Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 157, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1914 — “Corpse” Raids an Alleged Gamblers’ Stronghold [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“Corpse” Raids an Alleged Gamblers’ Stronghold

CHICAGO. —In Forest Park the dust lay thick upon the road. Occasionally it was stirred by a passing automobile, but more frequently by some funeral cortege on its way to the cemetery. At Tw_elfth street and Hannah

avenue William McGurn operated a saloon. In the room above the bar on the second floor there were telephones, racing charts, playing cards, poker, chips and dice —until the other day. Mr. McGurn, according to Charles W. Peters, chief deputy sheriff, was a cautious man. He acted on the theory that an ounce of prevention was worth a court full of lawyers. So cautious was he, according to Mr. Peters, that all about his saloon

at a radius of two miles he stationed "lookouts." These minute men” furnished the salpon with immediate information of the approach of all strangers. ' > For some time Mr. Peters had his eye on Mr. McGurn and the little room above the saloon. The chief deputy sheriff polished up his star and went to the home of his assistant, Virtus Rohn, 5007 Washington boulevard. “Vlrtie,” said Mr. Peters, “I have some bad news for you.” “What’s that?” asked Mr. Rohn. “You’re dead,” announced the deputy sheriff. “You died this afternoon. I’m arranging for your funeral now. We’re going to have a regular procession.” “Good night!” said Mr. Rohn, or words to that effect. But Mr. Peters was determined. Thirty minutes later an automobile hearse, equipped with a coffin and other necessary paraphernalia, drew up In front of the house. Six black-clad “mourners” occupied another machine. The other automobiles were filled with “pallbearers” and friends of the "deceased.” The "lookouts” were deceived. Suddenly the mourners became active. “Corpse” and “mourners” raided the saloon. “I said we’d ‘pull’ this place if we had to ‘kill’ a man to do it,” said Mn Peters.