The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-05-11
GUN BATTLE At ALBERT LEA
An Alleged Rum Runner Bumps Up
AGAINST Police,

Albert Lea, May IA thrilling
chase, made more lively by gunfire,
occurred here Friday night, when q
motorcycle carrying two police off
4 sers followed a rum runner at high
| speed through the city, capturing
him about mile north of the city
on the Lansing road. The man gave
| his name as Grover c. Heller, and
his address at POI Selby avenue, St
Paul. He is being held at the county
jail awaiting hearing which will
probably occur late this afternoon.
A "tip" sent to police headquarters
at about six o'clock Friday night
gave the police information that a
Ford automobile containing booze
was headed towards Austin. Patrol
man Mark Hamilton drove about the
city looking for an automobile which
would answer the description and
carrying a license plate Of the same
number as that mentioned In the in
formation to the police.
1t was after half past nine when
Hamilton finally located the car.
Expecting him to stop at some place
to make a delivery, he did not arrest
Heller at once but followed him
about. When the car passed through
Third Ward, Hamilton picked up
Patrolmand e. ,Lamping, and the
street and then onto Lansing ave-
when the police officers drove along
side of the automobile and ordered
the driver to stop. Instead of COM
plying with the request, Heller turn
ed his car sharply in the attempt to
rim down the mot 0rcyplp
The fugitive car with burst of
speed went northward,| the motor
cycle in pursuit. Just beyond the
hospital Heller swung to the left
side of the street to prevent the pur
suing officers from coming abreast
of him, and the officers then opened
fire.
The driver Of the rum car appar-
emily put on all the speed that his
car had. The noise of the chase,
punctuated by the staccato banks
from the pistol, and. the long spurts
of flame that shot out from the muz-
zles, created a stir among residents
of Lansing avenue. Passing cars
had to be avoided.
Heller kept his reckless rate of
speed, despite the fire he drew from
the officers. When the shots flew
about him he slid from the seat and
drove. the car at a speed of more
than forty miles an hour, while he
was kneeling. The careening auto
mobile made poor target, and the
fugitive was fortunate that he was
not struck by the shots which We're
not intended to be fatal! Two pis-
tolls were emptied during the shoot
ing.
Beyond the cemetery the motor
Fcycle passed the car when Hamilton
increased the speed to more than
fifty miles an hour. The driver OF
the Ford turned into a driveway and
drove into farm yard. The motor.
cycle turned around and followed
him. Heller got out of the automo-
bile and Lamping covered him. ="
while Hamilton searched the car.
Twenty gallons of alcohol and nine
bottles of a red liquor packed in a
yalise were found in the car. Heller
was brought back to the city in the
motorcycle, and the liquor car was
brought back by Lamping.
Mr.. Hamilton said that Heller ad-
mitted that he tried to get the Of
ficers when he headed his automo-
bile toward the motorcycle. Police
said today that they suspect Heller
is the man for whom they have been
looking for some time. Continued
lookout was kept for a bootlegger
who visits the city regularly. Heller
was recognized by one of the officers
and he admitted that he had made
previous visits to Austin.
Grover Heller was bound over to
the district court when he appeared
for a hearing before Justice Detwil
Ter this afternoon. His bail was fixed
at $500 cash bail. WHICH he expects