Volume 18 , Issue 16

1934, M'Laughlin Confessed To Handling $53,000 Of The E. G. Brewer Ransom Money

In 1934 a search was being made for three Oklahoma Gamgsters allegedly allied with Dillinger as ones who engineered the kidnapping of Bremer. M'Laughlin confessed to handling $53,000 of the E. G. Bremer ransom money. That announcement, regarding the reputed Chicago gambler, was made by the justice department officials back on 30 April 1934, page 1, of The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune, in Chillicothe, Missouri.

Found on Newspapers.com

Chicago, April 30 (1934) -- John J. "Boss" McLaughlin, reputed Chicago gambling lord and former state legislator, confessed to handling $53,000 of the ransom money paid for release of Edward G. Bremer, wealthy St. Paul banker, the department of justice announced.

This confession was the latest development in the war of the government against John Dillinger and his henchmen. While on section of the justice department was obtaining the statement of guilt from McLaughlin, other agents searched for three Oklahoma gangsters allegedly allied with Dillinger, who were believed to have engineered the actual abduction of Bremer.

Melvin H. Purvis, chief of the division of investigation said that McLaughlin made a detailed confession stating that he knew the money was "hot" and had come from the Bremer abduction. The confession was made, Purvis said, in the presence of the politician's 17 year old son John J. Jr., and Phillip Delaney, a hotel bartender.

Warrants charging the son and Delaney with conspiracy in connection with he $200,000 kidnaping, would be filed late that day, Purvis said.

Jefferson City, Mo., April 30 (1934) -- Martin Wunderlich, St. Paul and Missouri highway contractor, said that federal agents had questioned him about Edward G. Bremer kidnaping. The question was routine, said Wunderlich, a close friend of Bremer.

The contractor denied a report from Chicago in which federal agents were quoted as saying that a fugitive confidence man, William E. "Christian Kid" Mead had cheated him out of $50.00 in a fake horse race gambling scheme.

Chicago, April 30 (1934) -- Federal agents sought William E. "Christian Kid" Mead, notorious swindler, as the "finger man" in the $200,000 abduction plot against Edward G. Bremer, St. Paul Banker. Five men were held incommunicado and others were sought.

Mead was believed to have planned the abduction with John J. "Boss" McLaughlin, reputed Chicago gambling overlord. The swindler's attention was said to have been directed to Bremer as the result of is mulching of $50,000 from Martin Wunderlich, St. Paul and Jefferson City, Missouri, contractor.

Wunderlich banked with Bremer's commercial state bank in St. Paul.

The trail of at least three fugitives was connected closely with the bullet-blazed paths of the John Dillinger gang of outlaws. Those held were believed to have furnished the machinery by which the $300,000 of "hot" money paid in the plot was disposed of in gambling operations.

Of these only the names of John J. "Boss" Mclaughlin, repeated gambling czar, and William E. Vidler, minor gambler, were revealed. McLaughlin's son, John J., Jr., was reported in custody and two other men whose names were not revealed were known to face extensive questioning.

Three Oklahoma outlaws were sought as the actual leaders of the kidnaping. They were Alvin, Karpis, Arthur Barker and his bother, Fred Barker. This trio was linked by fingerprints with a gang which then included the notorious Dillinger and his lieutenants, Homer V an Meter and John Hamilton.
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