The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-02-08
POLICE BARE
FEW CLEWS IN
Slayer CHASE
Five GUnmen Involved in
Sergeant Jones KiIIinT
Make Getaway.
POINT TO PURPLE GANG
One Tip Leads to Ft. Wayne,
Suspect Car Last Seen
on Road 81.

Police today depended on authori-
ties of other cities in their attempt
to capture the machine gun bandits
who murdered Sergeant Lester E.
Jones early Tuesday during rob-
berry
Without cIews as to identity of
the brutal killers and daring rob-
bers. police and detectives still con-
tinued their search of the under
world in indianapolis, hoping that
a tip might lead TO the hiding place
of the criminals.
The demand for capture Of the
five bandits has been broadcast
throughout the midwest and local
authorities believe the gang escaped
from Indianapolis, southeast on
road 81
Reward to Be Offered
Chief Mike Morrissey and mem
bers of the safety board an
nounced that city reward, either
$3.50 or $780, for the capture of the
gunner, soon will be offered.
MorriSsey said that when local
police believe they have exhausted
every possible clew the reward
might bring information concealed
since the crime.
Sergeant Jones was shot through
the body with machine gun bullets
when he opened the sliding doors
of the Peoples Motor Coach Com
pany, Twenty and YandeS
streets. He had been sent with his
squad on a radio report of trouble.
He had no opportunity even to draw
his revolver.
The machine gunner, No. l man
in the description lists that have
been issued, stood near the bandit
car, weaving back and forth, while
his machine barked death. Patrol
men Michael McAllen and Willard
Hawkins, members of Sergeant
Jones squad, emptied their guns in
a subsequent duel with the bandits,
who escaped on foot.
Point to Purple Gang
That the gangsters may have been
members of the Purple gang and
may have staged several other hold
ups in Indianapolis in the last four
months was the theory advanced
today.
Information in the last week from
Fl. Wayne said members Of the
gang had been in that city, but had
not committed any crimes there. 1t
was said, however, that they were
spending money lavishly and, at
times, had been absent from their
roadhouse hangouts for a day or
two at time.
Police here are convinced that the
bandits escaped in another car,
probably a Buick sedan, hidden at
the southeastern limits of the city.
Whether the entire gang, which
split after the shooting, escaped in
this car, is not known.
Last Trace on Road 50
Last trace of the suspected auto
was southeast on Road So, which
would have taken the gangsters in
to Cincinnati. They could have
shifted their course into Dayton,
Detroit, or north into Ohio, and
then returned to FIT. Wayne.
Several men and women were
taken from North Capitol avenue
apartment late Tuesday night and
questioned on a report that a ma
chine gun had been seen there. Po-
weapon and said they Gid not be-
lieved the group was connected
with the Staying.
Robberies which police believe
: may have been committed by the
murderous quintet in the last few
months include Mclean place car
barns, Roberts Milk Company Hill
gemeier and Son, packers; Thir-
tieth street garage. Polk Milk Com
pany and the Buckeye Finance
Company.
Machine Gun Seen
In each of these robheries at least
one or two of the men answered
the general description of Sergeant
Jones killers. In some of the rob-
berries. vic. = saw a machine gun.
Deputy sh .iffs said today that
they probed a report Tuesday that
five men had sought physician in
New Bethel, but thai each of the
men had been identified satisfac-
torily.
They had left a sixth man from
their car in search of doctor
deputies said.