MACHINE GUNS AND BOMBS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 7 April 1927, Page 9

MACHINE GUNS AND BOMBS.

Mayoral Election in Chicago. UNPRECEDENTED RIOTING DURING POLLING. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Received April 6. 9.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 6. William A. Thompson (Republican), was elected Mayor of Chicago by a plurality of 50,000 votes, amid unprecedented rioting, in which machine guns and bombs were used freely by the police on the rival factions. Soon after the polls were opened, two buildings were bombed in the precincts of the headquarters of one of tho factions. State Senator’s home Avas fired upon, and raked with machine gun bullets. Two election officials were kidnapped. One hundred gangsters were arrested. All the votes in the twenty-first ward were burned, lighted matches being dropped into the ballot boxes. A bomb wrecked a brick barn, in which were situated the Democratic ward headquarters. The effective organisation of the police prevented more serious riots, and deaths. Mr Thompson’s supporters began their wild celebrations, which the police fear will result in additional outbreaks.

[Following on violence in the primary contest, the city of Chicago, after the most bitterly contested municipal campaign in its history, appealed to Governor Small, of Illinois, to be prepared to call troops out on Tuesday for the Mayoralty election. Primary interest centred around the contest between William Thompson (Republican® and William Dever (Democrat), the present Mayor.]