New Britain herald., 1930-01-17

Tho identity Of the four was be Ijeyod to have been established by inc New Britain police from finger prints found on a revolver which enc oi the gang threw ont Of their stolen automobile affcr the staying of the Bristol patromun. This iden- utjcatIon was apparently confirmed when Oscar ELb. proprietor of the rorgstyIllo tillnS station a which rhc slaNug occurred, recognized pic iures shown him by New Britain po- ncv as those of McNamcc's assail- ants, anu the search was then trans lerrea tC this citv. where the gang >.as known tu have a hangout in the l-ol>, wood section.
 Nutur,yClG Office William Sttolls cf New Britain. uuicer Edgar Nor ton of Bristol. and two Waterbury policemen went to this place, a rid ng academy stable, thls mornin. lnd while there were surprised by enc or the gang, believed to be John Hrophy. The fugitive opened fire on them and then ran up bank md snto the nearby woods. escap- m2 despite the return fire Of the pc ,lcH. A second man with him fled without shooting. The other two members Of the gang are thought 10 he in hiding in this city
 Police immediately began 10 comb the woods for the sunman and his companion, and call was sent to the Bethany airport for a plane to aid them. The posse is heavily arm rd with riot guns, rifles, pistols, and tear gas bombs. Throughout tn" dIy fresh lncrnmonts of police from New Britain and Bristol, along with state police. poured into the city, and citizens who joined tho search raised the total number of search ,rs 1o more than i5o.
 Gun Battle With Police
 The police this afternoon wern securing woods on the outskirts Of the north end hopin. to track down the alleged murdcrcrs with whom they exchanged fuSlllade of shots on North Main street this afternoon. Police detectives routed the two men rom barn on Hin street. near the end Of North Main street. and then engaged in gun fight in which almost a score CT shots were fired
 The men escaped into the woods
 PatroIman William Thompson Of Bristol who came hero today to aid local police in search for No NMncc's sluycrS. narrowly escaped death when q bullet from one Of tho bandits suns Srazed his leather coat on level with his heart.
 Tho gun fight took place as one squad o( police searched Ike Block's barn for the men and another squad Of police searched the end ot North Main street in their car. The men arc believed 10 have fled out s rear door of tho barn as the detectives entered a front door. Then. as they walked along Hill street and turned at the corner onto North Main street. they confronted the second squad O detectives just getting out of their car.
 The bandits Immediately pulled out rcvol> CTS and opened fire. Alter six shots apiece had been cmptica out of their guns the bandits turned aud fled for the woods, going in dif. 1 fercnt directions. Bullets from DO lice rcyolvcrs Whistled past them a> they ran.
 set Trap ill Woods
 One Of the bandits was seen en tering woods on the east side oi North Main street while anothur fled back down Hill street and into the woods on that side police soon lost all track of both men.
 X call Was sent to police head. quarters and two more carloads ot patrolncn were sent out tu Iuia the pursuit. One car was sent out Chest nut Hill road, east ot the north end 10 enter the woods from that siic and work towards tho police on 1 North Main street, By this device 1t was hoped to close lu on the men. l Early this afternoon, however. hall ! a hundred police were still search