New Britain herald., 1927-04-05
Killing Of One Gangstar
Only Tragedy Report
ed-Rival Candidates.
Dever and Thompson,
Both Confident Of Vic
tory.
Approximately a Million
Votes May Be Cast-Ex-
ira Police on Duty and
State Troops Are Avail
able if an Emergency
Arises.

Chicago. April GA burst of
election violence and flood of ball
lots today marked Chicago's bitter
est mayoralty contest with prospects
Tor record vote of up-ards OF IT,
0Q0,00
Bombing of two democratic politi-
cal clubs on the north side early to-
day. long before the polls opened,
and the killing OF Vincent "Schem.
err Drucci, beer gang leader of the
north side late yesterday. apparent
ly reached the peak OF turbulence in
pre- election hours.
First Gun Play OF Day
Four hours after the polls had
opened. a polling place in the 2Sth
ward, a negro district on West Lake
street. was fired upon. Three men
speeding past the send precinct vot-
ing place in Il roadster emptied their
revolNers. shatterng windows but
nJuring no one. An election worker
ran out and fired at the fleeing car
and reported he believed he had
wounded one of the occupants.
Drucci was killed by a detective
after lie had been taken into GUS
tody. He Quarreled with Detective
Daniel Healy, who shot and killed
him en- route to the criminal courts
building. Drucci was armed when
apprehended.
Police Are Vigilant
When hours passed after the open.
ing of the polls with little of the en-
pected violent outbursts anticipated
as result of the bitter campaign,
in which racial and religious issues
were use. in addition to patriotic
appeals. flag-waving and uproarious
campaig. noise making. the police
cid not relax their watch. Ilhess
Officials declared the killing OF
Drucci had had a wholesome effect
on hoodlums.
Joseph Bauer was wounded mys-
teriously on the north side early to-
day, but he refused to disclose
whether he was 4 tim of election
trouble.
Complaints Arc Made
Complaints of Jealous election
worker. usual in the election in sew
cral river wards where competition
for votes is always bitter, were re-
ceived by the election commissions
ers but at noon they reported no
serious interference.
The shots fired in the negro pre-.
cinct were by 4. negro in the auto
mobile, according to police reports,
and the fire was returned by po-
hceman stationed in the polling place
by the election commission.
Adjutant General Carlos Black, OF
the Illinois National Guard remained
in the city although yesterday it was
decided not 10 call out local units
of the guard as Sheriff Charles
Graydon had asked several days ago.
4; The Rival Candidates.
One candidate was Mayor William
F.. Dever, democrat, who came 10
Chicago from Massachusetts ~
years ago and rose from tanuerv
worker 10 alderman. superior court
Judge and finally chief executive.
IIiS pitd lOE IC-tlttllOU WAS bdStl
entirely on his municipal record
Another candidate was William
Hale Thompson, another Bay State
native, once cowboy Mayor OF Chi
cago from 1915 TO 1923, and titular
head of the republican party in Chi
cago, His slogan was America
First" He inNeishcd against the
League of Nations, the draft. the
prohibition law and told King
George TO keep his snoot' out of
Chicaro's affairs.
A third candidate. conceded only
bare chance OF winning. was Or.
John Dill Robertson. former health
commissioner under Thompson. who
campaigned with the support OF
Fred Lundin. The Foor Swede"
who served as Thompson's political
godfather until their ways came TO
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