The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1924-02-15
BLOODY WILLIAMSON" A MYTH
Continued from page y.

v1OlatorS IN S0uCnern ILLINOIS, as Iue
"Old gun boat" This car was riddled
with bullets, but its driver was unin-
jured.
The attempt to "get" Young was
given added zest last week when
members of the blaming Circle" i'm
ported half dozen members of the
"Eagan's Rats" gang from St. Louis,
armed them and made up "jack pot"
Of $4,000 cash, to be given to the man
who "bumps him off,"
Upon the arrival of Young and his
party in Herrin, hurried, but COM
prehensive investigation revealed the
identity of many of the gangsters in
the groups that killed Constable Ca
gle and captured the Chief of Police
and his assistant.
Warrants charging murder were
sworn out against the following:
"MAJ." ANDERSON - Erstwhile
mayor of Herrin, against whom evil
dence is being secured connecting him
directly with the lawlessness that has
made this city a by-word throughout
the country.
GEORGE GALLIGAN - Sheriff of
Marion county, reputed leader of the
lawless element in the county, and
against whom Law Enforcer Young
will seek indictments from the Fed
eral Grand Jury for accepting brides
in connection with liquor cases.
JOHN LAYMAN - Chief deputy,
and "brains" of the FLAMING Circle"
gang, associate of bootleggers and
resort keepers.
HUGH WILLIS-Committeeman of
the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca, "bad man."
ALVIN THOMAS-Deputy sheriff,
reputed bootlegegr, associate of gam
blers.
ELL TROUTT-Mine guard, re-
puted bootlegger, some time mine
guard, and admitted "hard guy"
ORA THOMAS-Head of the in
famous blaming Circle" deputy
sheriff, owner of saloon and gambling
hall, under $4,000 bond for liquor
selling, sponsor of the "Eagan's
Rats"
HEZZIE BURNS Deputy sheriff,
under charges of bribery, associate
of Berger, proprietor of the "Half-
way House," liquor and vice dive.
WILLIAM RUFF - Miner, reputed
member of the "Flaming Circle"
CARL RUFF - Brother of the
above, miner, and proud Of his family
name.
JOHNNY MURRAY - Part owner
of the notorious Carterville pike
Roadhouse and bootlegging joint.
HARRY MURRY - Brother and
business partner of the above.
Gangsters Resist Arrest
The true story of the arrest of
these men has never yet been told.
Press accounts differ in all essential
details and the facts in connection
with the battle waged by the des-
perado fortified in the city hospital
against officers armed with warrants
for their arrest is disclosed for the
first time.
After the murder of Constable
eagle and the capture of the Chief
of Police and his assistant the
"Flaming Circle" gangsters divided.
One group under the leadership Of
Sheriff Galligan left the city in au-
tomobiles with their prisoners, pre-
sumablyS to murder them upon some
lonely highway. The other group,
under the leadership of the wounded
Chief Deputy Layman, repaired to
the city hospital three blocks distant
from the scene of the murder.
Here they closed the DOORS and
windows, examined their arms and
prepared to resist the inevitable ef-
fort to place them under arrest.
Law Enforcer Young with his
aides, repaired to the hospital upon
learning that the Layman gang was
fortified there. Approaching the en-
trance to the two-story brick build
ing, the officers knocked upon the
closed and locked doors, demanding
admittance in the name of the law.
The answer to the demand was a
volley of rifle and revolver shots,
fired through the closed doors into
group of citizen officers. Miraculous
ly no one was killed. Unable to force
an entrance and not wishing to en-
danger the Afives of patients and at
tendants within the hospital, Young
and his aides withdrew. AS they
crossed the street the desperadoes
within the hospital opened fire upon
a party from the second-story win
lows. Under Young's orders, men,
bers Of his party shot out the street
lights that made them all vivid tar
gets for the snipers. They also fired
at the men who exposed themselves
in the windows, but could not conduct
a general attack because of the dan
ger to hospital patients.
Withdrawing from the scene, the
citizen officers notified the military
authorities of the situation and the
commanding officer detailed a COM
pany to take the men into custody.
The desperadoes surrendered to the
superior forces.