Every Policeman

in City on Hunt

for 3 Killers

By AL WOODRUFF

Minneapolis Star Staff Writer

  Chemists, arms and ammunition dealers, and clothiers, as well as every policeman in the city, were being employed today in an effort to apprehend the three gunmen who shot down two Minneapolis police officers Saturday.
The well-worn term, police dragnet," was as widespread and small-meshed as it is possible to be, said Police Chief Milton E. Winslow.
Within an hour after Patrolman Robert Fossum was shot and killed and his partner; Ward Canfield, critically wounded, roadblocks had been set up throughout the county.
Every police car that could be operated was pressed into service Saturday night, manned by off-duty officers who came to headquarters to offer their services in seeking the men who shot their colleagues.
In addition the St. Paul police department sent two cars to assist. Minneapolis police officers were assigned to 'ride with the St. Paul officers.
Midwest Patrol, a private special police service, donated six cars in the immediate manhunt. Each of these cars as well as two from Busch, Inc., another watchman service, carried Minneapolis police officers as well as the agency men.
Many off duty policemen who volunteered for duty used their own cars. Police inspector E. I. Walling estimated about 100 cars were in use Saturday.
The entire middle shift of the department was kept overtime. Officers on the dayshift came to work voluntarily and stayed through their shift the following day (Sunday)
The state highway patrol) alerted all patrol ears in the state and in addition sent out an alarm to surrounding states.
Authorities at roadblocks, as well as cruising police officers, stopped hundreds of cars to check drivers and car occupants.
Today the roadblocks are being maintained.
The well-worn term, police dragnet, was as widespread and small-meshed as it is possible to be, said Police Chief Milton E. Winslow.
Within an hour after Patrolman Robert Fossum was shot and killed and his partner; Ward Canfield, critically wounded, roadblocks had been set up throughout the county.
Every police car that could be operated was pressed into service Saturday night, manned by off-duty officers who came to headquarters to offer their services in seeking the men who shot their colleagues.
In addition the St. Paul police department sent two cars to assist. Minneapolis police officers were assigned to 'ride with the St. Paul officers.
Evidence being- checked included bullet cases, obsolete army equipment such as knapsacks and including a Japanese canteen filled with water, ammunition both .300 Savage rifle arid .38 cal. armor piercing bullets and a hat.
Every detective on the force has some type of assignment pertaining to the case said Winslow.
In addition, all patrolmen have been informed of the facts concerning the shooting and are checking all their sources in an effort to determine who or where the men are.
The flat type Japanese canteen was analyzed by the city chemist to determine whether it contained Minneapolis water and whether it any unusual properties in it
A bottle of Halazon tablets such as is used by the armed forces, to purify drinking water was found in one of the knapsacks along with a waterproof match case with a compass on one end.
The ammunition of armor piercing type was being checked through the manufacturer, as was the .300 Savage rifle found in the stolen Chrysler which the gunmen were using in the running gunfight.
Two heavy armor plates weighing about 75 pounds each were being analyzed. One plate was placed in the trunk of the stolen car as a shield against bullets and the other was placed in the rear window of the ear.
Drapes and a bedspread in the Chrysler car when it was stolen Friday afternoon from Tenth street and LaSalle Avenue were used to prop up the armor plate.
The plates apparently had been cut out of a large sheet of 1/4 inch material.
Every motel and hotel in the Twin City area were checked Saturday night and Sunday and today every bar was being checked.
It was determined from questioning Mrs. Alvin Anderson, 9448 Clinton avenue Bloomington, who was kidnapped by the gunmen when they forced her husband from his car and used it in their escape, that the men had been drinking.
A black straw hat with a white band also found at the scene was under scrutiny today. A size 7, it bore a "Trimble, New York" label.
Detectives were checking clothing and hat shops in an effort to uncover a lead to its owner. The hat had been purchased recently' its condition indicated' detective officials said.
Police also were seeking two license plates numbered 3G 9874 and 5B 7984, stolen March 7. Police believe they may have been used by the three men and discarded in their flight.
Anyone finding such plates, Detective Inspector Charles Wetherille said today, should call the police department immediately. Do NOT touch the plates he warned, as there may be fingerprints on them.
The federal bureau of investigation has not entered the manhunt as yet, said Calvin B. Howard, special agent in charge of the Minneapolis office.
"There has been no indication of any violation of a federal law but we are maintaining liaison with the Minneapolis police department," he said.
Wetherille asked that anyone having the "slightest bit of information, no matter how meager," call his office

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