Elmer Burke

Case details

Elmer “Trigger” Burke was a notorious hit man active during the mid-to-late 1940s. He was brought up by his older brother, Charlie.

Timeline

• 1941 — He was sent to reform school.
• Later — His sentence was cut for joining the army; he served in the Italian campaign.
• Later — He served a two-year sentence in Sing Sing Prison for robbery.
• 23 July 1952 — He murdered bartender Edward “Poochy” Walsh.
• Later — The mobsters who pulled off the Brinks Job hired Burke to murder Joseph “Specs” O’Keefe; Burke traveled to Boston.
• Later — O’Keefe contacted the police and swore out a complaint against Burke for attempted murder.
• Eight days later — Burke was arrested in Back Bay, Boston and incarcerated at the Charles Street Jail.
• Later — Burke escaped.
• A year later — He was recaptured while waiting for a bus in Charleston, Massachusetts.
• 9 January 1958 — After eating a final meal of steak, smoking six cigars, and spending his last evening reading newspaper clippings about himself, Burke was executed at Sing Sing Prison.

Background

Charlie was Burke’s older brother and also his idol and brother. In 1941, Burke was sent to reform school. Later, his sentence was cut for joining the army, where he served in the Italian campaign. After serving in the Italian campaign, he served a sentence of two years in Sing Sing Prison for robbery.

During his time in jail, Charlie was murdered by a man named George Goll. Goll was arrested and later released.

Burke took revenge by shooting Goll in Manhattan at the age of 27.

The offence

Murder of bartender Edward “Poochy” Walsh

Burke murdered bartender Edward “Poochy” Walsh on 23 July 1952. The incident occurred after Walsh attempted to stop Burke from kicking a man he had bested in a fist fight in the head. Walsh broke up the fight and Burke left the bar, but came back and shot Walsh in the face.

Murder-for-hire connected to the Brinks Job

In 1954, mobsters who pulled off the Brinks Job hired Burke to murder Joseph “Specs” O’Keefe, described as one of the brains behind the million-dollar Brinks robbery. The mob believed O’Keefe, who was under pressure from the police, would turn into a stool pigeon. Burke took the job and traveled to Boston.

Burke hunted for O’Keefe and found him in a Dorchester, Massachusetts housing project. Burke chased O’Keefe for a half an hour, firing dozens of rounds at his fleeing quarry. Burke finally shot O’Keefe in the leg after thirty-five minutes.

After the shooting, Burke got into his car and drove off. He remained in Boston as a sight-seer.

Investigation

After the Brinks Job hiring incident, Joseph “Specs” O’Keefe contacted the police and swore out a complaint against Burke for attempted murder.

Arrest

Burke was arrested eight days later in Back Bay, Boston and incarcerated at the Charles Street Jail.

Escape and recapture

Burke escaped but was recaptured a year later while waiting for a bus in Charleston, Massachusetts.

Trial and sentencing

Burke was arrested and convicted of murdering bartender Edward Walsh. He was sentenced to death in the electric chair.

Outcome

On 9 January 1958, Burke was executed at Sing Sing Prison.

Aftermath

Before execution, Burke ate a final meal of steak, smoked six cigars, and spent his last evening reading newspaper clippings about himself.