Evening star., 1947-02-03
Two Robbers Killed
In Chicago Gun Battle
As 7 Hostages Dodge
BY the Assoeictsd Press

CHICAGO, Feb. 3.-Police had
two bodies and two prisoners today
after gun battle with four safe
crackers Saturday night in an hour
long siege which saved 300 depositors
of a currency exchange an esti-
mated 10000
The bodies were identified by Po-
lice Capt. Matthew Murphy as those
of Richard A. Dolan, 80, Chicago,
and George D. Bliss, 80, Rockford,
H., both ex-convicts. The prisoners,
who surrendered about half hour
after 10 policemen surrounded the
exchange, were identified as John
Walsh, alias Danny McGeoghegan,
L 81, and John O'Brien, alias Arthur
Bulls, IS, OF Chicago, also ex-con-
victs.
An inquest was to be held today
in an effort to ascertain whether
Dolan shot Bliss, then himself,
rather than surrender to police. DR..
Jerry Kearns, coroner's physician,
said his examination showed powder
burns around the wound in Dolan's
head, but none on the head wound
of Bliss.
Janitor Spreads Alarm.
One detective, who estimated the
intended loot at about $1,000, 900,
said it may have included operating
funds Of racing book operators,
along with late Saturday cash re-
ceipts of many Southside merchants.
The safecrackers were surprised at
their work by the policemen who
were tipped of by janitor in the
building.
When the officers laid seige to the
exchange in the glare Of eight
squadron spotlights, the intruders
rounded up six residents Of the
building and a man who was on the
street outside and held them in an
apartment above the exchange un-
der guard of Dolan.
After the gun and tear gas fight
ended, with three policemen slight
ly wounded. Bliss body was found
on a bed in the apartment, and
Dolan's slumped in corner.
Hostages Unhurt.
The hostages, including 10-year-
old girl and an 36-year-old woman,
were unharmed except for the ef-
fects Of the tear gas bombs hurled
through the shattered windows of
the apartment above the currency
exchange. They lay fiat on the floor
while bullets whistled above them.
William Weiss, IS, the janitor, was
overlooked in the roundup.
Mrs. Betty Lockwood, %, in the
living room of whose apartment the
hostages were held, said she was
holding a family gathering when
the gunmen appeared.
"At first I thought it was joke,
but when I saw those guns I knew
it wasn't a joke.
"One of the men told us not to
be afraid, but jeanne cher 10
ycar-old daughter) began crying.
The man said he didn't want any,
thing from US and that they weren't
going to hurt us"
86-Year-Old Widow Brought in.
Others in the apartment were
Mrs. Lockwood's widowed mother,
Mrs. Laura Egan, IS, who lives with
her; Mrs. Lockwood's cousin, John
F.. Egan. 38, Joliet, ILL.,, and Miss
Evelyn Brooks, 38, Chicago, friend.
Later, another, man who told pc
lice he was waiting for streetcar
when the gunner approached him,
and Mrs. Lockwood's neighbor, Mrs.
Sara Gardner, 86-year-old widow,
were brought in.
"All of us mostly just sat and
looked at each other. I played dance
records for a while" Mrs. Lockwood
said. She said one of the intruders
guarded them from doorway, q
shotgun held across his knees.
After another of the men told
the guard that the police had ar
rived, she said, the prisoners were
ordered to lie down on the floor,
then both of the gunner went into
her bedroom.
1t Was All Over.
There followed much confusion,
with the gunner racing from room
to room, shooting out of windows,
but no shots entered the living
room. Then one of the intruders
yelled:
LADY, after you hear this next
shot everybody shout and tell the
police at the window to come up
It's all over"
Bliss was found lying on Mrs.
Lockwood's bed and Dolan was
slumped in a corner, both in puddles
of blood.
I'D move if I could find place, u
Mrs. Lockwood said. Anyway I'm
not going to sleep in that bed
again"
The City News Bureau, a new
gathering organization serving Chi
cago newspaper and wire services,