The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-02

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matter herein are also reserved.
Steel Vests and Banjos
When federal agents shot down
Eugene Green, Dillinger gangster. in
st. Paul recently, there were numer-
Gus comments THAI he had been CIV
en- no chance to surrender but had
been put on the spot" by the agents
Of the law very much after the gang
land fashion.
This appears TO be the fact, but
when the full truth IS known the
affair does not seem as unreasonable
or cold-blooded as it first appeared.
One Of the answers to the appar-
ent boldness Of bad men Is the bull
let-proof vest, either made for them
or stolen from police officers. When
ever you see one Of them listed In
the loot from a bandit raid on a po-
lice station, such as that which &C.
Cured recently at Warsaw. Ind, be
sure that 1t means trouble for police
officers later.
Il For the bandit wearing a bullet
Mroof vest is much more dangerous
than the one who lacks such equip
nnent. It means, In the first place,
that he is more willing to shoot it
out with police, even when they have
the drop on him.
!. This device, extending from just
below the neck to the upper part OF
Vie abdomen, protects the heart,
1gs and most Of the vital organs
AL. the effects OF q pistol shot.
80 large pistol as . ~ caliber
ths IN may knock the wearer down
the VI will not penetrate. The only
=. She the assailant has Of inflict-
the I'm Immediately fatal wound is to
. .se t the wearer in the head. I'm
cide,such circumstances bandit SO
protected can ignore the fact that
q policeman has the drop" on him,
can bring his own weapon into play
without hesitancy.
Another consideration is the ease
with which such weapons, II the
gangster is fully prepared for action.
can be brought into play. Most Of
them, when going into action, have
a machine gun suspended from their
shoulder by strap and hanging at
their side. They can grasp the ham
die through hole in their oyercoat
pocket and it is perfectly possible to
pass man on the street without even
suspecting that he is SO armed. At
the slightest provocation the gangster
can swing it up into position with
one hand and pull the trigger. It
chatters forth its song Of death.
Machine guns used by the gangs
are Of two types. The favorite wea-
pom is the banjo" with bullets con-
tanned in drum because, while It's
hitting power is less, 1t contains as
many as $50 shots which can be
1oosed in a matter Of seconds with
out reloading. It will not penetrate q
steel vest but 1t Is easily possible to
cut 4 mans leg off with one Of them.
Also it is smaller and easier to han
die.
The larger or belt type usually
shoots only SO bullets at . time. It
is capable Of penetrating q steel vest
and will shoot farther but, on the
whole, is less efficient for gang pur-
poses.
Another favorite weapon Of The
gangster Is known as the belly gun"
It consists Of large pistol with the
muzzle sawed off so it will fit easily
into the coat pocket. It can be
brought into action without the for
mality Of the "draw" which used to
mark the western gunman. At short
range it is deadly.
These were made by the gunner
themselves, ct first, by saving the
barrels off regular pistols. Now,
however, the enterprising arms man
ufacturers offer such weapons for
sale.
The incident in which . Texas
gunsmith was arrested for making
machine guns for ganesters proves
how difficult it will be for the gov
eminent, even though II passes pro-
posed restrictive legislation, to keep
such weapons out Of gansster hands
and the difficulty which police and
federal officials will continue to en-
counter IN dealing With the gangs.
Under such circumstances there =
small wonder that they prefer TO
shoot first and talk afterward II they
are sure Of the identity Of their man.
Worthy Of Support
Activities OF various lodges and
clubs and Of numerous won,ens Or
eanisations On behalf q Camp
orasstck; 1resh air camp for children,
emphasises answ the value Of this
sctiyity 70 Tho psopls Of North D.
kota.