My grand uncle Stanley A. Budny is the family’s black sheep. A habitual criminal according to an account in a 1927 Ann Arbor Newspaper article. Taken to the Ann Arbor police station after a fender bender, he told a web of lies, tried bribing his way out to freedom. All for naught. He sought flight through a bathroom window, ensued a fight with an officer on the streets of Ann Arbor, only to lose his life while struggling with the officer’s gun. He lost his life for a missing license plate and a questionable vehicle registration.
Stanley’s criminal activities brought in the money that helped support his six siblings and his mother from 1917 to his death in 1927. His father Adam disappeared in 1917 and was presumed dead by the family. Stanley started using aliases early on. He lied on his 1918 World War I registration form (see image below).
So how did I attribute this registration card to my grand uncle? Borke is an anglicized variant of Borucki. Stanley’s mother is Maryanna Borucki. Both my great-grandmother and her brother Ignatz Francis Borucki (Frank Borke) used this quick and easy pronunciation and spelling of Borucki. On Ignatz Borucki’s application for citizenship, he lists Frank Borke as an alias.
I have heard the name pronounced Bor-rut-ski in a recording by a family member. I can see why the family would use a more American sounding variant of their name. The pronunciation of the name doesn’t match the spelling.
My second clue is the address listed on the form. I have city directory sources listing the same address for Mary Budny. The birth date, Nov 16, 1899, is off by three years. Stanley Budny was born November 16, 1902, Pittsburgh, PA. I think he lied about his age to work. He most likely kept up the lie when he registered. Especially if he registered with co-workers or friends in the line. Being 16 at the time he registered, he could not afford to lose a job that supported his family, so I am assuming he lied to appear older than he was.
Did Stanley steal from his own cousin? Written records should be viewed also as photographs. Photographs are worth a thousand words. This registration card is worth a thousand words too. Some people may dismiss this record or attach it as proof of a source without adding a comment. But the analysis reveals much more. I had to look at the info in detail to correctly match it to my Stanley Budny. Why, because Stanley had a cousin named Stanley Borucki, who sometimes used the name Stanley Borke. Stanley Borucki is the son of Ignatz Borucki. He was born either in Chicago, IL or Pittsburgh, PA in 1902. Stanley Borucki lists his occupation as chauffeur in his 1925 marriage record using the name Stanley Borke. On the 1920 census, he is a springmaker. The occupation listed on this registration card for this Stanley Budny is chauffeur.
Alias of Stanley Budny (Borke)
On Stanley’s and his sister’s marriage certificate they use the name Mary Borke for their mother. As stated in my previous posts, I have yet to find Mary and Stanley Budny in the 1920 census.
Stanley Budny was arrested several times for writing bad checks and stealing cars in the Detroit area. He was sentenced to a 1 to 14 year prison term to Jackson (Michigan) State Prison. He was paroled after a very short time. The lies he told that fateful day in March 1927, included a false name, tales of a wife and two children. A wife he had, children he did not. The Detroit Police had his list of aliases that Stanley used in the past. I wonder how he came up with the names, Kid Gray, Dick Grey and Kline Klinoffosky. Believe me, I checked the aliases to see if I could find clues to locate records.
I’ll keep looking to unravel the clues in records, one day may the truth be out there.
Recent Comments