Tag: May 1931
Muzzling the Competition: Washington’s Canine Cartel
In a shocking turn of events, the city of Washington has seen a rise in canine-related crime, prompting authorities to take drastic measures. As of Monday, May 25, 1931, all dogs in the city are required to be muzzled, thanks to a new regulation put in place by the city council. But what sparked this…
Edward Penn, Murder, Washington D.C. 1931
In the scorching heat of a Washington D.C. morning, a brutal street fight turned deadly. On May 30, 1931, the lifeless body of Edward Penn, 50, was discovered in a stable behind 91 N Street Southeast. The retired man’s skull had been crushed, leaving behind a gruesome scene that would shock the community. According to…
Delaware’s Dark Underbelly: A Tale of Woe and Toil
In the sweltering summer of 1931, Delaware’s workforce was a microcosm of the Great Depression’s devastating effects. A staggering 98104 workers toiled in the state, with a disproportionate number struggling to make ends meet. The statistics were stark: 6.4 percent of the workforce consisted of single individuals, while 30.4 percent were married and 15.1 percent…
Dr John Donaldson, International Shipping Cartel, Washington D.C. 1931
In 1931, the academic halls of George Washington University in Washington D.C. were home to a peculiar experiment. Dr. John Donaldson, a professor of economics and dean of Columbian College, had a eureka moment while debating international economic relations. He posited that if shipping operators could cooperate on sending out their ships, and the Danes…
Trainmen Rivalry Violence, Texas 1931
May 18, 1931, Brownsville, Texas – It was supposed to be a brief visit for the 900 trainmen who rolled into town on Sunday morning, but what they got was a taste of the bitter rivalry between the Democratic and Republican parties. Related Federal Cases DECEMBER 30, 1922: The Brownsville Herald’s Subscription Scandal Exposed ·…
Labor Unrest: Unions Ready to Strike as Employers Eye Wage Cuts
In a bold move, President William Green of the American Federation of Labor announced on May 14, 1931, that organized labor would strike where necessary to resist wage reductions, sparking a capitallabor showdown in Washington, D.C. The announcement sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital, with employers now facing the full wrath of the labor movement.…
Egan Rats, Bank Robbery, California 2022
A sensational case has come to a close in the city of St. Louis, where the notorious Egan Rats gang thought they had pulled off the heist of a lifetime. With their connections to the highest echelons of power and a seemingly bottomless well of cash, this gang of thieves had been making waves in…
Burke Associates, Murder, Kidnapping, Bank Robbery, Illinois 2024
In a dramatic turn of events, six alleged gangsters were taken into custody in East St. Louis, Illinois, and were being transported to Chicago under heavy guard. The suspects, believed to be associates of notorious gangster Burke, were wanted for a string of high-profile crimes, including murders, kidnappings, and bank robberies that had captivated the…
Deathly Deceit: Smugglers Bury the Truth in Coffins
In the sweltering summer of 1931, a gruesome discovery was made on the piers of New York. A customs inspector, part of the esteemed American Customs Service, had grown suspicious of the number of American corpses passing through their gates. The inspector, Alma Chesnut’s colleague, had attested to the authenticity of the corpses by carefully…
Rise and Fall of the Funchal Rebellion: A Tale of Blood and Bombs
In the sun-kissed Madeira Islands, a rebellion brewed like a stormy sea, threatening to engulf the Portuguese government. For weeks, the rebel forces, led by General Sousa Diaz’s revolutionary junta, held Funchal, the capital, hostage, defying the authority of President Oscar Carmona’s administration. But on May 2, 1931, the tides of war turned in favor…
