New Britain herald., 1930-02-25
Terror Stricken Patients See Wild Pistol Battle With ? Bullets Fired - AssaiIants of Beer Baron Escape.

Chicago. Feb. @5 GrPl-Tucuty- seven bullet holes today scared tho white walls Of the hospital room where Prank McErlane. "Bacll og the Yards" beer baron and mo- torious IS Chicago's toughest gang srcr fought q gun battle with three raoketeers who trapped him as he lay with q broken leg last night,
 SuarIIng hatred or hIs enemies and defiance to police, McIrltnc held onto life grimly today although three bullets from his vouId-ho as- 2tsans' guns reached their mark. Dne pierced his back. Another toro through his thigh, A third disa hIol tho wrist or his gun hand,
 Cropped on an clbow, heavjnG against the weights that hc.d his ldaseer-cast oncuscd Ie~ in rha air. 1he ally Of Spike U'Donncll pumped five shots from his auto matc when the trio oC unannounced visitors stepped into his room ln- stantly the room echoed to the roar 'i suns 'ttliIl t'' l HF'-' II tt tlIlit .' shots had been fired.
 Ran Away Like DoGe"
 'ThcN sueakod in like alley rats 9nd ran away like dogs" growled the gangster when police reached his cot m tho terror-stric1cn ward al the German Deaconess' hospital ~ where the gun battle was fought
 J.nf Mo Nrlu ,t iron code, refused to tell who shot him. Even when police told him they were going 10 remove him to he Eridewell hospital which he said means sure death for me-" he stuck to his noncomnittal answers.
 The gunmen executed their raid into the supposed sanctuary Of the biz hospital with daring and light ming speed < sedan drew up at the curb The three sped ID q fire escape. They slipped past two rooms and into the one where Me- t,rlane had lain since January 2S. McErlanc's private nurse was out.
 Panic came swiftly as the roar of gunfire swept through the wards Patients screamed. Many who had been belfast for weeks Ioaped from their cots and ran until they fell from weakness.
 GunIncn Leave Quickly
 But before nurses could get 10 the room where the unequal duel was being fought it was over and Inc invaders had fled. Whether they went back down the fire escape or out another entrance could not be asccrtained.
 resident across the street said she saw them enter the automobile and speed away.
 Only because McErlane lived in constant fear of death and had snuggled q pistol into the hospital and kept if concealed under his pillow was he attempt at assassfna- tion frustrated, police declared.
 He shot first" they said. '"rhat spoiled the aim Of the others"
 Police Commissioner William r Russell launched an investigation today 10 determine how the notori- ohs gangst"r, who has been tried for several murders and earned inc name Of the ''crueleet Of inc oanar- men," managed 10 spend a month in the hospital without his Identity becoming known.
 lie hobhlod into the hospital toII- Ing officials ho was Charles Miller and that his leg had been shattered when his gun accidentally waq dis charged. II was not until police ar- rived after the gun battle that his story "as disp4od.
 Tried to Finish Job
 If looks as if tho enemies who shot him before came back to finish tho tob," Lieutenant Garrot Coan said.
 When thn 2auestai ma,rr ar fanG"noufs for his room. oHiria1. declared he insisted on p.tvafr room with an unobstruclrd view Of both th" fire escape and the door That Was taken ifs conclusive ndi- cation he expected an attempt on his lif~
 In the early days Of tha beer racket, MeErjane ~as allied with Joe Salts, Later ho uuarralod with salts and arranged an alliance with Spike" o'DonuafI. Members or both the saIns and 1anuy stanton gangs would ha&a reason to he enemies
 Ihfe" Eoare a-o NlrHrana was tired "n a @harGr of marIprjuc Af- .orA"E Ihad Fmnhar # Nalparai~o. md" but "H7 ""Huta@d. IT.. has '"on hold }h conwocHou ~rfh man, other hiIiines most oy them Of th~ "ant0n type.
 \ few moafhr ago rotro arrested .-" with thfo@ a".omarto pistols n his possassIou. 5ana~.,re or ...,,tr,.. 'n'H "@f" questioned before rho state ~or.1 z. ]. -r, ,--,rr ,r, L.'l' on sF.rrn d.. carrying weapons. The Hrr .r..H-.t.f r5,o