NIGHT CLUB BATTLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 114, 27 February 1950, Page 3

NIGHT CLUB BATTLE

DETECTIVES AND , BANDITS i f PATRONS DUCK FOR COVER. (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) (Rec. 9.25) NEW YORK, Feb. 2G. Three drug-crazed bandits and two detectives shot it out in a New York night club early yesterday. The bandits and detectives exchanged shots which wounded one bandit and one detective. One hundred, patrons who ducked for cover escaped injury. After the shooting ended the wounded bandit raced out. of the club and jumped into a taxi as it drew away with a man and woman who had fled from the shooting. The man grappled with the bandit and the car driver sped to t)ie nearest police radio patrol ear. The police captured the bandit without firing a shot. Meanwhile two unwounded bandits escaped from the club and drove off in an unattended taxi. They were captured by a police patrol car. Eye-witnesses said the three bandits entered the club and took a small box with them to their table. The box which contained four guns, was placed beneath the table. The bandits had drinks and then one of them walked to a microphone, whipped out a revolver and fired a warning shot into the ceiling. He called out: “I’ll do the entertaining from now on. Nobody gets hurt if there is no excitement.” He ordered patrcfns to put their money and valuables on the tables. The other bandits, with drawrf guns, prepared to collect the loot, but were interrupted by two plain-clothes detectives who were passing their time at the club’s bar, and shots were exchanged.

b " GUNMEN SECURE HAUL OBLIGING HOSTESS (Rec. 10.20) . NEW YORK, Feb. 26. Two gunmen held up the White Turkey Inn in Madison Avenue last »ight after the hostess of the restaurant had lent a tie to one of the men so that he could enter. The hostess stopped the men, as they walked into the restaurant when she saw one wearing a tieless white sports shirt. She told hfm she could not allow him in without a tie. She then got one for him from the cloakroom. The men went into the dining room, had several drinks and a meal,' then drew their guns. They collected 2000 dollars from customers and the cashier. As they were leaving, the gunman in the sports shirt stopped at the cloakroom, handed the tie to the hostess ,and thanked her politely for the use of it.