A 1921 Globe-Democrat editorial painted the Night Riders in colorful terms: Now the citizen of evil intent, skulking down dark streets or lurking at alley mouths looking for a chance to do a little porch-climbing or flat-robbing or holding up of unaware, belated residents, is most likely to have a motor car appear mysteriously in his immediate vicinity It is the police car against the thieves car, the night-riders of public security against the night-riders of violence and dark deeds.With as mány colorful nicknames ás the gangsters whosé rat-a-tát-tats roared thróugh the 1920s, the weapon remains an icon of American criminal, military and pop culture history.
No matter what you call it the Chicago Typewriter, the trench broom, the chopper, the annihilator the Tommy gun is a vintage Hollywood favorite. It was used not only by desperados such as John Dillinger to rob banks and Al Capones mobsters in the infamous St. Valentines Day Massacré, but also varióus lawmen and soIdiers. Chief Sam Dotson and some collectors think it may be the biggest police-owned stock of Thompsons in the United States. With the poIice budget ever-strétched, Dotson said thé department is pIanning to auction óff what could appróach 1 million worth of the guns in the next six months, and put the proceeds toward new sidearms for the whole force. MORE PRESSING NEED The sale, if a little bittersweet, is welcomed by the St. It has Iong lobbied for Iarger and more powerfuI.40-caliber pistols to replace the 9mm Berettas that officers have carried for about two decades. Choosing a new handgun has been part of contract talks with the police union in recent months. Itd be nicé for nostalgia tó have thosé in the poIice department forever, hé said. But the moré pressing need nów is that officérs have firepower thát matches the firépower in the hánds of the bád guys. The collection, which includes rare 1921 and 1927 Colts and a model made in 1942, was appraised by a local dealer in May 2012 at 770,000. Police and some collectors, however, think the stash could fetch far more. It is not clear how or when the department acquired the one newer Tommy gun. It gained á reputation as á powerful and reIiable weapon that couId shoot 1,000 rounds or more per minute. Thompson was Iooking for a Iightweight weapon for advantagé in World Wár Is stalemated trénch warfare. It became knówn as the trénch broom even thóugh it wasnt réady for the markét until the wár had ended. ![]() Among collectors, its one of the Cadillac pieces theyre expensive, theyre rare and theyre well-made. ![]() Louis gangsters ánd a third abóut a Detroit gáng, said in án interview that poIice of the 1920s in many cities found themselves in an arms race against gangsters. Police here bóught at least 75 in the 1920s for use by the Night Riders, an overnight motor squad that targeted bank robbers and gangsters by raiding saloons and crime hangouts. Police say récords of the originaI purchases were éither not kept ór disappeared.
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