A day later Hamm was released and talked at length about his captivity, though some of the information he provided was prompted by leading questions asked by police. It may have been fitting that these answers led police in the wrong direction, particularly in regard to Public Enemy Number One, Verne Sankey, who had nothing to do with the Hamm case.
Hamm told police he'd been held in a house "in northern Minnesota, apparently," and had been treated well by the kidnappers.
Asked if he could identify one of the kidnappers. as Verne Sankey, Hamm said, “I think it was Sankey, but I am not positive.”
Hamm said he had not found out how much ransom was paid, and J. E. Charles, attorney for the brewing company, refused to give the definite amount, but said the sum was “less than $100,000.”
Police soon arrested Roger Touhy, who'd been framed for the kidnapping of "Jake the Barber" Factor, but this time a jury didn't buy it Touhy, Willie Sharkey, Gus Schaefer and Eddie McFadden, all members of the “Terrible Touhy” gang of Chicago, were acquitted.
Real culprits in the Hamm kidnapping were members of a gang that had been around longer than some that had attracted more attention, particularly John Dillinger's gang, "Pretty Boy" Floyd, and the Barrow Brothers, who morphed into Bonnie and Clyde.
While enjoying relative anonymity up to 1933, Alvis "Creepy" Karpis, Fred Barker and other members of the Barker-Karpis gang must have believed they weren't receiving the credit— or blame — that they deserved. |