The Violent Life of Former Egan’s Rat Turned Capone Triggerman Fred “Killer” Burke

<p>Fred &ldquo;Killer&rdquo; Burke is not as well known as some of the other more famous prohibition-era gangsters, however, he lived a fast and colorful life as a well-traveled gangster and killer.</p> <p>Born Thomas A. Camp on May 29, 1893, into a large family in Mapleton, Kansas, Burke was said to have had above-average intelligence. He began his foray into crime early when at age 17 he was involved in a land fraud scheme with a crooked travelling salesman.</p> <p>By 1915, Camp now going by Fred Burke had relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, and joined up with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tftunderworld.com/p/gangs-of-st-louis-egans-rats" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">notorious Egan&rsquo;s Rats gang&nbsp;</a>who at the time was the most powerful gang in the city. During these early years, Burke who was described as &ldquo;honest-looking&rdquo; would act as a &ldquo;trustworthy&rdquo; front man for the various fraudulent schemes that the gang was involved in.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/tftunderworld/the-violent-life-of-former-egans-rat-turned-capone-triggerman-fred-killer-burke-ecd50361ee0d"><strong>Website</strong></a></p>