The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-30
CARNIYAL0F
BLOODSTAGED
ON GOLD COAST
Drake Hotel, Exclusive Chi
cago Hostelry, Scene of
Gun-play Murder
BANDITS GET $4,000
Two Robbers Killed, One Cap.
tured, in Spectacular A.
fray on North Side
BANDITS GET $4,000

Chicago. July 3O.-LP)-ln movie
thriller style. a rObber crew, masked
and bristling with pist OILS and shot
guns. invaded the exclusive Drake
hotel in Chicago's ''gCld coast" at
tea time yesterday enacting scenes
Of killing and gun fighting that cx-
tended subsequently for an hour over
northside bOulevards.
WhcH the spectacular affray was
over, Of five robbers, two were dead
and one captured; q hotel clerk had
been killed: two women had been In
jurcd; two robbers had escaped with
$4,000 and rs a finality early to-
day. one Of the escaped hOldup men
was found and the one previously
arrested confessed fully.
The robbery was staged within a
stones throw of the residential man
sions of Chicago's 400. while hun
dreds Of guests thronged the lobbies
and heavy traffic crowds to adjacent
Michigan avenue. A dozen police
men were within call.
For Is minutes the robbers. one
of them a full blooded Cherokee In
dian cowboy from Texas. terrorized
employees in the hotel offices on the
mezzanine floor and had crammed the
loot into black satchel when their
retreat was cut off by James Nc
Murdie, house detective.
Summoned by an excited guest the
detective confronted the robbers
and began firing with two pistols.
While guests ran for cover amid
whizzing bullets, the robbers return
ed shot for shot with the detective,
retreating through an entrance.
Policemen, attracted by shots and
called by employees. fired on the
crew as they left the hotel and the
Indian. "Tex" Cortz, or Ted Court,
wounded by the detective was killed.
Cashier Murdered
In the first outburst Of shooting
one of the robbers guarding Frank
Rodke, assistant cashier, who stood
helpless with hands appraised. shot
and killed him. witnesses later told
the police
Holmes fled to the kitchen during
the battle with McMurdie. He ter
rorized employees there until he was
captured after swapping his empty
pistol in the faces Of two policemen.
The third robber, Eric Nelson. a
former employe Of the hotel, COM
mandiered taXicab and dashed
through the congested traffic through
the exclusive Northshore boulevards.
exchanging shots with pursuing po-
licemen and threatening Mrs. Maize
Larson, occupant of the cab. After
the taxi driver deliberately wrecked
the cab, injuring Mrs. Larson, Nell
SON fled on foot and was killed by
one of the pol:semen when he took
refuge in basement.
OF the two robbers who escaped in
an automobile left at the hotel door,
Elm Woods was seized when he ap-
piled at a hospital early today for
treatment for wounded hand. He
admitted connection with the holdup
and augmented the confession of
Holmes.
Believed to be Nugent
Holmes said the fifth man was
Jack Nugent. The police believe Nu-
gent was the stranger who brought
Woods to the hospital and who left
unnoticedo while the injury was be-
ing treated.
The dead Nelson was the leader Of
the crew, some of whom were intoXi-
Gated or under the influence of
drugs. Holmes told the police. He
soiu Hc uAS pa ACAS tAAC AuN'"Hs
had come here recently from Texas
had met Nelson and Nugent in a
pool room and had agreed assistance
IN the holdup, without knowing fully
the extent of the proposed under
taking. They had come here to par
ticipate in rodeo he said.
A number Of women questioned by
states attorneys during the night
were found to have little information
relating to the men. Mrs. Ruth Nell
son declared she had never known
Of her husbands activities. Another
a waitress, had note from "Tex," i"
saying he had an important engage
ment to keep yesterday afternoon.
Robert E. Grove, states attorney
to whom Holmes made offers to
plead guilty to a robbery charge said
he would ask the grand jury which
adjourns today to sit long enough
to indict Holmes and Woods.
"It's hanging case and l am 60
ing to see that they are tried as
speedily as possible" he said.