The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-23
trio THOUGHT TOBE
D|LL|NGER MEN ARE
Sought IN St. PAUL
Get Away IN Ford Coupe After
Running Gun Battle With
Officials
IDENTIFY LICENSE PLATES
Southern Minnesota Thrown
Under Heavy Guard a.
Alarm b Sounded

st. Paul, April 23.-(R1-Authorities
said they believed three men thought
10 be Dillinger gangsters. who es-
raped early Monday from hideout
near Mercer, Wis, were attempting
to reach a hideout here when they
encountered officers at st. Paul Park,
eight miles southeast Of here short
~ before noon Monday.
The trio escaped after q running
gun battle with three Dakota coun-
ty deputy sheriffs and . Hastings po-
liceman. and . few minutes later
the entire area south Of st. Paul,
from the Mississippi river to the st.
Croix, was being combed for them
by an army Of Twin Cities police,
federal agents, state crime bureau
men and deputies from two counties.
The men were riding In Ford
coupe bearing Wisconsin license No.
p2652. which Is one Of the three Dill
finger license numbers known to de-
partment of justice men.
Apparently Switched Plates
Although the department Of JUS
tice announced that No. 92652. Wis
consin plates. were attached to .
Ford sedan, the car involved In the
local shooting was q Ford coupe with
that number.
It was presumed the outlaws might
have switched the plates In order to
deceive the young army Of law off,
Gals called out to guard all highways
and bridges leading from Wisconsin
to Minnesota.
The shooting followed q st. Paul
police radio broadcast ordering al
squad cars to assist Dakota county
authorities In the pursuit Of q Ford
coupe.
Some Of the shots were reported
to have struck the Dakota county
squad car, which was continuing the
chase. Whether anyone had been
wounded could not be learned i'm
mediately.
Tried to Stop Car
Later reports said the gunfight
started when q deputy sheriff at
tempted to stop q car with q Wiscon-
sin license near st. Paul Park. The
occupants Of the car opened fire
without warning, one bullet piercing
the top Of the deputy's automobile.
The car from which the shots were
fired then turned east and sped
AWAY.
. BY the time the shooting was over,
six or seven st. Paul police squads
and operatives Of the state bureau Of
criminal apprehension had arrived at
the scene and were taking part In
the search for the coupe, and watch
Ing roads.
The desperadoes who broke through
the Gordon Of department Of justice
and deputy sheriffs In Wisconsin APP
parently were heading back towards
st. Paul, where they are known to
have connections"
Mercer. Wis.,, where the gunfight
with Dillinger occurred Sunday night
and early Monday, is approximately
ESQ miles northeast Of st. Paul.
0AA4OSA0 4SVC01C0 WIG C4I0OS 0tNI VSO
after they attempted to halt the ma
chine at . bridge after seeing its
Wisconsin license plates. In reply it,
occupants, one Of whom they said
was slumped down in the seat. OPEN
ed fire and sped past. The officers
pursued, but were slowed by truck
which cut in between their car and
the bandit car.
The deputy sheriffs said the man
slumped down, who sat between two
companions, apparently was wound
ed.
The gang seized Rord V-O coach
1t p. M. from Roy r. Francis,
South st. Paul, district manager for
q power company. he was accompan-
led by his wife and baby.
Not far from South st. Paul
Ford coupe piled up In front Of his
Car to block the road. Three men got
put. one holding . pistol.
Get out" the leader commanded
Francis and his wife, turn around,
stand over by the side Of the road
and everything will be al right"
Mr.. and Mrs. Francis obeyed. There
were no threats or rough language.
FranciS said.
The gang climbed into Francis au-
tomobile and sped southeast towards
Hastings.
The coupe was found later aban-
doned near the scene, and finger print
experts were sent there immediately.
II was learned later the despera-
does used machine guns in their first
encounter with officers.