Mobsters execute Robbery in South St. Paul
Alvin Karpis of the Barker-Karpis Gang
Well, better late than never. Or so it might be said, but without further ado, here is Part II of my previous posting Dakota County, Gangster Territory?
After what had to have been months of watching the police escort the money bags off of the train at the Chicago Great Western Railroad at South St. Paul, the day had finally arrived. It must have been months because of the precision with which the heist was carried out. Every Wednesday at the same time each morning the train arrived at the station, and up the stairs into the South St. Paul Post office went a payroll shipment. Only this particular Wednesday was different. It was different because parked at the Depot Cafe, guzzling beers in the early morning sat members of the Barker-Karpis Gang, diligently awaiting their moment.
Then there it was, at 9:45 a.m. on August 30, 1933 The Mobsters sped down the alley beside the post office their jet black sedan. One bullet took out a police officer
Ma Barker herself holding her trademark Thompson Sub-Machine Gun
sitting in his car, another seriously injured nearby. The crooks made their grand escape with $33,000.00 and shot up and down North Concord into the surrounding buildings. A scene that was criticized as careless and unnecessary even by members of the John Dillinger Gang.
Waiting for the happy ending? You’re in luck, within 3 years everyone known
to be involved in the robbery had met with their untimely demise, or been locked up.
*** Special thanks to my source Paul Maccabbee’s John Dillinger Slept Here pages 165-69. Great, great read, highly recommended. As well as South St. Paul Police Department History which has a wealth of excellent information regarding the South St. Paul Police force.
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Just a little background on the John Dillinger robbery of the stock yard payroll.
My grandfather worked for the bank as a clerk. It was his regular responsibility to accompany the transport of the payroll from the train to the bank. This day he missed the run and watched the robbery from the window of the bank. As he told the story the police told him had he been on the armour car he would have been shot. Thanks for sharing the history.