Jerry Buckley (journalist)

Jerry Buckley
Born Gerald Emmett Buckley
April 5, 1891
Died July 23, 1930(1930-07-23) (aged 39)
Residence Detroit, MI
Nationality United States
Other names Jerry Buckley
Citizenship United States Citizen
Occupation Journalist/Radio Commentator
Employer WMBC
Known for Radio broadcasts, recall of Mayor Charles Bowles

Gerald E. "Jerry" Buckley (born on 5 April 1891, died July 23, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan) was a Detroit radio commentator, who successfully campaigned for the recall of Mayor Charles Bowles in the wake of corruption allegations. Prior to his death, Buckley had served as an investigator for Henry Ford, and as a special investigator for the United States government.[1]

Personal

Gerald E. Buckley was born on 5 April 1891.

Death

Map of Detroit from the era.

On the night of the successful recall, Buckley was approached by three men and shot eleven times in the lobby of the LaSalle Hotel in Detroit.[2] A crowd of over 100,000 people attended his funeral.[3]

After his murder, Detroit Police Commissioner Thomas C. Wilcox declared that Buckley was a known extortionist and racketeer and had likely been killed because of his underworld connections.[1] Buckley's brother Paul, a former assistant prosecutor, claimed that the murder was orchestrated as revenge for the campaign against the mayor.[1]

Although there were several arrests, there were no convictions obtained for the killing. The gunmen were later identified as Russell Syracuse, Joseph English, and John Mirabella.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Death in Detroit". Time. 1930-08-04.
  2. "Detroit's Question". Time. 1931-05-04.
  3. Poremba, David Lee (2001). Detroit: A Motor City History. Charlseton, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-73852-435-1.
  4. Jerry Buckley: A Victory Short Lived| by Allan May http://www.crimemagazine.com


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