The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-30
killer BURKE,
TO FIGHT FOR
HIS FREEDOM
Most Dangerous Man Alive
Demands Hearing on
Murder Charge.
HIRES NOTED ATTORNEY
Gangster Is Transferred
From Missouri in
ArmOred Car.
BIZ United Press

BIZ United Pre&s
ST. JOSEPH, Mich, March 3d.
Fred j. Burke, alleged profess
sional trigged man, blamed by po-
lice for at least a score of murders,
today demanded a preliminary eX~
animation when he was arraigned
before a justice OF the peace charged
with the murder of James Sicily, a
policeman.
Burke thus elected to fight
against a. sentence of life imprison-
ment which would have resulted
had he entered a plea OF guilty.
Preliminary examination was set Tor
April 8, by Justice Joseph r. Collier
Jr. Burke was remanded to jail,
without bond. Sheriff Fred J. Cut
Ter said he would be kept here, the
plan OF moving him to the state
prison at Jackson having been
abandoned.
A heavy guard will be maintained
day and night, Cutler said.
Attorney Not Present
Burke was not represented by
counsel at the brief hearing, held
in a. small room off the bull pen.
Justice Collier came to the jail 10
conduct the hearing.
Earlier Burke had conferred with
Barrett O'Hara, Chicago criminal
LAWYER, but O'Hara did not appear
for the arraignment. The lawyer
visited the Jail Sunday night, but
Burke was sleeping and guards re-
fused him admittance. Today ne
talked with the prisoner and pre-
sumably mapped plans for a de-
Tense.
Burke appeared unMorried as ne
was brought into the ante room. he
was freshly shaved and wore clean,
white shirt.
Justice Collier explained the state
law and told him he could demand
q hearing. or waive to the circuit
court. Burke stared hard at the
Judge for moment and then SAID
he wanted a hearing WILDER Cum
bingham, Berien county prosecutor,
talked with Burke briefly, and he
then walked back to his cell.
Liked to Hunt, Gamble
Meantime hundreds of people,
anxious to catch q glimpse OF the
man police call the most dangerous
criminal in the country, milled
about the jail. In the crowd we're
many who knew him when he and
blond Mrs. Viola Brennerman OF
Kankakee. Ill, occupied a beautiful
home in the exclusive Lake Shore
drive section. He was known then
as Frederick Dane, an easy going
rich fellow, who liked to hunt and
play cards.
Sheriff Cutler recalled him as one
of his best customers, when he
bought shrubs and trees from his
nursery while identifying the Lake
Shore home. His card playing
acquaintances recalled that his in
variable habit vas to sit with his
back to the wall when he played.
They attached no significance to the
matter until they were told who
their companion had been.
II Burke recognized any Of his
old acquaintance in the crowd
when he was hustled into the jail,
he didn't indicate it. Sheriff CUT
Ter said his attitude had been one
of nonchalance, with a bit Of scorn
for those who would view him.
Guarded by Own Guns
Little fear of an attempt by
zangsters to free Burke was felt.
The Jail has been turned into an
armed fort, with state troopers and
deputies on guard at all hours. BY
an odd quirk of fate, two machine
guns held ready for an emergency,
we're found in Burke's home when
It was raided after the Sicily
murder.
No sooner did Burke arrive than
a blond girl called at the heavily
guarded Jail and asked to see him.
She was not allowed to do so. Of
ficers did not ask her name.
Chicago police, who say Burke
manned the machine gun that
moved down seven Moran gangsterS
in the ST. Valentines day massacre
of 1929, often have said of him that
he likes his women blond and his
policemen dead"
Authorities said they believed
Burke preferred being taken to
Michigan rather than to some of
the other seventeen states where
he was wanted, because he can not
be convicted under Michigan's new
capital punishment law.