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THE ST. VALENTINE'S DAY MASSACRE
February 14th,1929.
Seven men are killed in a garage on the North side of Chicago.Ordered by Al Capone who is conviently away in Miami at the time.Planned by McGurn and members of the Circus gang,imported hired killers are sent in the Moran warehouse to kill George "Bugs"Moran a rival and thorn in Capone's side who also has posession of the lucreative Northside booze business and other rackets.The hired crew mess up the hit and think Moran is in the garage.One of the lookouts across the street mistakingly thinks one of the men entering the garage is Moran.The crews awaiting at the Circus Cafe are called in from this rooming house tipster to begin their fake raid.Once they arrive there is no turning back. Moran is nowhere to be found. He spotted the fake police cars on his way to the garage and mistook it for a raid.He doubles back and disappears with his two henchmen. Inside the garage the killers line up the Moran men consisting of 5 Moran gangsters one mechanic and an Optometrist who gets a kick out of hanging around gangsters.A dog tied to a truck howls.The killers level their weapons consisting of two thompsons, one with a 20 round clip and one with a 50 round drum.The killers know that the drum has a tendancy to jam on occaison so they make sure the 20 round clip is used to kill flawlessly.Two shotguns are also part of the arsenal.
70 spent shells hit the floor and two shotgun casings follow. All seven men are shot to pieces.The killers crazily have killed everyone inside.They leave the building pretending to have arrested two by putting the guns in the back of their fellow gang members.They leave the scene.Two women Jeanette Landesman and Mrs. Alphonse Morin hear the machine gun clatter.One of them sends a roomer to go and investigate.He goes in and comes right out face completely white. He tells them call the police.The police arrive and find six dead men and one crawling to the door.
Frank Gusenberg miraculously survives the massacre and lives for 3 hours with 14 slugs in his body.
He refuses to mention anything about the massacre even though he knows he will die.
Originally believed as only one car of killers at the scene, after reviewing of much evidence two fake police cars now seemed to be part of the massacre.One in the alley who's occupants leave their car and enter the garage at 2122 North Calrk as a truck enters the two panel doors at the rear of the Moran warehouse. The Occupants keep the Moran men lined up and walk to the front of the office to let in the other car load of killers dressed as cops and civilians.Two cars are indeed later found burnt and cut up in an effort to destroy them. Both have police gongs and one is found to contain a notebook belonging to Al Weinshank killed in the garage.One was a 1926 Peerless found in Maywood and the other a 1927 Cadillac touring car that was found in a fire at 1723 North Wood street.The fire was caused by a gang member trying to cut up the vehicle with an acetelyne torch. He did not realize that the car contained a canister that had a reserve of gasoline in the engine.Detectives search hospitals for anyone that may have burned himself in the hours that followed.
First carload of killers arrive at the back of 2122 North Clark and obtain access to the garage.Once inside they line up the Moran gang and relieve them of their weapons.One of the fake cops then goes to the front and lets in the other set of non uniformed killers to unleash their hail of .45 bullets into the Northside boys.
(Photo courtesy of author Mr. Bill Helmer)
Front of 2122 North Clark Street.
(Photo Mr. Jeff Maycroft)
Diagram showing how massacre might have happened.
(M.Gomes)
10:30 am at 2122North Clark street
The Cadillac touring car is found not far from the Circus gang Cafe owned and run by St. Louis gangster Claude Maddox (John Moore;Screwy) and Tony "Tough Tony" Capezio. This is a Capone satellite gang that has produced the likes of Jack Mc Gurn.
The next door address of the Circus cafe is given as residence to the owner of the garage for rental. In total about 14 men are used in the Massacre killing crew. Most ,will in turn, be themselves killed. Witnesses such as the two women are threatened to death, the Coroner is also threatened.Lots of compelling evidence ,but no one is ever brought to trial for these seven murders called the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
Crowds gather in front as police arrives.
(Photo: Jeff Maycroft)
Carnage
(M.Gomes)
Sgt. Thomas J. Loftus
Loftus knew the Gusenbergs real well. Detective Clarence J. Sweeney erroneously puts himself in the massacre story, claiming he was at Frank Gusenberg's bedside.As the years go by, Sweeney keeps the myth going and adds to the story, involving himself more and more. What really happened was Loftus arrived first at the scene and questioned Frank Gusenberg who was still alive in the garage.
Loftus asked "Do you know me Frank?' Frank replied 'Yes, you are Tom Loftus' Loftus then asks 'Who did it or what happened?' Frank replies 'I won't talk' The officer then replies 'You are in bad shape' Frank says 'For God's sake get me to a hospital.' Loftus tells Frank 'Pete is here too' He said 'Yes' Loftus asks Frank if they were lined up against the wall, to this Frank answers again 'I won't talk.' Once transferred to Alexian Brothers Hospital, Loftus asks Gusenberg another time and he refuses to talk.Before he dies the Sgt. asked Frank if three of the men wore police uniforms.To this Frank answers 'Yes' and then dies.
The erroneous statements later weaved into the story were that Gusenberg said 'I ain't no copper' and ' Nobody shot me'
Sweeney claimed to be at Frank's bedside yet Loftus detailed Officer James Mikes to be near Gusenberg at all times with no mention of Sweeney ever being there.
And another angle
Mr. Jeff Maycroft.
another view
(Mario Gomes collection)
One of the photographers gets his head in the macabre scene Photo taken by Mr. Anthony Berardi of The Chicago American.
Another view, notice one of the Gusenberg's handgun at extreme right front corner of photo
Photo the John Binder Collection
Close up of Frank Gusenberg's .38
(Photo courtesy of author Mr. Bill Helmer)
Photo courtesy of Mr. Bill Helmer
Crowds gather in the front of 2122 N.Clark
Bodies being removed under the watchful eye of Dr. Herman Bundesen (Glasses).
(Photo courtesy of Mr. Bill Helmer)
Chicago Daily news Feb,14th,1929
ATTENTION!
For further headlines on massacre, please visit the Newspaper sections of this website.
Other newspapers on the massacre
(Courtesy of Mr. Bill Helmer)
(Courtesy of Mr. Bill Helmer)
(Courtesy of Mr. Bill Helmer)
(Courtesy of Mr. Bill Helmer)
(Courtesy of Mr. Bill Helmer)
(Courtesy of Mr. Bill Helmer)
View of bodies and of the guns found many months later in Fred Burke's posession linked to massacre. (M.Gomes)
Actual bullet taken from Burke's arms cache
(Special thanks to Mr. Bill Helmer who made this possible).
U.S. Cartridge Co. 17
Coroners inquest by Herman Bundesen along with ballistics expert Calvin Goddard seated at left. (M.Gomes)
Swearing in of coroner's Jury with massacre bodies laid out on makeshift tables.
Bullets removed from bodies
(The John Binder collection)
Another view of same picture with Peter Gusenberg (Massacre Victim) and unidentified fellow next to him not part of massacre.
(M.Gomes)
Ballistics expert Calvin Goddard with coroner Herman Bundesen.
Mr.Goddard identifies the bullets removed from the massacre bodies as those coming from Thompsons found in Fred"Killer"Burke's posession.
(Mario Gomes collection)
Spent shells recently fired from Massacre Thompson 2347.
(Special thanks to Mr. Chuck Schauer for these)
(Mario Gomes collection)
Peter Von Frantzius (right) underworld gun supplier through sporting goods store that he owns is being questioned by Coroner Herman Bundesen. (Mario Gomes collection)
Partly to blame for the massacre was the northside gangsters constant stealing of
Capone's booze by the name of Old Log Cabin made in Montreal,Canada.
Moran's men would hijack it enroute from Detroit to Chicago.On Feb.14th,1929 about 80 to 100 shots were fired in this garage and was to be heard the world over.Pretty impressive back in the days of no television or internet.The other theories were that Capone and company were fed up of the booze stealing and were pissed at the fact that the Moran gang had whacked Tony Lombardo and Pasqulino Lolordo two of Capone's chosen men for the Unione Sciciliana.(Italian brotherhood, Mafia).The plan had a Detroit Purple Gang leader calling Moran for delivery of some booze at 10:30 am on Feb.14,1929.The booze was replaced by gunfire.Moran was late along with Willie Marks and Ted Newberry(Henchmen).They saw the fake cop car and ducked into a cafe.
The following month after the massacre Capone is called to a big organized crime meeting in Atlantic City. It is agreed and suggested to him to go away for awhile until the heat in Chicago dies down. The massacre creates friction for all gangland members in many cities. It is arranged for Al to be arrested carrying a concealed weapon in a Philadelphia movie theatre.
(See Al in Jail)
The Massacre Guns Today.
Massacre weapon and drum mags at Berrien County as they look today.One of these guns was also used in the killing of Frankie Yale in New York.
(Photo courtesy of Mr. Randall Ellsworth)
Two of the drums pick up from Fred "Killer" Burkes home by police.These guns were proven by ballistics to have been used in the massacre of Feb.14,1929.
(Photo courtesy of Mr. Randall Ellsworth)
Massacre gun from February 14,1929.The discolouration is from acid used to raise the serial numbers which were ground off by the killers or a gunsmith. This Tommy gun is serial number 7580. It was sold to one James"Bozo" Shupe a criminal who was killed on Chicago's west side.Ballistics expert Calvin Goddard used acid to awe the Coroner's jury when in fact the serial number could have simply been found inside the gun or by contacting Colt arms to examine it.
(Photo courtesy of Mr. Randall Ellsworth)
Photo of one of the St. Valentine's day massacre guns at the Berrien County Sheriff's office.
No 2347 was purchased by Deputy Sheriff Les Farmer of Marion ,Illinois on November 12,1924.Farmer had hooked up with the Egan's Rats gang before they had collapsed as a gang and the gun evetually ended up in Fred Burke's posession. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Randall Ellsworth)
Thompson Machine gun Links
If you want to learn more about the Tommy gun visit these informative and interesting links below
For a more interesting look at Thompsons and thompson enthusiasts, a must stop place is Mike Hensley's
Thompson machine gun website at
Totally awesome!
Another informative and impressive Thompson machine gun is Jack's website at www.1927a1.com
"Up against the Wall"
To see an example and give an idea of the Thompson submachine gun's awesome power in the massacre view Mark Knudson video of a modelgun tommy by clicking on above picture.
You can you visit his great modelgun site at