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William Forke

Case from Kelayres, PA dated Nov 05, 1934

Victim Details

William Forke

Male

White / Caucasian

Kelayres

PA

1934-11-05

35

William

Forke

07/10/2026

Case Description

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In the small coal-mining village of Kelayres, Pennsylvania, the evening of November 5, 1934, was shattered by an eruption of political violence that would leave five men dead, including William Forke. As Democrats held a parade and rally on the eve of the election, they marched past the residence of Joseph James 'Big Joe' Bruno, the local Republican leader. In a sudden burst of gunfire, multiple shooters opened fire on the procession from Bruno's home.

The attack was a grim culmination of ...
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Links to Additional Sources (10)

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  • William Forke (1899-1934) - Find a Grave Memorial
  • nydailynews.com: JUSTICE STORY: A deadly game of politics in Pennsylvania coal country
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    Forum Posts (3)

    Has anyone else dug into the aftermath of the Kelayres Massacre in terms of its impact on surviving ... ...Read More
    12/13/2024
    Hey everyone,
    I've been diving deep into the Kelayres Massacre, and it's really haunting to think... ...Read More
    07/31/2024
    Is anyone else fascinated by how the Kelayres Massacre influenced media coverage at the time? I’ve... ...Read More
    03/23/2024
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