August Endress Bruck

Narrative:

     August Endress Bruck was born on 27 Sep 1899 in Cincinnati, Ohio.^8,9,10
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the household of his parents, August W. Bruck and Cora V. Endress.⁴ He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the household of his parents.⁵

His First Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     August married first Myrtle Anna Wiemann, daughter of Frederick William Wiemann and Susan Caroline Wildey, on 4 Feb 1918 in Hamilton Co., Ohio, with Rev. G. G. Press officiating.^11,12
     He was a broker with an insurance company.^15,16 He registered for the draft for World War I on 10 Sep 1918, while living at 459 Crestline Ave, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, reporting he was employed as a broker salesman for Wilson and Company in Chicago.³
     August and Myrtle appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at 459 Crestline Ave., enumerated 6 Jan 1920, reporting that they rented their home, apparently from her parents, who also lived in the building.¹⁷
     August and Myrtle were apparently divorced, as both re-married. But no record of their divorce nor actual records of their new marriages been found.
     August married second Lottie Luman, daughter of William Luman and Anna Whales.¹³

Association with the "King of Bootleggers" --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     August became acquainted with George Remus shortly after Remus had been release from the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, about 1927. Remus, a former lawyer turned bootlegger, had been known as the "King of the Bootleggers." He had been serving time for his bootlegging operations. The two became acquainted through the operation of dog racing at Springdale, Ohio.^18,19
     August and his wife both testified in Remus's defense when he was tried for murder of his wife in Dec 1927. Remus successfully used the "temporary insanity" defense he had pioneered as a defense lawyer.^18,19 August drove to Lima, Ohio, in Jun 1928 to bring Remus home after he was released from the State Hospital for the Criminal Insane, where he had been confined after his trial.²⁰

A Sensational Murder Case --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     August died on 1 May 1929 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at age 29, of gunshot wounds.¹⁴
     August was found dead the morning of 1 May 1929 in a room in the Hotel Gibson, with four gunshot wounds. He had a loaded pistol in a shoulder holster. His wife told police he had been invited there by Joseph Plunkett. Police reported they found evidence of large-scale handbook and gambling, and blamed race horse betting, gambling, and welching on bets for the murder. Plunkett and Edward Hall, both of Chicago, were sought by police for the crime. Another Remus associate, John Monohan, was also placed at the scene but was not considered a suspect.²⁰
     Plunkett and Hall surrendered in Sep 1929, declaring they had acted in self-defense. They were indicted for second degree murder, and posted $5,000 bond for their release. In spring 1930 Hall was arrested in Dade Co., Florida, for highway robbery. He was convicted and sentenced to 15 years. Florida officials refused to let him come to Ohio, so in Aug 1931 prosecutors decided to proceed to trial with Plunkett alone.²¹ With very little evidence to support the murder charge, the judge ruled 12 Aug 1931 that while didn't believe the testimony of the defense, there was not enough evidence to convict, so he dismissed the case.²²