Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-29
BANDITS PASS THROUGH
OTTAWA IN DASH FOR
LIBERTY
SECOND MAN DYING
SHOOTING OCCURRED NEAR Po.
LICE STATION At AURORA-PO-
LICE ARRESTED MEN AS AUTO
BANDITS.

One Aurora policeman was killed
and another seriously If not fatally in
jured in fight with automobile ban
dts last night about midnight.
The bandits made their escape from
Aurora and headed for Ottawa in a
large Buick touring car. The ban
dts are supposed TO have passed
through Ottawa between 3 and 4
o'clock this morning. The car in
which they were riding carried Ford
license number 1924. on the rear.
From Ottawa the men were trailed
to Grand Ridge, where they turne l
east, and a short time later went back
west, and the local police were unable
TO pick up any trace OF the men after
they left Grand Ridge headed west.
The shooting affray occurred in the
alley alongside the Aurora police sta
ton after the men had been placed
under arrest as supposed automobile
thieves.
An Aurora policeman, in passing a
downtown restaurant shortly before
midnight, noticed a Buick touring car
standing near the curb. He investi-
gated and found the car bore differ
ent numbers on the front and the
rear. Calling the attention Of an
other policeman, they decided 10 take
charge OF the men who had driven up
in the car and were In the restaurant
eating, thinking the car was stolen
and they might find its owner
After waiting outside a while for
the pair, they went inside and placed
them under arrest. To take them to
police headquarters the men were al.
lowed to enter their car, one police
man climbing in the back seat and the
other standing on the running board.
The men drove down the street to in
front OF the city hall, and suddenly
whirled their car into an alley, one
Ol lUt DduullS uidN llS II iCNol' ~
shooting the officer who was riding
In the back seat, then turning to the
man on the running board, frei two
shots at him.
The policeman who had been stand.
ing on tho running board fell dead
and the pair grabbed the other man
who was seriously injured, amid threw
him from the car
The bandits then started their cal
at full speed, and were followed as
far as Yorkvlle by other members OF
the Aurora police force, where. the
trail was given up.
At o'clock phone message reach
cd Ottawa asking the local police tc
stop the pair in the machine, but di(
not say they had committed murder
An hour later second message reach
ed Ottawa to know whether the ma
chime had reached Ottawa, and th
Aurora chief then told Chief Euricl
that the bandits had murdered one 0
his men. and almost killed another.
Chief Zurich left his home to assis
with the search, and upon his al
rival down town. saw car answer
ing the description OF the one the bar
dts were driving, cross the bridg
from the east side and go down Mai
street, turning south on La Sale. Th
car was badly in need Of oil, and tn
motor was running with a peculia
sound.
In vestigation showed two men in
car had driven up to the Rock Islam
watchman, and asked him to turn tn
Columbus street bridge, so they migt
pass. When he told them they coul
not get thru, but to 90 one block mort
they swore at him, and turned the
car and started east.
Chief Zurich and George Stevenso
in the latter's car, trailed the men
Grand Ridge, and found they had fir
passed thru the village going eaIs
and a few minutes later returned g
ing west
After leaving Grand Ridge Chi
Zurich was unable to pick up the ira
/. He visited Lostant Tonica and |
Sale, but 1t proved fruitless.
The men were still at large VIII,
the paper went to press this afternoo
The sheriff and his deputies work