CHICAGO GANGS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 164, 23 December 1926, Page 5

CHICAGO GANGS.

MACHINE GUNS IN STREET BATTLE. The highly organised criminals of Chicago mowed down seven men with machine-guns yesterday, , including a prominent criminal lawyer. The gUng disappeared without leaving a trace save for bullet scars on the facade of the Catholic Cathedral. A story, incredible to. British cars, is revealed of bodies of criminals and murderers possessing high-powered cars, ammunition depots and headquarters and outposts in offices and shops. They hold councils of w&r, parleys with their enemies in hotels, demand the lives of individuals by name and publish death-lists of those who have defied them in their profitable work of burglary, bootlegging and drug smuggling. The Lawyer in the Case. The outbreak of terrorism that occurred yesterday started when a car, drawing in to the pavement before the cathedral, was suddenly jammed against the kerb by another car full of armed men. As the passengers jumped out, fire from a m>achine-gun at an upstairs window across the street spat at them, while another machine-gun, presumably from a motor-car, joined in the firing. Two men who fell dead have been recognised as Hymie Weiss 'and Paddy Murphy. • The first-named, aged 28, is known to be absolute master of a gang of criminals; the other man was his lieutenant. Two wounded men were associated with the stame gang as bodyguards. Marked, for Death. The lawyer referred to was saved from death 'by a” 2fin "packet of legal papers in his breast- pocket, which was penetrated by one of several bullets which wouiq:led A ,hjip. .He is Mr O’Bfien, a' former Assistant State Attorney: He says he had just driven from- the court on the way to meet his wifq x - but the- police, assert that this statement, le'ayes .25 minues, unae-. counted foi*. * 'They r obviously suspect him of’ being connected with some of the men attacked. :

Another suggestion is that O’Brien is in the, same position as State At-r torney McSwiggin, who was killed by machine-gun fire in April last in almost 1 the same/ and? that they were shot down because, withput , knowing it, they weye in the company of irsen marked for death.