The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-27


 He announced he would fight ex- tradition.
 Chicago officers were among the first to ask for Burke. They believe he operated the machine gun which moved down seven George Bugs" Moran gangsters in the Valentine day massacre of 1929.
 Five sergeants in the Chicago po- lice department arrived here early to-day and positively identified the prisoner as Burke.
 "Thats the man. they said on going immediately to Burke's cell.
 Hello. Burke one of them greeted the prisoner.
 The prisoner scowled at the off, ficer, but made no reply.
 The officers, all of whom had known Burke at one time or an- other, made the trip in d squad car. They were Art Katt, Ed Waller. Ed Tyrell, Larry Lyon and Ed Gleason, all sergeants.
 They declined to say what would be their first move to get possession of the prisoner.
 City and county officers sur rounded the home of Barney Potter, father Of Burke's wife, and captured Burke while he slept yesterday. One move for revolver was forestalled. He put up no further resistance. He admitted his identity.
 Rewards aggregating $1O1,OO0 have been offered for his arrest. Major crimes with which Burke is charged includes:
 Staying of a St Joseph. Mich policeman who was shot when he put his foot on the running board Of a mans car to question him regard ing a minor traffic accident.
 The machine gun killing of two men in Detroit.
 Robbery of the Merchants Trust company at Paterson, N. J.
 Killing policeman at Toledo, o.
 Shooting of a Louisville. Ky. bank cashier during holdup; bank rob- berries in Wisconsin in which $35O,- % 0was taken.
 The murder of one woman. wound- ing of another and of the sheriff in a Columbia City, Ind. bank robbery.
 A. J. Bielby, St Joseph, Mo, attor- ney to-day prepared to defend Burke and it was expected additional coun- sel would be employed during the day. Burke has been known as an ally of Scarface Al Capone and it w want for legal support.
 Capt John Lard of the St Joseph police department. who with three other officers captured Burke, said the gangster never had a chance to escape Burke was known to be in this section for three months, Lard said, and his capture was planned to the smallest detail and faultlessly executed when the proper time arrived.
 Lard, Melvin Swepston. F.. R. kel- ly and A. w. Thedinga, went to the Porter home between Milan and Green City Lard carried ma chine gun, the others revolvers
 Kelly and Thedinga knocked at the front door, forced their way in when Porter opened it and entered the bedroom where Burke was sleep ing. He had his hands under the covers. Lard trained the machine gun on him through the window.
 Burke was awakened by a thrust of revolvers in his side, made q rapid move for gun but fell back and surrendered.
 Burke served two-year sentence for forgery in the Missouri state pen itentiary in 1921-22. He started his "career" in St Louis as a member of the Eagan Rats gang.
 Wife Detained.
 Kansas City. Mo, March 27--tCP) Bonnie Porter, blonde wife of Fred Burke was detained by police here to-day. No charges had been filed against her.
 She became hysterical at words of her husbands capture, and when told of the crimes with which he is charged.
 The girl said she met and married Burke under the name of R. NJ. White a little over year ago. She said he posed as a real estate dealer.
 "He never told me he had been in jail," she sobbed. "He always seemed to have plenty of money. My folks didn't dream he was crim- inal."