Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-02

BENTON, Ills, Sept. With his:
doom set for October IS, when, by
virtue Of the verdict Of a Franklyn
county jury, Charles Burger is
scheduled to hang for the murder Of
Mayor Joe Adams, Of West City, the
one-time gang leader Of Southern
Illinois has been passing the days
by looking back owe his tumultous
career.
Small, swarthy. and with the dis
tinctiye marks Of the Russian jew
which he is, Burger has lost the
jaunty air which he carried until the
verdict which sealed his fate was is
sued.
Even through the days Of the trial,
in which he, together with his lieu
tenant, Art Newman, and Ray Hy-
land, a gang member, We're on trial
for having hired Harry ~Thomasson,
10, TO call the 300-pound mayor Of
West City, nea here. to his door one
night in December, 1926. and shoot
him dead, Burger kept up his ~iovial-
ity throughout.
For several years Charlie Burger
lorced it over his section of Little
Egypt" as southwestern Illinois is
called, running his booze freely, vio-
lating the law openly and keeping
out Of jail easily. Then he split with
the Shelton brothers over profits
and aided materially in sending them
TO L%eavenworth, Kan, federal peni-
tertiary. They received a new trial.
and were freed from prison on bond
but when they had gotten out Charlie
had gotten in.
Burger was alleged to have con-
spired to kill Joe Adams. Thomasson
admitted being paid to do the Job.
He and his brother. Elmo received
$3.50 from Birger for firing three
shots into Adams body, $50 a shot,
Thomasson testified. He pleaded
guilty and went TO prison for life.
Seeks Third Gangster
Burger was brought to trial. And
more tor what he had done and got
ten By with during the past years,
than for plotting the death Of Adams,
he received the death penalty here,
while Newman and Hyland were
given life sentences, according TO
public opinion.
A third member Of the gang. Con-
ME Ritter, has been sought through
out the nation. He was reported in
New Orleans a few months ago.
A call az the death rolf in south
ern III nois' gang wars will show the
ruthless way in which men and wo-
men were put out of the law.
In August. 1926. Harry Walker,
former Herrin policeman, and body
guard Of s. Glenn Coung, Klan raid
er and Everett Smith were shot to
death. A man, never captured, was
accused Of the murder.
William "Wild Bill" Holland, was
killed in September, 1926.
Own Men Accused
William McQuay. 10, and Ward
Jones, n, bartenders az Shady Rest.
Birger's hangout, were found dead
October 26, 1926. Some of Birger's
own men were charged with these
two crimes.
jeff Stone. mayor Of Colp. and a
friend, John Milroy, were killed in
Colp late in November, 1926.
On December u, 1926, Mayor Joe
Adams, Of West City. was called TO
his door and shot Il death BY two
youths, Harry and Elmo Thomasson.
1t was for this killing that Birger,
Newman and Hyland were tried.
In January, 1927, Mr.. and Mrs.
Steve George, Elmo Thomasson and
Bert Owens were killed when Shady
Rest. Birger's roadhouse was blown
up and destroyed. Machine guns
were used to make sure the victims
would die. Prior to that, an air
plane had tried to bomb Shady Rest.
but the bombs fell harmlessly in a
nearby field.
Man and Wife Murdered
Following the destruction Of Shady
Rest came the kidnapping and
slaGghtering Of Mr.. and Mrs. Lory
Price, of Marion. Price was a state
highway patrolman. The two were
taken from their home on the night
OF January IL. Prices body was
found % days later in Washington
county. in a field. riddled with bull
lets. Mrs. Prices body was dis
covered in June in an old mine near
Marion, on evidence furnished by
Birger's erstwhile lieu
Newman blamed Birger with
these crimes.
In all Of this crime, not one OF
the leaders has paid with his life.
One youth, Joe Chasnas. alleged TO
been a friend Of Birger's, was
hanged in Saline county, June %.
for murder Of an aged postman. The
ring leaders, however, have thus far
escaped.
But IL seem as If Burger will. al
last. pay the supreme penalty on
IS.