Pick one

This date in 1929 saw the demise of two Cleveland racketeers. 25 year-old Morris "Skinny" Fuerstman and his partner 43 year-old Isadore Schiller. Both men had long records and were known as shakedown men. They exacted tribute from gambling dens and houses of prostitution. It was also stated that they may have been involved in a kidnapping in Cincinnati and both were involved with a gang in Detroit. Speaking of the Motor City, it was speculated that the two may have been marked for death for hijacking a liquor truck from Detroit.

Whatever the reason, both men were taken somewhere and had their heads were caved in. Someone also drove an ice pick into Fuerstman's head with such force that it took several cops to pull it out. Their bodies were then loaded driven outside of town and dumped in a ditch in Independence Village.

Shots for the Doc

Sam "Doc" Miller was a Kansas City gangster who made his way to the twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. As a member of Solly Weisman's gang back in K.C., it was reported that Miller took part in hijackings as well as kidnapping underworld characters and holding them for ransom. This was on of the motives given for his murder. Supposedly had had been involved in snatching Chicago hoodlums around the time of his execution.

Miller came to Minneapolis sometime in 1928 with some associates and opened a roadhouse called "The Belles", which offered gambling. It closed a short time later. According to police, at the time of his death, Miller had just cancelled a lease on a St. Paul apartment that he intended to use as a gambling joint, after being warned by the St. Paul underworld to stay out.

The end came for Doc Miller at around 1:00AM on this date back in 1930. He phoned his wife from a pool hall saying that he was on his way home. On his way he noticed that he was being followed by two cars. He attempted to lose the tail by going around the block near his house. As he came around the second time, one of the cars pulled out and cut him off. The car following him pulled up and some words were exchanged. One witness stated that Miller cried out, "Don't shoot!"

Miller, who had taken to carrying a pistol a week or so before hand, managed to fire a couple shots just as a sawed off shotgun was fired at him. He was struck by the blast, which was followed up with numerous pistol shots, seven of which, landed in the gangsters.

The killers pulled away and drove around the block and came back around slowly passed Miller's auto to make sure that their job had been successful. It was.

The top three theories for the murder given by police were-
1) Revenge for a previous gangland killing.
2) Chicago or Kansas City gangsters getting even for a kidnapping.
3) St. Paul gangsters not wanting any competition in the gambling racket.

Sam "Doc" Miller

Go Fish

Frank Wright, a gunman from out west was in his room at the Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit when he received a phone call. - On the previous Saturday, March 26, 1927, Meyer "Fish" Blumfield, who worked at a gambling resort run by a guy named Charles "Doc" Brady had been kidnapped. It appears that Doc had hired Wright to handle the situation- The caller stated that Fish could be found in apartment #3 at 106 Alexandrine Street. Doc Brady, not wanting to pay a ransom, gave Wright the information.

Wright, together with two other out-of-town gunmen, William Harrison, aka George Cohen and Isaac Reisfeld aka Joe Bloom. headed to the apartment. The trio entered the building. Apparently the kidnappers were on guard for just just such a trick because as the men were in the hallway approaching apartment 3, a machine gun erupted and the men, riddled with bullets, fell to the floor. Harrison and Reisfeld were killed outright while Wright lingered for a day or so before succumbing to his wounds.

After that, Doc Brady saw things differently. The ransom was paid and Blumfield was released within a few days.

Prosecution loses a witness

In June of 1930 reputed olive oil dealer Leo Noto and some accomplices kidnapped the son of a wealthy Brooklyn baker that lived just down the street from him. The kidnappers demanded $10,000 and released the boy after $7000 was paid with the promise to make up the $3000 in the near future. In the interim the baker went to the police and a trap was laid to catch the gang when they came to claim the additional three grand. The trap worked and six members of the kidnap gang, including Noto, were apprehended.

Noto was released on $25,000 bail and made a deal with the authorities to testify against the rest of the gang. Leo's ex pals decided that it might be best for them if Leo didn't make the court date. To that end, eighty-five years ago today twenty-nine year old Noto left the house that he shared with his wife and four children and, with his hands in his pockets, began walking across a vacant lot. While he was still in the lot a Packard sedan containing three men pulled up. The doors flew open and two shotguns went off. Leo dropped and never got up.