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On the evening of December 5, 1969, Gerald Burke was working as a cab driver for Kenilworth Kabs in Hamilton, Ontario. He was 24 years old, and occasionally worked for the cab company to supplement his income, as he supported his wife and two young sons, Robert and Darrin.
At approximately 7:30 p.m. he picked up a fare at the Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre, radioed his dispatcher that he was going to Division Street, (a scant five minutes away) and was never heard from again.
It was later established that Mr. Burke was murdered at approximately 9:00 p.m., having been shot twice in the head at close range, while seated in the driver's seat of his taxi, where he was discovered by police nearly six hours later.
Mr. Burke's murderer(s) have never been found. He was not murdered by Gary Staples.
Gerald Burke and Gary Staples never met, and never had any social, business or other dealing of any nature whatsoever. They were utter strangers and there was never any link of any type between them at any time.
At 9:00 p.m. on December 5, 1969, Gary Staples was in a service station in Dunnville, Ontario, 50 kilometers from the site of the murder. A number of independent witnesses have confirmed that he was at the service station while his car was being repaired from 8:30 p.m. until 10:15 p.m. on this date, continuously and without any interruption.
In addition to the numerous independent witnesses who have confirmed that Gary Staples was at the gas station in Dunnville continuously from 8:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. on December 5, 1969, two other independent witnesses have confirmed that he was at a house in Dunnville discussing the car repair and at the Dunnville Canadian Tire store purchasing the part he required for his car, between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
And further witnesses have confirmed Gary's whereabouts at various locations in Dunnville continuously from 5:00 p.m. on December 5, 1969 until after 11:00 p.m. that night.
Following are newspaper accounts of the crime from December of 1969. |
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Hamilton Spectator December 6, 1969 Final Message: "Eighteen going to Division Street" By Paul Minvielle
Spectator Staff A part-time cab driving job that a young father of two boys used to support his family in between other jobs led to his death sometime last night or early this morning.
"Eighteen going to Division Street" were the last words that Gerry Burke radioed to his dispatcher at Kenilworth Kabs on Barton Street East. Early today his body was found in his cab on Dunbar Avenue, nor far from Division Street.
At his Walter Avenue North home this morning, relatives were packing things that might be needed by Gerry Burkes wife, Doreen, and their two sons, Robert, 2, and Darrin, 1. Mrs. Burke and her sons were taken away, said relatives, to avoid publicity. "We want to protect her," said father-in-law Roscoe Burk, in his home on Lime Kiln Road in Ancaster. At home were Mrs. Burk and Gerry's two sisters, one married and living elsewhere, and Marion, 25, a secretary at Bermingham Construction Ltd. It was at Bermingham Construction that Gerry Burke held his last steady job. He quit last week.
Marion Burke explained the difference in the spelling of the family surname. Mrs Burke added the 'e' on her name when she was married, and registered Gerry as Gerald Gibson Burke when he was born. This morning the family discussed plans for taking care of Doreen and the two children.
Gerry had started school at Prince of Wales Elementary School in Hamilton, and about 15 years ago the family moved to Ancaster. He attended Memorial School there and started at Ancaster High School. He dropped out before graduating and started a series of jobs.
Prior to working for several weeks at Bermingham Construction, Gerry had held a job up to two months ago as an assembler at John Inglis Co. Ltd. in Stoney Creek. He worked there for 1 ½ years and shortly before his resignation, he had taken an aptitude test.
The test showed Gerry Burke had the initiative for a job with more responsibility. He applied for a data processing job but lost out to another applicant. Gerry Burke went back to driving cab.
This morning, a telephone operator,a radio dispatcher and several drivers discussed Gerrys death in the cramped office of Kenilworth Kabs. "Gerry was just a big happy kid," said the telephone operator. The others nodded agreement and all of them agreed they were puzzled by his death.
Police have said robbery may be a possible motive in the slaying. "He'd only been driving for about three hours," said the dispatcher. "He wouldnt have had more than $20 or $30," he said.
But he remembered that Gerry had mentioned when he reported for work last night that he had received his final cheque from Bermingham Construction for $155. "I dont know if he cashed it or not," he said.
Last night was busy for taxi cabs with Christmas shoppers jamming the shopping centre. "He called in at about 7:30 p.m. and said, 'Eighteen to Division Street,' but he didnt book back in. The night dispatcher never noticed because we were so busy," said the dispatcher.
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Hamilton Spectator December 6, 1969 City Cabbie Shot Dead
By John Gibson
Spectator Staff
Police are hunting for the killer of a part-time taxi driver who was found shot in his cab early this morning. Gerry Burke, 24-year-old father of two, was shot in the head at close range. The grisly discovery was made by Constable Bayne Henderson who was making a routine check in the citys north east-end industrial area.
He found the taxi parked behind an industrial park on Dunbar Avenue near Kenilworth Avenue North.
Police said the killing was discovered at 2:37 a.m. The time of death could not be immediately determined.
Mr. Burke, of Walter Avenue North, was a part-time driver with Kenilworth Kabs and was driving a taxi owned by Mike Kovach, 25, of Rolston Avenue.
Lieut. Ernest Smedley of the Hamilton C.I.B. said robbery may be involved in the slaying.
Mr. Burke started his shift at 4 p.m. yesterday. He last checked in with the Kenilworth Kab dispatcher at 7:30 p.m. At that time, he picked up a fare at the Laura Secord candy store at the Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre and reported he was going to Division Street.
The spot where the taxi was found is bounded by Kenilworth Avenue on the west, Merichison Avenue on the south, Division Street on the east and the CNR tracks on the north.
A part time driver for two years, Mr. Burke was employed by Bermingham Construction Ltd.
Until about two months, he worked as an assembler with John Inglis Co. Ltd. in Stoney Creek. A spokesman for the company said Mr. Burke had worked there for about 18 months.
Some time before he resigned, Mr. Burke took an aptitude test and showed he had the initiative for a job with more responsibility, said Gary Nicholson.
"He applied for a data processing job with the company but lost out to another applicant," Mr. Nicholson added.
Duke Leyland, owner of the Kenilworth Kab company, said he was shocked when he learned of the killing. "Gerry had worked as a spare driver for about two years. He worked off and on for maybe two or three weeks at a time. He always came back when he was out of work," said Mr. Leyland.
The murder investigation is being headed by Det. Sgts Norm Thompson and Jim Williams.
The taxi engine and two way radio were both switched off when the vehicle was found, police said.
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Hamilton Spectator December 8, 1969 Police ask assistance in probe of murder
Spectator Staff
City police have uncovered no leads in their investigation of the murder of a young part-time city cab driver, and today asked for the assistance of the public. Det. Sgts. Norm Thompson and Jim Williams said they want to talk to anyone who took a trip in taxi #82 after 7 p.m. Friday. The taxi was a turquoise-coloured sedan.
Gerry Gibson Burke, a 24-year-old father of two, was found slumped in the front seat of the cab, which was spotted by a cruising policeman in a lonely east-end industrial area on Dunbar Avenue, near the Canadian National Railway tracks.
The detectives are also looking for a woman who took a Kenilworth Kab from a direct-line spot at the Laura Secord candy store in the Greater Hamilton Shopping Centre and was driven to Divison Street.
Police said today Mr. Burke’s wallet and identification were not found, and that an autopsy showed the cabbie was shot twice in the head. It was originally thought that he had been shot only once under the right jaw.
The killing was discovered at 2:37 a.m. Mr Burke’s last message to his dispatcher at Kenilworth Kabs was: "Eighteen going to Division Street." Eighteen was his radio number, while the number of his cab was 82.
Mr Burke was a part-time driver for Kenilworth Kabs, and the taxi he was driving Friday night was owned by Mike Kovach, 25, of Rolston Avenue.
The young driver reported for work at about 4 p.m. Friday, and up until he last reported in at 7:20 p.m., he might have taken in between $20 and $30.
The absence of calls to his dispatcher after his last call was not noticed as it was a busy night for taxis.
Mr Burke drove cabs as a fill-in job when he wasn’t working elsewhere. Less than two weeks ago he quit a job at Bermingham Construction Ltd., where his sister Marion, 25, of Lime Kiln Road, Ancaster, is a secretary.
Anyone with information that my assist police should phone Det. Sgts. Williams or Thompson at 522-4911. Ask for CIB.
City cab drivers mean while have started a fund for Burke’s wife, Doreen, and two sons, Robert 2, and Darren, 1.
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