The St. Valentine's Day Massacre Lecture Notes

Key Details

• Date and Location: February 14, 1929, at around 10:30 AM, in a garage on North Clark Street, Lincoln Park, Chicago.
• Event: Known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, marked a peak in Chicago's mob wars during the Prohibition era.
• Victims: Seven men were murdered.
• Perpetrators: Despite efforts, they were never positively identified; the crime remains unsolved.
• Impact: Shocked the nation and led to extraordinary actions by the city to combat crime and violence.

Forensic Ballistics

• Introduction: The massacre was one of the first cases using forensic ballistics.
• Pioneer: Dr. Calvin Goddard, a key figure in developing the science of firearm identification.

Dr. Calvin Goddard

• Background: Born in 1891, Baltimore. Army officer’s son, educated at Johns Hopkins, Army Medical School.
• Military Service: Served in WWI, earned the rank of lieutenant colonel, later resigned to work in hospital administration.
• Interest in Firearms: Developed the science of identifying firearms by markings on bullets and cartridges.
• Inventions:
  • Helixometer: Adapted medical device used to examine gun barrels.
  • Comparison Microscope: Allowed for direct comparison of bullet markings.

Bureau of Forensic Ballistics

• Co-founded: U.S.'s first independent criminalistics laboratory.
• Services: Included ballistics, fingerprinting, blood analysis, and trace evidence.
• Journal: Published the American Journal of Police Science.

Notable Cases

• Sacco and Vanzetti Trial (1927): Used Goddard’s ballistic testing; confirmed Sacco's involvement.
• St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Investigation:
  • Goddard used modern forensic methods to analyze bullets and firearms.
  • Determined two Thompson submachine guns and a 12-gauge shotgun were used.

Fred "Killer" Burke

• Suspect: Known criminal and associate of Al Capone.
• Capture: Caught in Missouri, 1931, for a separate crime.
• Weapons Found: Guns matched those used in the massacre.

Aftermath

• Al Capone: Indirectly linked to the massacre; later imprisoned for other crimes.
• Gang Impact: Severely weakened the North Side Gang.
• Legacy:
  • Forensic Ballistics: Credibility and importance in criminal investigations.
  • Dr. Goddard: Continued advancements in forensic science until his death.

Resources and Legacy

• Evidence Display: Items related to the massacre are on display at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas.
• Dr. Goddard's Contributions: Helped establish modern forensic methods.
• Historical Significance: Remains a significant historical event illustrating the violence of the era and advancements in forensic science.

Closing Remarks

• Encouragement to learn more about history through various platforms and resources provided by the History Guy.