This page provides Chicago newspaper articles regarding Gladys Marie King-Walsh. The articles were transcribed to this format exactly as worded from the original document. The articles are from Chicago newspapers dated December 9th 1939 through December 12th 1939.

The man referenced in the articles as Jack Rubenstein is also known as Jack Ruby

SHOT; UNION ROW

Boss Hunted as Assailant

Dues Probed

Business affairs of the Scrap Iron and Junk Handlers#39; union were under scrutiny last night after Attorney Leon R. Cooke, 27 years old, was shot and seriously wounded in union headquarters at 3159 Roosevelt road.

At the Mount Sinai hospital Cooke said his assailant was John Martin, the union president. Martin fled after the shooting and a search was started for him. Police said they believed he was accompanied by his stenographer, Mrs. Gladys Walsh, 409 Walnut street, Hinsdale, who was said to have witnessed the shooting.

Martin is 48 years old and lives at 8023 South Wolcott avenue. He has been a clerk in the employ of the sanitary district for 23 years.

Last August he was indited with Terry Druggan and two others for conspiracy to conceal from revenue officers the fact that Druggan, a dry era bootlegger, was part owner of the Gambrinus brewery. The case is to be tried in February.

Cooke, whose home is at 1135 South Sacramento boulevard was one of the organizers two years ago of the junk handlers' union which is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. He was the secretary and treasure last year but now holds no office in the union.

" I went to see Martin to protest his conduct of the union," Cooke said in the hospital. "I told him he ought to have obtained a pay raise for the men in one junkyard. He was stormy and in a little while we were scuffling. When he grabbed a gun I told him he was crazy and started to leave.

"He fired three times. Two bullets hit my overcoat, which was under my arm. The other hit me in the back. I staggered into the hall, got down the stairs [ the office is on the second floor], and took a cab to the hospital"

The bullet was embedded in the attorneys side. Physicians who extracted it said he probably would recover.

Lieut. Thomas Kelly of the states attorney's staff and Supervising Captain John Stege said they were informed that Martin and Mrs. Walsh had descended a rear fire escape to get away. No trace was found of Martin, altho his home was guarded.

"We are looking into the union 's finances," said Lieut. Kelly. "It was only about two years old, but it had about 900 members who pay dues of $1.50 or $2 a month. I am trying to find out where the $1,400 a month went. So far we cannot discover legitimate uses for more than $700 or so. Martin was listed as receiving a salary of only $120 a month."

Much of the information was obtained from Jack Rubinstein, secretary of the union. He said that he was really only a collector.

Martin, he said, was in charge of financial matters. Rubinstien was absent at the time of the shooting.

The investigators were told that a man named Carlos Fontana recently was engaged by the union as a business agent. A man by that name was notorious as a west side hoodlum in prohibition days. Rubinstein said he knew nothing of the new employees past.

Cooke was described as "occasional attorney" for the union, Lieut. Kelly said he was the head of the Midwest Waste Dealers' association, which is composed of junk yard owners. It was suggested Martin and Cooke may have quarreled over the union's practice of demanding a checkoff [ collection of dues by employers].

In the union offices the police packed up two pairs of glasses, one belonging to each man.

"This is one labor shooting in which the facts seem to be rather plain," said Capt. Stege. "We may solve it".

BOSS IN SHOOTING FACES QUIZ TODAY ON UNIONS WORK

John Martin, president of the Scrap Iron and Junk Handlers' Union, who is being held for the shooting of attorney Leon R. Cooke, will be questioned in the states attorney's office today about activities of the union. He told Capt. Daniel Gilbert and Lieut. Kelly of that office that he was quitting his post and wanted nothing more to do with the union.

Lieut. Kelly told him: " This office will see that the union does not operate. It is nothing but a racket organization."

The union organized two and a half years ago has approximately 500 members, earning between $15 and $22.50 a week who are assessed dues of $2 a month. Lieut. Kelly said it paid no sick or death benefits.

Cooke, a former organizer was shot Friday in the union's office at 3159 Roosevelt road. He said Martin shot him during a quarrel over union affairs.

Martin said Cooke struck him on the head with a revolver and that the gun was discharged while they were scuffling.

UNION PRESIDENT DODGES LAWYER SLAYING INQUEST

John Martin, president of the Scrap Iron and Junk Handler's Union was unwilling to attend the inquest yesterday into the death of Attorney Leon R. Cooke, whom Martin shot the night of Dec. 8. Cooke died Friday night in the Mount Sinai hospital.

"Mr. Martin, for obvious reasons will not be here this morning." Attorney George Crane advised Deputy Coroner Pasquale Venetucci and Supervising Captain John Stege.

"I'll surrender him next week."

"Don't bother.," said Stege.

"We'll get a warrant charging him with murder."

"Are you deliberately keeping a witness from attending this hearing?" the deputy coroner asked.

"And harboring a fugitive from justice?", Stege added.

"No." Crane responded, "He is under bond now on a charge of assault with intent to kill.

If I surrender him today he might have to spend Saturday and Sunday in jail. He'll be at your service next week."

Martin said he shot Cooke in self defense. His statements were supported by his stenographer, Mrs. Gladys Walsh. She was ready to testify yesterday, but the inquest was put over to next Wednesday.

JURY ABSOLVES UNION HEAD FOR LAWYER KILLING

Tells of Fight Over Gun in Office

A coroner's jury yesterday returned a verdict of justifiable homicide absolving John Martin, president of the Scrap Iron and Junk Handlers' Union, of blame for the slaying of Leon R. Cooke, former attorney for the union. The verdict came after Martin had told his story of a fight for a pistol in the union's office at 3159 Roosevelt road.

"It was him or me." Martin said.

He testified that Cooke had no connection with the union for some time and that the lawyer was a continual source of trouble around the union office, especially in his constant use of the union's telephone.

"I came into the office on Dec. 8 and found Cooke sitting there." Martin testified.

"Neither of us spoke. He preceded me into the office, where he picked up my telephone. I told him to put it down."

"He pulled a gun and smashed me in the face with it and knocked me down. The gun went off when he hit me and Cooke dropped it."

Martin told of the fight that followed and the attempts of both men to reach the gun. " I got it first," he said. Police have not been able to find the gun used in the shooting.

Harry Winnick, 4802 Bernard street, an employ of the state department of labor, was a Surprise witness presented by Attorney George Crane, representing Martin. Winnick asserted that he formed the junk union nearly three years ago at the request of the American Federation of Labor.

Cooke, soon after he was shot, told police that he was the founder of the union. Winnick testified that he was the unions first president and that he left the union because of Cooke's strong arm tactics.

"Cooke was tough and inclined to be a muscle man," Winnick said. "He wanted to operate the union from the angle of both labor and junk dealers.

"I told Cooke we were operating the union for its members and that he would have to get out. Cooke pulled a gun and said, 'I'll push this right down your throat.'

"That finished me-I got out."

A charge of assault with intent to kill is still pending against Martin in the Felony Court, with a hearing scheduled for Monday. Assistant State's Attorney Emmet Moynihan said he would confer today with First Assistant State's Attorney Wilbert F. Crowley to decide whether further steps will be taken in the case.

BOSS OF UNION GIVES UP AND TELLS SHOOTING

Blames Attack on Lawyer; Claims Self-Defense.

John Martin, president of the Scrap Iron and Junk Handler's Union surrendered yesterday in the shooting of Attorney Leon R. Cooke who was wounded Friday during a quarrel in union headquarters, 3159 Roosevelt road.

Martin, whose face was cut and bruised and both eyes blackened, said he had shot Cooke in self-defense. He appeared in the Marquette police station a few hours after Attorney George Crane had promised to produce him tomorrow. After telling his story to Capt. Stege, Martin was sent to the State's Attorney's office where he was questioned by Capt. Daniel Gilbert, Lieut. Thomas Kelly, and Emmet Moynihan, Assistant State's Attorney.

"Cooke came into the office and started to use the telephone," Martin said. "I told him." "Put that phone down and get out of here." "We quarreled and he whipped out a revolver and struck me in the head several times.

"I grabbed the gun and it must have gone off while we were struggling on the floor for it. It was Cooke's gun, I never saw it before and I don't know what became of it after the shooting."

A similar story was told by Martin's secretary, Mrs. Gladys Walsh, 35 years old, 409 W. Walnut, Hinsdale, who had been missing since the shooting. She also came to the Marquette station yesterday. She was released after a statement was taken from her in the state's attorney's office.

Capt. Gilbert went to Mount Sinai hospital later and again questioned Cooke. The wounded lawyer said he helped organize inside workers for the union when it was established two years ago and still is an adviser for it. He also represents the Midwest Waste Dealers' association, which is composed of junk yard owners.

"I went to the union office to find out why Martin hadn't keep his promise to get more pay for the employees of one company." Cooke said. "I said, lets settle this quietly, and he pulled a gun, and responds, " I'll settle this peacefully, you get out of here or I'll shoot you."

"We scuffled and I got hold of his wrist, preventing him from using the gun. I told him what I thought about his way of treating the union members. Then I started to walk out. As I reached the door he fired three shots. Two of them hit my overcoat which I was carrying over my arm. The other struck me in the back.

Mrs. Walsh said Martin had instructed her not to let Cooke examine the union records or use the telephone, and that the quarrel began when Martin found the lawyer dialing a number. She said she saw the two struggling on the floor with the gun between them, but did not know who fired.

Capt. Gilbert seized all the union records. He said they showed Martin had been paying out checks of $50 or $100 to himself at frequent intervals.

Gilbert said he was seeing Carlos Fontana, a west side hoodlum of prohibition days, who was carried on the union books as an organizer at $22.50 a week. The books showed there are approximately 500 members in the union. They pay dues of $2 a month. Their salaries range from $15 to $22.50 a week. The books also showed an assessment of $204 a month for payment to the American Federation of Labor, of which the union is affiliated.

Lieut. Kelly said the union did not pay any sick or death benefits and apparently did nothing for members. He said the union would not be allowed to continue its operations.

Several members of the union said last night their salaries were reduced 35 cents to 30 cents an hour soon after they joined. Among those who complained were Paul Mareunas and his son, Joseph, both of 1913 Morgan street, and Mrs. Antoinette Mareunas of 2112 West 23rd place.

Cooke, who is 27 years old, lives at 2235 Sacramento boulevard. Martin is 48 and lives at 8023 Wolcott avenue.