GANG TERROR

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1931, Page 5

GANG TERROR

BATTLE IN STREETS NINE LIVES SACRIFICED. United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) NEW YORK, August 23. The gangsters’ wave reached a Climax here to-day when warfare fOred up in five different places in the metropolitan area. Two policemen were shot dead and six others were wounded. Three of the robbers were slain, while there were fifteen citizens wounded. The outlawry was renewed in the same district where the bandits recently fired into a crowd killing a child.' To-day three robbers raided the Mendomia Fuf 1 Company. They killed a patrolman who was guarding the payroll, and escaped with one thousand sterling. When speeding away, the bandits fired on a motor-car that was carrying a woman and child and a fireman, whom the bandits mistook for a policeman. All three were badly injured as the robbers raked the car with a machine-gun. The bandits, however, were brought

to bay in the Bronz district, after shooting another patrolman, and there were two people killed. All the police reserves were called out.

1000 BULLETS FIRED,

NEW YORK, August 22.

The gang’s death roll has now' been increased to six by the death of an infant.

More than one thousand bullets were exchanged in the, battle,’ which extended over twelve miles of streets. The citizens have been aroused to an intense pitch.* American Legion officers have offered to mobilise thirty thousand men to aid the police to patrol the streets.

A public mass meeting has been called to demand the end of the reign of terror.

BANDITS ALL YOUTHS.

great indignation meeting

NEW YORK, August 22

Three more persons, a policeman, a taxidriver and a thirteen-vear-old-boy, are now in a critical condition, and are likely to die, as the result of yesterday’s gun battle. i The dead bandits have been identified as belonging to lav'-abiding families living in New York. They were only twenty years old. The pay roll which they tried to capture was one of only 4600 dollars,

Popular feeling still runs high. The newspaper “New York American, ’ in a' black-leaded caption on the front page says:- “Citizens of New York! Tli!.« may be tbe fate of any of you unless you band together to put an end to the terrorism of crime. Every man and, woman in the city should attend the mass meeting to-morrow night at the Central Park.

The newspaper adds : —"President Hoover was shocked at the story of the widespread slaughter, and he has directed an immediate investigation by Federal detectives. Mr Walter Ferguson. Chief of ' the Secret Service on the Eastern Division, has been directed to proceed to New York to co-operate with the Denartment of Justice and the police. He has also been designated to investigate the position.” ■ Far-reaching changes in the New York Police Deoartment, and in the signal and patrol, system, with the introduction of radio-equipped automobiles for rapid concentration in any part of the city, have been announced hv the Acting-Mayor, Mr McKee, as the result of yesterday’s experience.