TOWN SHOT UP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22481, 10 November 1947, Page 5

TOWN SHOT UP

BAY BANDITS AT BAY

SURRENDER TO POSSE

(11 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 9. Two boys at Fosston, Minnesota, aged eight and 10 respectively, broke into a sporting goods store, a barber’s shop, hardware store and the American Legion Club in rapid succession last night and stole six rifles, 1000 rounds of ammunition, other articles and money. They then barricaded themselves in a service station and held off for two house a posse of police and armed residents.

They shot up the service station and petrol pumps until they were riddled. They blasted away at tourist cabins across the street and passing trucks. Ninety bullet holes were later found in the station alone.

The posse, which assembled in the belief that a bandit gang was on the rampage attempted to hurl a tear-gas bomb into the station but was turned back by gunfire.

The boys then escaped to stockyards where 'they barricaded themselves in again and renewed firing.

A cordon of armed men surrounded the stockyards but the boys slipped through the line and made for a field. The posse closed in, shooting into the air. Finally, at dawn yesterday the boys surrendered and were taken to gaol. The sheriff said the boys had a “record” and were to appear in the juvenile court on Monday for allegedly tipping over 26 tombstones in the Fosston cemetery.