connor's relatives, they moved to Aurora, Illinois in May, 1934, at the request of Edna Murray, who as previously related, was the sister of Doris O'Connor. They remained in Aurora until June 1934 and then returned to Kansas City, Missouri, residing
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I.C.#7-576
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November 19, 1936
at 4112 Locust Street. Prior to determining the exact address of Edna Murray and Volney Davis in Kansas City, Special Agents ascertained that Davis had stored in a local garage at Kansas City, Missouri, a Pontiac car. A surveillance was maintained of this car, and Volney Davis was captured at Kansas City, Missouri on February 4, 1935, and immediately arrangements were made to remove him from Kansas City. En route to Chicago, Illinois, the 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, Missouri. He claimed that the bill came from Walter "Irish" O'Malley, who was being sought by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with the kidnaping of August Duar[?] of Alton, Illinois. Davis maintained that he did not pass counterfeit 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 officers 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
"My dear Mother, 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 am 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 I will be held for thirty days in some prison here. but I won't be here long enough time for you to come to see me. But just as soon as I am where you can have time to come to see me I will let you know 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 may be impossible as it will cost too much. Tell all the side hello for me and tell the boys to take a lesson from my experience and never touch anything that don't belong to them, for a man can get more enjoyment out of ten dollars he has earned
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I.C.#7-576
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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 in this world and if I can keep some you boys from going wrong I have accomplished something in this world. I would give anything if I could start over again, for I know I could be successful 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 Mama 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 honest living regardless of how little I can earn. And I will be a model prisoner where ever 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 Volney 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 in 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 13, 1935, to serve six months in the _edgwick County Jail at Wichita, Kansas and was also fined $1,000. Mary Stanley, on the same date, was given a five year suspended sentence on the same charge.
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I.C.#7-576
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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 kidnaping took place. Alvin Karpis and Harry Campbell subsequently admitted, after their capture, that they were present the morning when Mr. Bremer was abducted. It was further ascertained that Mr. Bremer 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, William Harrison, Elmer Farmer and Harold Alderton had taken care of the needs of the guards and their prisoner by supplying them with food, whiskey and running other errands. Information was also obtained by the Special agents that the guards at the hide-out had _______ at the delay in the collection of the ransom money and that considerable liquor had been consumed, especially by William Weaver and Harry Campbell. The hoodlums had arguements 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
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I.C.#7-576
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November 19, 1936
he spent too much time strolling up and down 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 imitating the voice of a Mexican and, if possible, also to lead Mr. Bremer to believe that a foreigner was one of his guards. Karpis while at the hide-out studied maps and made charts; although it has never been definitely determined, it is believed that Karpis was compiling getaway charts, possibly for some future 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.
There was returned at St. Paul, Minnesota on May 4, 1934 an indictment which charged Arthur R. Barker, Alvin Karpis, John J. McLaughlin, Sr., John J. McLaughlin, Jr., William E. Vidler, Phillip J. Delaney, "Slim", "Izzy", Frankie Wright, John Roe and Richard Roe with conspiracy to kidnap Mr. Bremer 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, Elmer Farmer, Harold Alderton, William Weaver, Harry Sawyer, William J. Harrison, Bryan Bolton, John Doe and Richard Roe with the kidnaping 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 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 Bremer.
On April 15, 1935 the trial of Arthur R. Barker, Oliver A. Berg, Elmer Farmer, Harold Alderton, Jess Doyle, Edna Murray, Phillip Delaney, "Boss" McLaughlin, William Vidler, James Wilson and Bryan Bolton began in the Federal Courts Building at St. Paul, Minnesota before Federal Judge M. M. 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 Mr. Bremer 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" Barker was introduced into evidence. An employee of the Technical Laboratory of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
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