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Murder, Mobsters, Madams and Mayhem Paw Paw Lake and St

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Murder, Mobsters, Madams and Mayhem Paw Paw Lake and St N/C HOAG & SONS 4 81 Ml XED C,ET-1 $2.8 million in stimulus money eyed by SPRING-PORT, M, 49264 Watervliet City Manager,., Pg, 5 "Lincoln" lltt&BHU. alive and Hartford School Supt, to resign,,, Pg, 12 Pit Stop well in By Mike Leith Mrs, Strine recognized for 25 years of Coloma Valentine's Day The race is on! specials and greetings service to WHS athletics,,, Pg, 9 Page 5 See Page 9 Page 12 r The hometown newspaper for Coloma - Hartford - Watervliet 463-6397 [email protected] www.tricityrecord.com TRI-CITY RECORD 125th Year Issue #7 February 12, 2009 Seventy-five Cents Murder, mobsters, madams and mayhem Paw Paw Lake and St. Valentine's Day Tri-City Area was a Massacre guns owned gangster playground by Sheriff's Dept. By Lynn Attila not known if Capone gave Rosie a The majesty of Paw Paw Lake has "used gift" or if Rosfc herself used History Detectives long attracted visitors from the the blackjack to knock some sense Chicago area by offering a peaceful into "an unwilling client." films locally; interlude from their stressful day- Rasmussen also recalls a story he BCSD Tommy to-day lives. This was especially has heard repeatedly over the years true during the late 1920s and early telling of a brothel on Paw Paw Lake guns used to help 1930s when the rise of gangland near where The Waterfront restau- activity in the City of Chicago rant (formerly Club Rocadero) on solve a "mystery" gained national recognition. the Coloma side of the lake stands By Lynn Attila Murder, mayhem, bootlegging, today. LONG-TIME WATERVLIET RESIDENT RICHARD HAKE...stands THESE TWO TOMMY GUNS... M North Berrien County was "all gambling and prostitution were As the tale goes, employees of the behind the door ofhis basement jaiir believed to have been used In an used in the St. Valentine^ Day abuzz" as January 13 approached. common, well-documented occur- establishment, women who Rasmus- illegal bootlegging operation during the late 1920s and early "BOs. A Massacre were confiscated by the PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) rences in the "Windy City." Names sen calls "The Painted Ladies," renowned Chicago stonemason built the Huntoon Avenue house in 1928. Berrien County Sheriff's Depart- was sending a film crew from New- like A1 "Scarface" Capone, George would assemble on the front porch, Interestingly, the door locks on the jail are inside the door; perhaps. ment when they raided the Ste- York City to this comer of Michigan "Bugs" Moran and, more locally, dressed to kill in the latest fashions, Hake speculates, to keep law enforcement out. (Lynn Attila photo) vensville home of Massacre trig- to film a segment for its hit show 44 Fred "Killer" Burke; and the Do- faces fully made up and smoking german Fred Killer" Burke. For- History Detectives. mingo family and their kinsmen all cigarettes while awaiting clientele to ensic ballistics testing was used for City of Coloma pledges its History Detectives is an hour-long became well known and their arrive. the first time In history to link the program devoted to exploring the escapades were daily excitement for Other tales of prostitution on the guns to the crime. complexities of historical mysteries local newsmongers. lake during the '20s and the '30s are support of North Berrien (Lynn Attila photo) by searching out the facts and the Like other hard-working individu- common; however, there is not a myths that connect local folklore als of that time, the "mob bosses" traceable paper trail verifying any Community Development and family legends with interesting and their henchmen needed to par- arrests or raids on these suspected By Christina Glass tunities in our community. We fur- objects. Police take of some much-needed "R & R" "houses of ill repute." During the Coloma City Commis- ther pledge to maintain our financial The show's team of experts uses tra- and chose to leave their Chicago Other unsubstantiated tales about sion meeting on Monday, February ditional investigative techniques stomping grounds and frequent the Capone include a young Watervliet support into the foreseeable future." along with modem technology and, & Fire 9, commissioners made it clear that Other commissioners also ex- restful peace of the Paw Paw Lake teen working at the Bay View Hotel they are completely supportive of of course, plenty of legwork to gain area. Some, linked with crimes of and discovering a Tommy gun under pressed regret in seeing communi- the work that North Berrien Com- ties that have benefited from the new insights into our national histo- that generation, actually took perma- a pillow as she made up the beds; it Reports munity Development is doing. services of group withdraw their ry. The hosts of the program are nent refuge on some of Berrien had been left there allegedly by a In the light of Watervliet Town- support, and the motion was passed high-energy and renowned experts Compiled by Annette Christie County's rural real estate but contin- Capone henchman; that Capone may ship's recent announcement that it is unanimously. in the world of historical investiga- ued to indulge in illegal bootlegging have frequented a tri-cities barber planning on withdrawing its funding tion. Failure to show operations or an occasional "hit" on when visiting the area; and there John Proos presents a from that group, and the City of The planned segment PBS was a rival gang member. were, of course, many sightings of bleak financial outlook results in arrest Watervliet contemplating doing the preparing for involved a 1929 Al Capone was here... Capone as he enjoyed various Paw from the state same, the City of Coloma had quite bloody gangland killing in Chicago, Coloma Township Police Officer A1 "Scarface" Capone was one of Paw Lake restaurants, bars and State of Michigan Representative a different sentiment. the Berrien County Sheriff's De- M. Prince spotted Christopher Lynn the most high-profile mob bosses in clubs. John Proos attended the meeting and Commissioner Bill Smith made a partment, an unassuming Stevens- King walking down Paw Paw Lake the history of the underworld. It is a All may be true, however difficult gave a brief speech on the current motion that "the Coloma City ville resident, two famous Tommy Road. Prince was aware that the fact that he frequented the Paw Paw to prove since all eyewitnesses are Commission go on record to show economical situation at a state level. guns, and a sawed-off shotgun from department held a warrant for King Lake area, enjoying all of the deceased and the "stories" have He informed the commissioners that its sincere appreciation to the North Wisconsin. for failure to appear at a show of leisure-time activities it provided. been passed down for three genera- Berrien Community Development he was well aware of how the down- Let's start at the cause hearing on an MIP arrest. There are a number of individuals in tions now. for a job well done in developing turn in the auto industry in particu- beginning... King was arrested without incident Berrien County who claim to actual- Fred "Killer" Burke and lar was hitting close to home in on February 2, 2009, and he was and maintaining employment oppor- February 14, 1929, became infa- ly be living in "Al Capone's summer the Coloma connection Southwest Michigan. mous when members of the notori- lodged after he was unable to post house." Fred Dane, an unassuming Ste- He gave a quick rundown of the the required $500 bond. ous Al "Scarface" Capone gang However, Berrien County Sheriff's vensville homeowner, became infa- state's budget and spoke of possible slaughtered six members and one Flashing headlights Department historian Chriss Lyon mous when he shot a St. Joseph cuts to be made soon that would friend of the rival George "Bugs" reports that Berrien County records police officer after being stopped for effect everyone. One of the main Moran gang in Chicago, IL. The results in arrest prove Al Capone never owned ANY a "fender bender" near Hilltop Road ways the budget cuts would effect event became known as the bloodi- Officer A. Ulleg, while on patrol on property in Berrien County. His in St. Joseph. The officer later died. local municipalities would be est gangland killing in history and February 2 on Hagar Shore Road, name has never surfaced on any According to historian Lyon, Dane through the cutting back or possible ushered in an onslaught of public passed the driver of a 1995 Ford deed or lease. Heidid, however, visit abandoned his car and fled on foot to dissolving of revenue sharing direct- outcry calling for the end to Ca- Taurus who flashed his high beams his many colleagues who did own his home. Meanwhile, the Berrien ly dealing with departments such as pone's reign of terror. at the officer's vehicle. Once Ulleg various properties in Berrien County County Sheriff s Department found fire, police, etc. The case then moved on to Berrien turned around and was able to catch and on Paw Paw Lake. receipts in the car with Dane's name Proos pointed out that, just like a County when St. Joseph traffic up to the driver, he initiated a traffic Paw Paw Lake historian Rick Ras- on them and were able to determine personal budget, the state budget patrolman Charles Skelly was stop due to a license plate obstruc- mussen found a link between Ca- that Dane really was none other than must be balanced without the use of "blown away" as he tried to inter- tion.
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