Tag: May 1935
Luer Kidnap Mastermind, Kidnapping, Kansas 2023
May 31, 1935 – In a thrilling turn of events, six suspects, including notorious fugitive Walter Luer, have been apprehended by authorities in Kansas City, Missouri, in connection with the high-profile kidnapping of August Luer, a respected banker from Alton, Illinois. The daring heist, which shook the nation nearly two years ago, had sparked a…
Gangland Grapple: ‘Irish OMalley’ Captured in Kansas City
Kansas City, May 31, 1935 – In a stunning takedown, federal agents have finally apprehended Walter Holland, alias ‘Irish OMalley,’ one of the masterminds behind the infamous kidnapping of August Luer, a wealthy banker and meat packer from Alton, Illinois. The brazen crime took place on July 10, 1933, and had sent shockwaves throughout the…
Roosevelt Target of Dime-SharkingScheme, Washington D.C., 1935
In a brazen display of brazen optimism, a nationwide chain letter scam left the President of the United States reeling. Over 200 letters, each promising a staggering return on investment, flooded the Presidential post office in May 1935. The letters, known as ‘Brother, can you spare a dime?’ letters, were a far cry from the…
Doomed to Disappear: The Fateful Fate of Washington’s Open-Air Trolleys
May 22, 1935, Washington D.C. – The once-beloved open-air trolleys, a staple of summer transportation in the nation’s capital, are on the brink of extinction. According to Fred A. Sager, chief engineer of the Public Utilities Commission, these hazardous vehicles will be discontinued as soon as more modern, closed-type cars are put into service. The…
Boy Scout Fund Drive Embezzlement, Connecticut 1935
Putnam, CT, May 9, 1935 – In a shocking turn of events, the Boy Scout drive for maintenance funds, officially launched on Tuesday night at Odd Fellows Hall, has been marred by controversy. The annual drive, aimed at raising $1,250 for the Boy Scouts of America, Fast Rush Connecticut Council District B, has drawn the…
San Antonio Light Staff, Associated Press Wire Mishandling, Texas 1935
On May 8, 1935, a momentous occasion unfolded in the San Antonio Light office as a special Associated Press wire was opened to London, England. This historic event was witnessed by Light and AP staff, who would later describe it as ‘a moment of newspaper history.’ However, the grandeur of the moment was somewhat marred…
Spirited Escape: Barker Brothers Slip Through Justice’s Fingers
After nine years of evading justice, the Barker brothers, Lee and Dell, finally found themselves behind bars at the Michigan City prison. The brothers had been convicted of illegal transportation of liquor back in 1926, under a now-repealed Indiana prohibition law. Judge James A. Collins had sentenced them to time, but their appeal to the…
