William Hamm Jr. (September 4, 1893 – August 20, 1970) was an executive of Hamm's Brewery. In 1931, he was kidnapped by the Barker–Karpis Gang and held for a $100,000 ransom.
William Hamm Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Hamm c. 1915 | |
| Born | September 4, 1893 Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Died | August 20, 1970 (aged 76) Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Occupation | President/chairman of Hamm's Brewery |
| Known for | Being kidnapped by the Barker–Karpis Gang |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Theodore Hamm (grandfather) |
Early life
edit
William Hamm Jr. was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota on September 4, 1893, to William and Marie Hamm. The grandson of Theodore Hamm, the founder of Hamm's Brewery,[2] he earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1915. After briefly working for his family's brewing company, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1918 and eventually became a second lieutenant.[1]: 83
Career
editUpon returning from World War I, Hamm began working for Hamm's Brewery. He became the president of the company in 1931.[3][4] He also became president of the Emporium department store in Saint Paul. Both businesses prospered under his leadership.[1]: 101
Kidnapping
editShortly after noon on June 15, 1933, Hamm was leaving the brewery to get lunch when he was accosted by four men. He was shoved into a waiting car and taken to Wisconsin, where he was coerced to sign four ransom notes. From there, the gang took him to Bensenville, Illinois. That evening, the family received a phone call saying that Hamm had been kidnapped and instructions would follow later. At 2 a.m. on June 16, a man initially believed to be gangster Verne Sankey gave a taxi driver in Saint Paul a ransom note with instructions to deliver it to William Dunn, the manager of Hamms' Brewery. The note demanded a ransom of $100,000 ($2.35 million in 2023).[a][5][4][6] The Hamm family paid the ransom on the night of June 17, though less than the $100,000 that had been demanded, by kicking it out of a car between Pine City and Rush City.[4][7][2]
On June 19, William was released at 5:30 a.m. by a farmhouse near Wyoming, Minnesota.[7][2]
The Federal Bureau of Investigations launched an investigation into the kidnapping and, using latent fingerprint identification, connected fingerprints on the ransom notes to members of the Barker–Karpis Gang — specifically, Alvin Karpis, "Doc" Barker, and Charles Fitzgerald. This was the first time that silver nitrate was successfully used in forensic science to identify fingerprints from objects that could not be dusted for prints. On May 1, 1936, Alvin Karpis was arrested by J. Edgar Hoover in New Orleans. He was brought back to Saint Paul where he pled guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.[6]
Post-kidnapping
editHamm became chairman of the board of Hamm's in 1952.[8] Hamm also served on the board of directors of First National Bank of Saint Paul and the United States Brewers' Association.[3] In August 1952, Hamm and his siblings established the Hamm Foundation, a non-profit focused on the donations for "charitable, scientific, and educational purposes".[1]: 103 He retired from Hamm's in May 1966 and was bestowed the title of honorary chairman.[4]
Hamm died of cancer on August 20, 1970, at the age of 76 at Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.[3][4][1]: 109
Personal life
editHamm married Dorothy Heywood on October 1, 1927.[9] Dorothy filed for divorce in 1930, stating that he had abandoned her.[10] Hamm married Marie Hersey Carroll on January 1, 1934.[11] They had two sons, William and Edward.[3] In his retirement, he lived in Orono, Minnesota.[12]
Notes
edit- ^ Mr. William Dunn — You have evidently verified our statement (by telephone) of this afternoon. In other words, you know your boy friend is out of circulation. Our other statements also will be verified before we are through. You are to pay off one hundred thousand dollars in the manner explained to you this afternoon. You are to keep this matter quiet until such time as all arrangements are completed and Hamm is released. You are to wait final instructions tomorrow. You are to have the money ready as per instructions you take your own chances. Furthermore, if you fail to comply with our demands you will never see Hamm Jr. again. In Mr. Hamm's writing: I hereby authorize the above payment to be made and request that all instructions be fully carried out. William Hamm Jr.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Flanagan, John T. (1989). "William Hamm Jr., Company President". Theodore Hamm in Minnesota: his family and brewery. St. Paul, MN: Pogo Press. pp. 83–109. ISBN 9780961776756. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Hamm Released, Returns Home; Believes Sankey in Kidnaper Gang". The Minneapolis Journal. June 19, 1933. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "William Hamm Jr., St. Paul brewing firm head, dies at 76". The Minneapolis Star. August 20, 1970. pp. 17B. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "William Hamm, Brewery Heir, Dies; Was Victim of Kidnap Gang in 1933". Cumberland Evening Times. United Press International. August 21, 1970. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "William Hamm, Jr., Kidnapped; Gang Demands $100,000 in Death Threat". The Minneapolis Journal. June 17, 1933. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "Barker/Karpis Gang". Famous Cases and Criminals. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "St. Paul Brewer Is Found Early Today In Wyoming Store". St. Cloud Times. June 19, 1933. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "William Hamm Jr". New York Daily News. Associated Press. August 21, 1970. p. 219. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "Wedding Ceremonies Take Place Today in Homes and Churches". The Minneapolis Star. October 1, 1927. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ "St. Paul Brewer's Son Faces Divorce Suit". The Minneapolis Star. November 19, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "William Hamm, Jr., St. Paul Kidnap Victim, Married". The Winona Daily News. Associated Press. January 2, 1934. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "Hamm Brewing Company Head Dies at 76". Rochester Post-Bulletin. Associated Press. August 20, 1970. p. 26. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.