The Tommy Knockers

Thomas Bonner was described as a low level Chicago racketeer. He dabbled in booze and narcotics but also took part in some hold ups. None of these paid him much. But it did keep him involved in the underworld which came in handy because he was a police informer.

Perhaps it was his loose lips that kept him out of jail, if so the trade of wasn't worth it. One of his confederates was Big Earl Herbert a ranking member of the Joe Saltis gang. In addition to making money money in Saltis's bootlegging business, Herbert also dabbled in armed robberies and counterfietting.

One day he saw a police lieutenant leave Bonner's house through the back door. Afterwards, he kept an eye on Bonner's abode and saw the officer come and go a number of times. It was determined that Bonner was a snitch and had to be dispatched.

On July 10, 1930 Herbert and another man went to Bonner's house. Mrs. Bonner stated that she heard her husband let the two men. After they conversed for a few minutes she heard one of the men yell,
 "You dirty rat stool!"
"You've got me all wrong on that." Bonner pleaded.
"No we haven't. Not this time."
The next thing Mrs. Bonner heard was two gun shots and her husband crashing on a table. Running back into the room she saw her prone husband, dead with two bullets in his head, and the two gunmen running from the house.

Thomas Bonner

Herbert would remain free until October 11, when he was arrested while sleeping in a basement with thousands of dollars worth of tobacco products that had been stolen from a Walgreen's warehouse.

Big Earl Herbert