POLICE KEPT BUSY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 7

POLICE KEPT BUSY

Violence at Chicago ELECTION PRIMARIES Shooting, Kidnapping INNUMERABLE BRAWLS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. April 13, 7.30 p.m.) Chicago, April 12. The Illinois primary elections were marked by the usual violence at Chicago to-day, where thousands of police poll watchers concentrated to prevent fraud organised terriorisni and intimidation of voters. One serious shooting occurred, and there was at least one kidnapping. Innumerable brawls and fist fights resulted in over 100 known gangsters and hoodlums being arrested. Although the electorate selected a full list of State and Congressional officers, both Republican and Democratic. the principal interest centred on the local offices in Chicago, where factional favouritism resulted in violence. Incomplete returnszindicated that the Republican incumbent, Mr. John Swanson, State’s attorney for Cook County, in which Chicago is, had been renominated. His opponent at the general elections will be Mr. . Thomas Courtney, Democratic nominee. A feature of the primaries was the greatly-increased Democratic vote, which is regarded as another repudiation of the Hoover administration. The “Wets” apparently gained In both parties. A Republican precinct captain was caught in a cross lire of revolver shots between a Democratic precinct captain and five gangsters who were attacking him, and is not expected to live. Four gangsters impersonating police kidnapped a Republican precinct captain and stole 2000 dollars of the election campaign funds, after which they threw him into a coal yard. Repeated reports of threatened kidnappings and intimidation of voters by gangsters brandishing revolvers kept the police busy. They were also active in dispersing groups of “floaters” from various polling places.