Saturday, May 16, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 16

May 16, 1898 “The Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Regiments of the Minnesota Volunteer Infantry departed for training to fight in the Spanish-American War. Only the Thirteenth saw combat, in the Philippines − 44 were killed and 74 wounded August 7.”

http://www.thehistorypeople.com/data/docs/timeline-part1.pdf



The 13th Minnesota on the firing line in the Philippines 

http://www.spanamwar.com/13mn.htm

               __________________________________________________________


If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com   


Friday, May 15, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 15

May 15, 1917 – Today, while in jail in San Francisco, Joe Redenbaugh confessed to murdering Alice McQuillan Dunn and Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery, and implicated Frank McCool as his confederate in both crimes. He also said that Mike Moore—the alleged go-between for Frank Dunn and himself—planned the murder and paid him (Redenbaugh) $1,500 out of the $4,000 Dunn gave to Moore.



Joe and Pearl Heitenkamp Redenbaugh1

Fear that his wife Pearl, who is not more than 18-years-old, would be implicated in the murder charges, led Redenbaugh to confess, he said.

According to Redenbaugh, the plan to kill Mrs. Dunn was first discussed last Oct., when he was approached by Mike Moore, bartender at Chickett’s Saloon, 210 W. 7th St., approximately one month after the Dunns were legally separated in Sept. 1916.

“Moore said there would be $2,000 in it,” said Redenbaugh. “I didn’t feel like it just then, so I went down to University Place, Neb., and did the bank job so I would have enough money to get married on. The day after the bank robbery, in which I got $1,981, I went back to Kansas City and married my wife.

“We planned that if anyone came to the flat looking for me, she should keep the front window closed. The day after we moved there, when I went home I saw the window closed, so I beat it to St. Paul.”

Redenbaugh says he then saw Moore again about killing Mrs. Dunn. Moore told him the Dunns were divorced and he wanted to get rid of her because he was paying her $70 a month in alimony.




The late Alice McQuillan Dunn and her husband Frank Dunn2

“I thought she was probably bleeding Dunn for a lot of money. On April 19, Moore and I went to a candy store, where he showed me Mrs. Dunn, so I wouldn’t be mistaken.

“(Moore) said she would probably be sleeping with her sister when I went to do the job, and he wanted to be sure I ‘bumped off’ the right woman. My wife came to St. Paul and we took rooms two blocks from the Cathedral.”

According to Redenbaugh, McCool agreed to do the murder with him for $1,500, which Moore told him he would get.


In the Ramsey County jail, Frank Dunn continues to claim no involvement in his estranged wife’s murder. He refuses to read any newspapers and does not want to hear anything about the case. Dunn spends most of his time upstairs in the jail in a larger cell room where he works on his business books.



St. Paul Daily News; “Dunn won’t talk about the Confession. Redenbaugh Charges Husband With Paying for Wife’s Death. Moore Denies Being Fixer. Confessed Murderer’s Story Is True, Says Chief J. J. O’Connor. Seek Extradition of Redenbaugh. California Governor Asked to Turn Over Confessed Slayer of Mrs. Dunn.”; May 15, 1917; pp. 1 & 4.

The Bismarck Tribune; “Confesses to Dunn-Connery Double Crime. Joe Redenbaugh, Nineteen Years of Age, Says He Was Paid $3,000 for Deed. Frank McCool was to Get Half of Sum. Reveals Plot to Save Eighteen Year Old Bride From Suspicion.”; Bismarck, N.D.; May 15, 1917; p. 1.


1St. Paul Daily News; May 16, 1917; p. 1.

2St. Paul Daily News; April 27, 1917; p. 1.

Disappearance of Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery; see April 24, 2015 blog
Car Connery disappeared in found in St. Paul; see April 25, 2015 blog
Murder of Alice McQuillan Dunn; see April 26, 2015 blog

More than 1,000 volunteers join Minneapolis police in the search for missing patrolman; see April 28, 2015 blog
Connery and Dunn murders linked; see May 4, 2015, blog
Anonymous caller tells police where body of Connery is located; see May 5, 2015 blog
Second man in “death car” arrested in Omaha; see May 7, 2015 blog


Patrolman George Connery laid to rest; see May 8, 2015 blog

Frank McCool attacks a jailer when caught trying to escape Omaha jail; see May 10,2015 blog


Eddie Hamilton (aka Joe Redenbaugh) arrested in San Francisco; see May 11, 2015 blog


Eddie Hamilton admits to being Joe Redenbaugh; see May 12, 2015 blog

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: 
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website:  
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at: 
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com


Thursday, May 14, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 14

May 14, 1917 - Frank McCool, alleged bank robber and murderer, now in jail in Minneapolis, has confessed to the April 24 murder of Patrolman George Connery. Today, he gave his confession to J. M. Rees, Hennepin County Attorney, at Minneapolis. A court reporter took down the confession, which McCool signed. He took all responsibility for Connery’s murder, while admitting Eddie Hamilton (aka Joe Redenbaugh), was the driver of the “death car.” This was his third confession to the crime.


Frank McCool1



His first confession, according to police, came after four hours of grilling Saturday evening, May 12.

Yesterday, McCool reiterated his confession to Minn. Gov. Joseph Burnquist in the presence of St. Paul and Minneapolis police officials and the prosecuting attorneys for Ramsey and Hennepin Counties.

His story was much as the Minneapolis police had expected. Connery was shot while in the car; McCool says his revolver accidently discharged when the car hit a bump at University and E. Hennepin, the bullet entering Connery’s left leg.

Connery insisted he was shot in the stomach, but McCool said he could only find the wound in the leg. That is when he took Connery’s knife and ripped back the trouser leg and bandaged the wound with his own handkerchief.

According to McCool, the plan was to tie Connery to a tree, get his address and phone number, and after leaving him in the woods near Fridley, where the patrolman’s body was found, to notify his wife where he was. But they did not expect what happened next−Connery began to fight his two kidnappers.



Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery2


McCool said he had searched Connery in the car for his pistol, but didn’t find it. When the patrolman began to fight in the woods, McCool said that Connery started to reach for his gun in his inside overcoat pocket. It was then, McCool says, he hit Connery on the head and face with the butt of his revolver, knocking him down.

Connery still tried to fight and McCool beat him up according to his confession, until the officer was unconscious. McCool insists that he thought Connery would regain consciousness and would be able to help himself.

While he admits to the murder of Patrolman Connery, McCool continues to deny any connection with the Dunn murder. However, his denial does not change St. Paul Police Chief John O’Connor’s belief that Frank McCool and Joe Redenbaugh are implicated in the April 26 murder of Mrs. Alice McQuillan Dunn at her parents’ home on Selby Ave. in St. Paul.



 

McQuillan home on Selby Ave. in St. Paul, Minn. at the time of the murder3



McQuillan home today: multi-family Housing4

Detective Peter Lavalle, St. Paul, who arrived Saturday night in San Francisco, has telegraphed Chief O’Connor that Redenbaugh is the man wanted in St. Paul. He and San Francisco detectives are working on Redenbaugh, hoping to get a confession.

When told that McCool had confessed to the Connery murder, Redenbaugh denied knowing anything about the crime, claiming he was in Farmington, 40 miles away, when Connery was killed. He says he returned to St. Paul that evening, and met McCool at the home of Mike Moore, a bartender at Chickett’s Saloon, who is now held in the Ramsey County jail as a witness in the Dunn case. He is alleged to be the go-between for Redenbaugh and Dunn.


Joe Redenbaugh5

Chief O’Connor said today that he has relinquished claims on Redenbaugh regarding bringing him to St. Paul from San Francisco, where he and his wife were arrested Thursday. He will let the Minneapolis authorities take Redenbaugh. 


St. Paul Daily News; “McCool Admits More of Murder. Confessed Slayer of Patrolman Connery Signs Detailed Statement. Says he Alone Did Killing. Admits Redenbaugh, Held in San Francisco, Was ‘Death Car’ Driver.”; May 14, 1917; pp. 1 and 2.

1St. Paul Daily News; May 7, 1917; p. 1.

2http://www.mpdfederation.com/george-connery/

3St. Paul Daily News; April 26, 1917; p. 1.

4Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain May 14, 2015, as long as acknowledgement included.

5https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19640524&id=bSArAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cZ0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3914,4610516&hl=en



Disappearance of Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery; see April 24, 2015 blog

Car Connery disappeared in found in St. Paul; see April 25, 2015 blog

Murder of Alice McQuillan Dunn; see April 26, 2015 blog

More than 1,000 volunteers join Minneapolis police in the search for missing patrolman; see April 28, 2015 blog

Connery and Dunn murders linked; see May 4, 2015, blog

Anonymous caller tells police where body of Connery is located; see May 5, 2015 blog

Second man in “death car” arrested in Omaha; see May 7, 2015 blog


Patrolman George Connery laid to rest; see May 8, 2015 blog

Frank McCool attacks a jailer when caught trying to escape Omaha jail; see May 10,2015 blog

Eddie Hamilton (aka Joe Redenbaugh) arrested in San Francisco; see May 11, 2015 blog


               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 


Wednesday, May 13, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 13

May 13, 1994Casey, the 400 lb. silverback gorilla at the Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minn., “scaled the wall of his enclosure and wandered free around the zoo for 45 minutes. Visitors were ushered to safety as zoo staff shot Casey with a tranquilizer and returned him to his enclosure.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Como_Park,_Zoo,_and_Conservatory




Casey, the silverback gorilla 
http://www.oocities.org/athens/Acropolis/5579/week3livingprimates.html
Photo by Kevin L. Callahan
               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 


 






Tuesday, May 12, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 12

May 12, 1917 – Alleged murderer Frank McCool was smuggled into Minneapolis early this morning from Mendota, where he was taken off the train at 6:50 and secretly driven by automobile to the Mill City (Minneapolis) to escape threatened mob violence and a potential lynching.



Frank McCool1

When the train stopped at Mendota, six miles out of Minneapolis, several heavily armed Minneapolis officers met Detectives Weare and Brunskill, aiding them in guarding McCool who was heavily shackled so he could not repeat his attempt to escape.

  


Mendota, Minn., Depot2


After an intense two-hour grilling by Minneapolis police, McCool’s only response was, “I guess you’ve got the goods on me.” Was it a confession? At this point, only McCool knew.  He was taken back to his cell to contemplate his situation.

In Minneapolis today, 25 buckets hung all day on tripods in the downtown district where contributions totaling $3,000 were made for Mrs. George (Mollie) Connery and her five children. They were overseen by traffic patrol squads. Previous to today, Mrs. Connery had received contributions of $1,000. She is now able to pay a mortgage on her home.

Meanwhile in San Francisco, Edward Hamilton, under arrest and charged with the murder of Alice McQuillan Dunn, today admitted to being Joe Redenbaugh. With Redenbaugh’s confession, the last link is forged, police say, in the chain of evidence in support of St, Paul Police Chief O’Connor’s theory that the same men killed Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery and Mrs. Alice Dunn.


Joe Redenbaugh3

This evening, Redenbaugh also admitted that he is guilty of the bank robbery at University Place, Neb., but denied any connection with the Dunn or Connery murders. How did his fingerprints get on the window at the McQuillan House?

Redenbaugh says he got $1,981 in the bank robbery, and needed the money so he could get married. He then went to Kansas City, where he says he married Pearl Heitenkamp on Feb. 18, 1916. He said he took the name of George E. Loucks, one of his aliases known in St. Paul.



Pearl Heitenkamp Redenbaugh4

Minneapolis Police Chief Lewis Harthill, however, continues to assert that Hamilton is not Redenbaugh. For this reason he said he wants the man brought to Minneapolis for the Connery murder charge. Seriously, what is Harthill thinking? Was this the only way he thought Minneapolis could get Redenbaugh in custody before St. Paul did?

Minn. Gov. Joseph Burnquist found himself in a quandary, stuck in the middle between the requisition requests from the two cities. He called a conference for this afternoon of the two county attorneys and C. L. Weeks, assistant attorney general.



Minn. Gov. Joseph Burnquist5


 The Ramsey County requisition designates Detective Peter LaValle, St. Paul, as the officer to take the requisition papers to the governor of California, while Detective J. A. Weare, Minneapolis, is named for this purpose in the Hennepin County papers.  



Saint Paul Daily News
; “Guess You’ve Got The Goods On Me. Damaging Admission Made by Man Charged With Connery Murder. Smuggled To Mill City Jail. Prisoner Pales When Told of threats to Lynch Him.; Joe Redenbaugh Admits Identity. Chief O’Connor Says Admission Confirms Dunn Murder Evidence.”; May 12, 1917; PP. 1 and 2.

Saint Paul Daily News; “Governor Halts in Murder Case. Will Decide Today Whether St. Paul or Mill City Gets Redenbaugh.”; May 13, 1917; PP. 1 and 2.


1St. Paul Daily News; May 7, 1917; p. 1.

2http://www.west2k.com/mnpix/mendotaomaha.jpg

3https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19640524&id=bSArAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cZ0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3914,4610516&hl=en

4Tacoma Times; Tacoma, Wash.; May 19, 1917; p. 1.

5http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JosephAABurnquist.jpg


Disappearance of Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery; see April 24, 2015 blog

Car Connery disappeared in found in St. Paul; see April 25, 2015 blog

Murder of Alice McQuillan Dunn; see April 26, 2015 blog

More than 1,000 volunteers join Minneapolis police in the search for missing patrolman; see April 28, 2015 blog

Connery and Dunn murders linked; see May 4, 2015, blog

Anonymous caller tells police where body of Connery is located; see May 5, 2015 blog

Second man in “death car” arrested in Omaha; see May 7, 2015 blog


Patrolman George Connery laid to rest; see May 8, 2015 blog

Frank McCool attacks a jailer when caught trying to escape Omaha jail; see May 10,2015 blog

Eddie Hamilton (aka Joe Redenbaugh) arrested in San Francisco; see May 11, 2015 blog


               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: 
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website:  
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at: 
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com  








Monday, May 11, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 11

May 11, 1917 – Eddie Hamilton, said to be Joe Redenbaugh, wanted as one of the principals in the murder of Mrs. Alice McQuillan Dunn, St. Paul, and Patrolman George Connery, Minneapolis, was arrested today in San Francisco, along with the woman said to be his wife.



Joe Redenbaugh and his wife Pearl taken in the San Francisco jail*

St. Paul Police Chief John O’Connor received a telegram around noon today from the San Francisco chief of police:  “We are holding Eddie Hamilton and the woman for you. He is also wanted in Nebraska, Portland and Minneapolis.”

O’Connor has had Detective Peter Lavalle on Redenbaugh’s trail ever since the suspected murderer left St. Paul, and Lavalle has been closing in on the suspect. The Chief say Lavalle will be in San Francisco tomorrow.

Minneapolis Police Chief Lewis Harthill said today that the man under arrest in San Francisco is Eddie Hamilton, the “second man” in the death car with Fran McCool when the Minneapolis patrolman was murdered. However, Harthill insists that Hamilton is not Redenbough. Minneapolis police detectives planned to leave today for San Francisco with a “John Doe” warrant, returned by the Hennepin County grand jury, charging the “second man” with first degree murder.


St. Paul Daily News; “Second Murder Suspect In Toils. Man Arrested Today in Frisco Is Redenbaugh, Says Chief O’Connor. Wanted For Double Slaying. Detective Peter Lavalle, St. Paul, on Tail Since Monday.”; May 11, 1917; pp. 1 and 2. 


*St. Paul Daily News; May 21, 1917; p. 1.


Disappearance of Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery; see April 24, 2015 blog

Car Connery disappeared in found in St. Paul; see April 25, 2015 blog

Murder of Alice McQuillan Dunn; see April 26, 2015 blog

More than 1,000 volunteers join Minneapolis police in the search for missing patrolman; see April 28, 2015 blog

Connery and Dunn murders linked; see May 4, 2015, blog

Anonymous caller tells police where body of Connery is located; see May 5, 2015 blog

Second man in “death car” arrested in Omaha; see May 7, 2015 blog


Patrolman George Connery laid to rest; see May 8, 2015 blog

Frank McCool attacks a jailer when caught trying to escape Omaha jail; see May 10,2015 blog

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com  






Sunday, May 10, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 10

May 10, 1917 – Frank McCool, held at Omaha, charged with murdering Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery and with complicity in the killing of Mrs. Alice McQuillan Dunn, St. Paul, attacked a jailer this morning when caught trying to escape jail.



Frank McCool1

Following a desperate battle, in which McCool slashed the jailer about the neck and shoulders with a razor. He was finally overcome and returned to a cell.


McCool had sawed his way through the bars of his cell with a file, and was repeating the operation on the bars of a corridor window when the noise attracted Jailer Alonzo Troby, who sprang upon him.





McCool Sawed Through Cell Bars in Omaha Jail2


McCool said he had the razor in his shoe when he was arrested, and the file had been slipped into the sole of his shoe.

News of the attempted escape caused great excitement in St. Paul and Minneapolis police departments today. McCool’s desperate fight for freedom confirmed the frequent statements of the St. Paul police authorities that he is a dangerous criminal, and will require extra guards once he is returned to Minneapolis.


St. Paul Daily News; “McCool Saws Bars, Fights With Jailer. Murder Suspect Fails in Desperate Attempt to Escape at Omaha. Had File and Razor in Shoe. Police Dragnet Said to Be Closing In on Joe Redenbaugh.”; May 10, 1917; pp. 1 and 2.


1St. Paul Daily News; May 7, 1917; p. 1.

2St. Paul Daily News; May 11, 1917; p. 2.


Disappearance of Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery; see April 24, 2015 blog

Car Connery disappeared in found in St. Paul; see April 25, 2015 blog

Murder of Alice McQuillan Dunn; see April 26, 2015 blog

More than 1,000 volunteers join Minneapolis police in the search for missing patrolman; see April 28, 2015 blog

Connery and Dunn murders linked; see May 4, 2015, blog

Anonymous caller tells police where body of Connery is located; see May 5, 2015 blog

Second man in “death car” arrested in Omaha; see May 7, 2015 blog

Patrolman George Connery laid to rest; see May 8, 2015 blog



               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com