The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-30
SOUTH CHICAGO OFFICER
IS SHOT BY ROBBERS
With Blood Streaming From Wound in Head, Police
man Gamely Battles With Trio of Thugs Until
Help Arrives and They Are Arrested.
Especial to Lake County Tlmes.)

Especial to Lake County TImes)
South Chicago, Nov. 30.-Patrolrnan
Dennis O'Keefe of the Fifteenth pre-
cfnct station was shot at o'clock last
night in sensational capture of three
burglars who were engaged at the
time in looting the saloon OF Henry
Schores, 900 Erie avenue The bull
let, which was fired from a .32 caliber
revolver, struck the officers head and
inflicted a cash six inches in length.
which, though it may not prove fatal,
is a most serious wound The patrol
man was removed to the St. Bernard
hospital, and the three thugs are now
confined under special guard in separ-
ate cells.
The battle in which the gallant Of
ficer was shot has caused a stir in
police circles. Nothing but words of
praise are bestowed upon the bravery
of the man who succeeded in having
arrested three desperate characters, all
heavily armed, after he had been shot
and the blood was streaming down his
forehead The noise Of the struggle
Of the officer Of the law with three Of
the toughest characters that have been
lodged in the South Chicago jail for
some time brought officer Stipec to
the scene, from the adjoining beat, and
he in turn sent in a call to the sta
tion. The patrol wagon with a squad
of a dozen officers. commanded by
Lieutenant Smith. rushed to the scene
and in a few seconds had the des-
perate characters overpowered
Dennis attention was called to the
robbers when he watched man
standing on the corner of Ninety first
street and Erie avenue. The fellow
looked like a suspicious character and
the officer approached him and in
quired his business on the corner at
that time Of night. Not receiving a
satisfactory reply Dennis attempted to
place the man under arrest but the
latter quickly offered resistance. The
two grappIed desperately and the des-
perado attempted to whip out his re-
voly6 60 .....
While in the midst of the struggle,
the Secomplices of the lookout" step
ped lzSom the store and assisted their
conir-~'e. Finding that the three of
them had their har1s full in overpow-
erlng the burly officer, one of them,
who afterward gave the name OF Dick
watkins. fired point blank at the head
OF the patrolman Still gamely keep
ing up the fight and with blood pour
ing over his eyes so that he could
hardly see to continue the struggle,
O'Keefe was almost overcome when as
sistance arrived.
After a short skirmish all three of
the men were arrested and taken to
the station. Here they We're booked
and gave the names of Dick Watkins,
John Bates and Hugh Mckay. When
searched all were found to be heavily
armed They are tough looking men to
say the least, and it is believed that
it Will be possible to connect all Of
them with several other jobs that have
been pulled Off in South Chicago in
the last few weeks.
Find Burglar Tools.
on the floor of the saloon which the
thugs were engaged in robbing when
their lookout was approached. Were
found burglars tools Of every descrip-
tion The robbers had evidently just
begun their job when interrupted by
the policeman. It is thought they
gained entrance through the rear door
Bates. who was the man on watch and
who attracted the attention of the of
ficer, failed to see the policeman il
time to give the warning and allow
the men to escape
They have not been put in th'
sweatbox as yet by Captain Doru1an
but an effort is being made 10 connec
them with a multitude Of crimes
They are about as bad, or rather a
good type Of criminology. as has eve
been brought to the station. 1t is evt
dent that they would not hesitate a
murder. and their coolness while un
der arrest shows they are old hands a
the business. one of them has prac
tically been Identified as an ex-convic
from Joliet. While in the jail the,
viii be kept in separate cells and will
be guarded day and night by an office
of the station Tomorrow they vii
be given a preliminary hearing befor
Judge Girten.