The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-04
TWO DESPERADOES
CHECK LONDON
POLICE FORCE
Further Particulars OF Yester-
days Street Battle
ANARCHISTS BODIES FOUND
Went Down in Wreck of Buidinu in
Which They Were Trapped
by Police

London, Jan. All London has
been stirred By a terrific battle waged
yesterday between anarchists on the
one side and hundreds of police, in
fantry from the Tower, and artillery
men on the other.
How many OF the anarchistlc band
took part in the engagement which
was fought in and around barricad-
ed house on Sidney street, In the East
End is not definitely known, but so
far, after a search OF the debris OF the
burned structure, portions of only two
bodies have been discovered The re-
mains consist of the trunk and part
OF the head of one man and few
charred bones of another.
1t is the opinion of some persons
that two desperadoes alone for many
hours held the police and military at
bay. Thousands, focking from all
parts OF London, witnessed the spec
tacle--a steady rain of bullets, flashes
OF fire, smoke pouring from the win
dows, the house in flames, and finally
men on the roof shooting defiance and
falling into the seething mass below.
Immense crowds of sightseers in
vested the neighborhood Of the battle
until late hour but a strict police
guard was maintained and II was i'm
possible for those without authority
to get close to the half wrecked build.
ing. Two families who occupied the
lower floors of this building were
withdrawn by the police before the
lighting began and they profess TO
know nothing of how the desperadoes
gained access to the house. The lat-
ter appeared to have been in the
rooms rented of Russian woman,
Bessie Gershon, who is now under
arrest with other suspects against
whom, however, no charge has yet
been made.
Throughout the fight the greatest
excitement prevailed not only in the
neighborhood but throughout the city
and ii required 1900 policemen mass
ed about the firing zone. A corps of
nurses was brought to the scene in
order to treat the wounded.
Distinguished in the scene was the
Right Hon. Winston Churchill the
Home Secretary, who darted here and
there consulting with and advising
the department heads as to what mea-
SureS should be taken.
There is some doubt as to whether
the police fired the building This
was the first report, the step having
been decided upon, it was said, to
save the unnecessary loss of life
which was sure to attend an attempt
TO take the place by storm. However,
according to another version the oc-
cupants put the torch TO their isspro-
vlscd fortress. when they realized that
the only alternative was their cap
ture.
Detective Sergeant Lesson was
shot and seriously wounded. and sew
eral 6remen were hurt by collapsing
walls. Two soldiers and three civil
ians were shot. The wounds of Lee
son only are serious.
The scene of the battle was near
the spot In Hounsditch where the
three policemen were MORALLY wound
ed in preventing the attempt at bur
glary. The police had located the
dwelling OF the Anarchists, and, sur
rounding the place, planned to capture
the desperadoes before daylight.
Tie police, anticipating trouble
had ordered that the houses In the
immediate neighborhood be vacated,
and. throwing n line of officers around
the square, allowed no one to APP
proach within 100 yards of the scene
OF the expected battle. The police
lines had been drawn so tightly that
IL was believed that the inmates OF
the house had no chance to escape.
The police were satisfied that the
Mace contained the two murderers
waited, and they had also satisfied
themselves that the assassins had lot
tilted their home
Detective Sergeant Lesson was re-
connoiterlng In the yard at the rear
early IN the morning when there was
n fash from one Of the windows, the
report of a revolver broke tie silence
and the Sergeant fell back In the arms
Of his brother officers with bullet IN
the lungs.
In an almost Incredibly short time
Gordon of police armed with reVof
vers, approached the house ana were
met with voley from rapid'hre re-
yolvers OF the most modern pattern
Police Superintendent Getaway took
charge of the endorsements and pol
ice from all the stations Of the city
poured In from various directions ana
took up positions commanding the re-
fuge OF the assasslns. -,
Whenever the officers approached
the house volley Of bullets besnatter
ed the pavement. A detachment OF
sixty men with one officer and three
non.commissioned officers of the
Scots Guards from the Tower arrived
later and mere served with hall car
tridges They Hred few rounds into
the building. There was q lull Tor
Ave minutes and then the beselged
replied
IL was impossible to estimate the
number OF the beseiged as they were
armed with magazine rifles, Mausers
and Brownings, and fred with great
rapidly.
For hours the fight continued. Ar.
tn'ery arrived to support the police
and troops but did not bring their
guns into play. soldiers posted on
the roofs, OF nearby build ngs fired
continuously at The Anarchists, who
appeared repeatedly at the windows
and returned hundreds Of shots. II
was 1890 a. M, that the night became