The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-01
A Bl0oDy ARRAY.
A Policeman Shoots I've Rowdiss
Dead on the Street.

A Policeman Shoots I've Rowdiss
Dead ON the Street.
Special to the Chicago Times, Thursday.
Adeeperate encounter took place at an
early hour yesterday morning, between
two members of the police force and q
gang Of rufians who had followed the OFF,
GERS for the purpose of rescuing prisoner
who had fallen into their hands. The
fight was short and bloody, and resulted
in the defeat of the rowdies, about doz-
en- of whom were put to fight by single
man, and two of their number left dead
on the field.
The circumstances which led to the ia
tai afray may be given as follows: Officer
Hall was sitting at the Armory, when ne
was called by Danl Heating, an employee
In the gas works, who informed him that
a man named Patrick Langan had stopped
him on the street and attempted to rob
him. Hall Immediately started in pursuit
of the robber, and on arriving at Wells
street, he signalled for policeman Weston,
who soon Joined him, and the three pro-
ceeded to saloon on the corner OF Madi-
son and Market streets in quest OF Lam
gan. Not finding. him there, they went on
to Linds block, at the corner Of Randolph
and Market streets, place where ballsaFe
nightly given, attended by strange mix
ture Of hired girls, people of doubtful re-
pute, and rowdies of unnistakable reputa-
ton. On this occasion there seemed to be
a preponderanoe of the latter species, and
among these Langan was found enjoying
himself, after the fashion of bis order.
Heating pointed him out as the man who
had attempted to rob him on the street,
and the officers Immediately took him into
custody. As they were proceeding down
stairs with their prisoner, about ten or
twelve rowdies, or at least eight Of them
for the accounts differ somewhat-fol-
lowed them with loud ordinations, and
evidently with the Intention of resouing
their comrade from the officers. Hall told
them to fall back, and not interfere, add
ing that &c be would put daylight through
tho first man who laid hands on him." The
officers, along with Heating and their pris-
oner, proceeded towards the Armory, by
way Of Market street, until they reached
the mouth of q dark alley Near the Garden
City House, lonesome, deserted part of
the city, which few people would ever care
to cross after midnight.
Here the rufians made simultaneous
attack upon the officers, and Langan, who
had walked along. rather peaceably until
then, made a bold attempt to escape
Weston, who had him in charge, received
q heavy blow on the back Of the neck
which well nigh stunned him, and Langon
got out of the clutches of the officer. Wes-
ton followed his prisoner, and after some
trouble succeeded in recapturing him.
Two of the gang fell upon Heating and
chased him from the field, and the rest of
them set upon Hall, who was thus alone
for time, at the mercy OF four or five
desperadoes, whose intentions were plain
~ Of the most deadly nature. He receive
ed a blow or rather shower Of blows,
which felled him to the ground, but he
succeeded in rising to his knees, and
struggled desperately with his foes. One
of them raised his foot and kicked him in
the mouth with such violence that his
teeth we're loosened; another struck him
on the head; third fellow with light
blue pants, hung On to him and encountered
hisarms, while afourth shouted to the others,
knife the son of b. Hall then made
q desperate effort to release himself, and
sprang upon one knee and drew his revol-
yer and fired. The shot took NO effect,
having been fred of at random, and the
contest was renewed. A second shot was
fred, this time not without effect, for one
Of the men reeled into the dark alley, and
fell dead. This had the effect OF paralyz-
ing the rufians, who at once took to
fight. Han called on them to stop, and
fired third shot, which struck enc of the
fugitives under the right shoulder blade.
The man staggered and fell on the side
walk, corpse. Hall was too exhausted
to pursue the other fugitives, who succeed
ed in making their escape.
By this time Heating had returned to
the scene Of the encounter, and seeing two
figures lying on the sidewalk, asked limo
Gently what was the matter with them.
" They are all right" quietly rejoined the
officer who had given them their quietus.
Weston and several other policemen, who
had been attracted with the noise, had
also arrived, and the bodies of the two
men we're taken up and conveyed to the
Armory. - "'' +a