Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-09
MOB GUN PROV|DER
GANGLAND VICTIM
Seller of Massacre Weapon
May Be Latest of Seven
Murdered.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
| CHICAGO, June 9-Russell, alias
Frank, Thompson, often called the
armorer of gangland," drove into a
New Milford filling station last night,
weak from a bullet wound near the
heart.
He would not talk, although physi-
clans said the wound might cause his
death. When Sheriff Harry Baldwin
of Winnebago County asked who had
shot him, Thompson's only answer was: :
II won't talk. You ought to be smart
enough to know I won't talk
The attack upon Thompson. discov-
cry Of the body OF Eugene (Redl Nc
Laughlin-one of ganglands toughest
characters-and the statement of off,
GERS that George (Bugs) Moran and
several other important names in the
gang world are missing and presumably
slain were week end Developments in
the gang war revival.
Thompson was questioned at length
during the early investigation of the
Moran gang massacre of st. Valen-
tines day, 1929. Police said he sup
piled the machine guns used in the
%.
Driving into the filling station last
night, Thompson stumbled out of the
car and collapsed after telling the sta
ton attendant. I'm dying. Get a
DOCTOR"
Was Expected.
Sheriff Harry Baldwin, who quest
/ toned Thompson, said: II have been
expecting this for some time. Thomp-
son has had a flock of enemies ever
since he admitted selling the weapons
| used in that Chicago shooting"
Thompson was identified as the pur-
/ chaser of the machine gun by Peter Won
Frantius. Chicago hardware dealer. The
gun, traced to Thompson, has been
| Identified as the one believed to have
been welded at the Moran massacre by
Fred Burke, for whom a Nationwide
search is being conducted in connection
with the robbery of a Wisconsin bank
and the Staying of st. Joseph, Mich,
! policeman.
The salesman was never prosecuted
| for reseHing the weapon to gangsters,
| there being no provision for the prose-
1 cution under Illinois law.
l. Body In Canal.
The discovery of Eugene (Red) Nc
1 Laughlin's body in the drainage canal
| Saturday was another instance of the
| effort gangster killers are making to
dispose Of the bodies of their victims.
McLaughlin'S body had been weighted
| with iron.
Mclaughlin has been living at an ad-
dress not far from the spot on Ash
land avenue where, only short time
| ago, a man was shot down and his
| body spirited away. Police believe Nc
Laughlin may have been that man.
Half dozen gangsters, most Of them
well known are missing and, perhaps,
dead. Pat Roche. special investigator
for the States attorney, believes all
have been taken on gangland's "one-
| way ride"
George Bugs Moran himself is one
! of the number. Some detectives believe
he is hiding; others believe he got
careless and was slain.
Others who are presumed to have
been executed and their bodies removed
are Leo Mongoven, Morans bodyguard;
Ted Newberry, a leader who quit the
Moran fold-and disappeared; Ben Ben
nett, said to have come here represent
ing a New York liquor syndicate; Harry
Higgins, ST. Paul racketeer, and Robert
Schmidt-Frisco Dutch-a pal OF Rec
McLaughlin's.
Two Women Sought.
Detective squads combed the city fol
two women whose testimony may prove
valuable at the Mclaughlin inques
tomorrow. One was Margaret Ham
ilton, called the Death Lily of Gang
land" because six of her suitors, the
last one Mclaughlin, were cut down by
gangland artillery.
Investigators found the photograph
of the second girl, young and attrac'
tive. in riding costume, in the Slair
gunman's clothes. 1t was autographed
I'm love you forever, Gene" ano
signed: Maria"
Robert Mclaughlin, president OF th'
Chicago Checker Cab Co, and brother
of the dead gangster, announced he wa!
planning an elaborate funeral equal II
grandeur to that of Dion O'Banion
whose $4,000 casket Red Mclaughlin
helped carry to the grave.
Aloysius "Af' Kearney, collector fol
the National Garage Owners Associa-
ton, was found early today lying face
; down In South Troy street with bullet
holes in the head and chest.
; Several persons heard the shots tina
ended Kearney's life, but the police
found no witnesses.
Possible motives we're disgruntlec
garage owners and enmity between thu
National Organization of Garage Owner
and the now defunct Midwest Garage
Owners Association.