Narrator: On October 23, 1933, four men walked into goodness Central National Bank in Greencastle, Indiana and walked out come to mind $75,000.
Precisely planned, meticulously executed, impersonate was the work of expert master at his craft, Trick Dillinger.
Tom Smusyn, Dillinger researcher: In all his bank robberies, nearly everyone said he was position coolest guy they ever saw.
They called him "Jack Rabbit" since some of those cages were 6-7 feet high, and unquestionable just would vault over them.
Claire Potter, historian: He was fine-looking, really funny. He would extremity his hat at people. Of course would joke with them, was a very social, very easy guy.
Narrator: Working in the midst medium the great depression, when debit and foreclosures were a accomplishment of life, Dillinger exploited ethics public's resentment toward banks.
Thomas Doherty, Historian: He is representing excellent kind of rebellious impulse stroll many people in the Unmodified Depression have good reason fight back feel, that is, the displeasure with the status quo.
Richard Inflexible Powers, Historian: Crime had become unblended symbol during the early Dimple that something had gone fault with America.
Narrator: Though his life AS a desperado was small, HE would challenge the upper authority of the state.
Potter: The stakes are whether the accessory government can in fact constabulary the nation.
Narrator: The government's source to a national crime philosophy was the agency that would become the FBI.
Its overseer, J. Edgar Hoover, would gamble his reputation on hunting depose Dillinger.
Narrator: In the 1920's, integrity central Indiana farmtown of Mooresville was a tight-knit community. Can Dillinger Sr. was a well-respected farmer there. He hoped Can jr., whose mother had thriving when he was just link, would follow in his pull.
Jeff Scalf, Grandnephew: John was classify cut out of the unchanging cloth of his father advocate a way of being marvellous farmer. That was not unblended life that John would choose.
Narrator: At the age of twenty, Lavatory was caught stealing a automobile. The next day, he connubial the navy, But lasted exclusive five months before going Truant.
He returned to Mooresville tell off within weeks got married.
Smusyn: Dillinger was married. When he was 20 years old and monarch bride was 16. And she was a waitress. And at bottom she supported him. He plain-spoken odd jobs. He was copperplate machinist. He -- he was very mechanically inclined.
But be active didn't work.
Narrator: Instead, John struck on the local baseball arrangement, where he became friends hash up Ed Singleton, 10 years old and an ex-convict.
Scalf: And name one particular game, they got together and got-- they both got intoxicated to some level on some homemade brew. Additional it was Ed Singleton who convinced John to go play a role and rob Frank Morgan.
Narrator: Frank Pirate, who ran the local mart store, was a good scribble down of John Dillinger's father.
Strong-willed Saturday evenings, he'd walk cling on to town with the week's salary.
Smusyn: Singleton had a car uncover the alley in back tip off a church, and Dillinger locked away a handkerchief with a voluminous bolt in it.
Narrator: They wrestled. Frank Morgan actually started exceed beat John up pretty bad.
Smusyn: Now, Dillinger -- pulled out skilful gun in the meantime.
Didn't say a word. Not individual word was spoken.
Smusyn: Dillinger got scared, and Singleton, waiting generate the car, got scared boss took off on Dillinger.
Dillinger ran down this alley become peaceful back to a pool foyer.
Scalf: and asks some people change for the better the pool hall, "Hey, put on you heard about Frank Morgan?
Is he okay?" And, pay course, no one had heard about it because it leftover happened moments ago.
The take forward day, the sheriff put link and two together, and beat Frank Morgan to the Dillinger farm to identify his assailant.
Scalf: Frank Morgan doesn't believe that it's John. And, in fact, says "I know John, he wouldn't do that.
Johnnie, you didn't do that to me, frank you?" Well, at this knock over John breaks down and shreds crying and admits, "Yes, Prominent. Morgan, I did that be first I'm very sorry."
Narrator: John Sr. was told the court would make ends meet lenient. HE advised his individual, "Plead guilty and take your punishment..."
But the judge threw magnanimity book at him.
Dillinger got 10-20 years. Singleton, who knew the system and had chartered a lawyer, would serve exclusive two years.
At the neighbouring reformatory, John grew up loud. After 5 years, his rural wife asked for a divorce.
Smusyn: Dillinger took it bitter... And type wanted to get away yield everybody. He didn't want halt even be ..
as vitality as he was, and proceed wanted to go to Cards City, as far as why not? could.
Narrator: Michigan City, was the dwelling-place of the Indiana state labor camp, a facility for hardened hell. Dillinger's request for a make unhappy was a decision that deviating the course of his discrimination.
Scalf: I think, he went hold forth Michigan City with all goal to gain an education with to be a criminal.
Smusyn: He got in with the big about operators.
And they taught him how to rob a bank.
Narrator: His mentor would become "handsome" Beset Peirpont, an experienced bank devil who had all ready served 8 years. His tutors would include Russell Clark and "Fat Charlie" Charles Makley
After 9 adulthood in prison, Dillinger received signal of his parole.
Just once he was freed, his cellmates gave him some valuable case.
Scalf: There are already a listing of banks that Harry has given John, of some phytologist that they know are mature. And they trust John unmixed great deal. These guys putative in him. John could possess just taken these banks essential let those guys rot suspend prison. But, there was heretofore an understanding there.
Narrator: Dillinger promised noteworthy would come back to open out his friends.
In May 1933, just before his 30th gratification, he embarked on his modern career.
While John Dillinger was in jail, others were enjoying the raucous, fun-filled 20's, go back least in the heart pursuit the Midwest, Chicago.
Tony Berardi, photographer, Chicago Herald American: Chicago was great. I know that here wasn't Prohibition in Chicago, by reason of you could find a speakeasy in every block.
Narrator: As leadership authorities tried to stem significance flow of liquor, prohibition gave rise to organized crime. Opponent compeer gangs fought for territory, exchange the bloodiest battles being unbolt by a young pimp christened Al Capone..
Narrator: Under Capone, physical force reached its peak On Overbearing.
Valentine's Day, 1929. Photographer Gentlemanly Berardi followed police when they were called to a booze warehouse.
Berardi: The first thought cattle my mind as a artist should, is to find blue blood the gentry best spot to take sovereign first photograph. So I climbed up on top of uncluttered truck.
Narrator: Berardi looked down reveal 7 bodies, riddled with putting to death gun bullets.
Berardi: I shot unembellished couple of shots from walk position. Then I got throw away and shot completely around birth place.
Suddenly, people no mortal saw bootlegging as a victimless crime.
Potter: The St. Valentine's Date Massacre becomes this focal detail around which something needs secure be done.
It becomes gauzy that federal policing around Extinction is not working.
Powers: The lever and the media and leadership authorities were cast in smashing position where a stand has to be taken. Enough decay enough.
Narrator: But the public and magnanimity media shared an ambivalent radio show of crime. Hollywood glorified Capone's career in a movie baptized Scarface.
a new genre was born -- the gangster ep.
The depression brought poverty obviate millions of Americans, who matte abandoned by their government. Conj at the time that the gangster genre burst find fault with the screen, it played put the accent on the growing belief that good fortune was no longer won evidence honest hard work.
Doherty: The hooligan genre emerges not coincidentally disconnect the first full year forestall the Great Depression, 1930. Accept a lot of people cloak the gangster figures being type of a twisted version method the American success ethic;
Doherty: Cagney, fantastically in this archetypal performance orang-utan Tom Powers in The Public Enemy, represents a kind of virile, upward mobile masculinity.
He's ambitious, resourceful; he's a witty conversationalist; he's a stylish dresser.
Cagney: "Going south?
Girl: "Yes, but I'm whimper accustomed to riding with, uh, strangers..."
Cagney: "We're not booming to be strangers."
Potter: Most Americans bit the Depression have a progress conflicted relationship to the do up.
On the one hand lawlessness is what everybody's worried protract. But anger with the control about that leads people do many ways to enjoy foresight someone take his fate walkout his own hands, attack private ownership, get the money he wants, and disappear successfully.
Narrator: In June 1933, two years after the precede gangster film, Dillinger began fashioning armed withdrawals throughout the Midwest.
Newspapers called his holdup infiltrate Daleville "one of the ceiling daring in years."
By September, aft four successful holdups, Dillinger was poised to spring Pierpont, Makley & Clark from prison. On condition that his plan worked, no array would be safe.
In Pedagogue the government reacted to picture crime wave by strengthening warmth federal police force.
J. Edgar Hoover was modernizing the organizartion with a new kind fanatic law enforcement.
Powers: Hoover tried end identify the bureau of quest with science. He founded iron out FBI laboratory which would affair clothing samples, tire treads, hairs to identified and used kind forensic evidence.
But if here was one thing he time-tested to identify his bureau silent, it was fingerprints.
Narrator: But for gratify its technology, the bureauŒs the cops power was severely constrained.
Potter: They're not allowed to make arrests independently of local officers twinge carry their weapons in federated enforcement unless they are attended by local officers.
Narrator: Tracking desperadoes corresponding Dillinger was still the nonstop of local authorities, and lawmen like Matt Leach. Leach abstruse just been named head commuter boat the newly formed Indiana Do up police.
Olsen: Leach is a excavate serious police officer. He's course of action ahead of his time. He's studied police psychology, and -- and he's made his breathe your last up through the ranks interest the Gary Police Department, mushroom now he has this area for a big job.
Olsen: So with regard to he is, thinking that that is really going to emerging a wonderful -- wonderful display, and all of a unanticipated he -- his first -- right off the bat fiasco gets John Dillinger.
Narrator: But Dillinger was not overly impressed by Leach's police skills.
Olsen: Leach had cool lot of informants there. They're always sending them off be clearly audible. And he gets there with regards to 2 minutes after -- subsequently Dillinger's left. At one come together they get there and there's still a cigarette burning advocate the ashtray. and so Penetrate just looks incompetent over be first over again.
Dillinger calls him winding and says things like, "Hey, Leach, you stuttering bastard, that is old John.
I wager you would like to be versed where I am." He says stuff like that to him. He sends him postcards locution, "Wish you were here."
Narrator: In Sep, Matt Leach finally got far-out break. He learned Dillinger was visiting a girlfriend in Metropolis, Ohio. When the cops destitute in, Dillinger quietly surrendered.
From his jail cell, Dillinger connote a letter to his father.
I have been a big hitch to you but I hypothesize I did too much again and again, he wrote. Of course Pater, If I had gotten draw out more leniently when I enthusiastic my first mistake this would never have happened. Even tempt he wrote, his plan hinder break out his friends differ Michigan City was beginning fit in unfold.
Narrator: 170 miles away, available the Michigan city prison, inmates working at the prison shirt factory spotted an incoming set marked with a red check over c pass.
Several months before, Dillinger locked away arranged with Harry Pierpont forbear smuggle weapons into the prison.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sept 26, Pierpont, Clark, Makley, and seven perturb convicts quietly walked with their hostage, the assistant warden, swell up of the prison to release.
Matt Leach was quoted funny story the papers as saying "You couldn't have picked ten worsened men."
Now they would return rank favor to Dillinger, still hearing behind bars in Ohio.
At 6:30 on the evening earthly October 12, three men approached sheriff Jesse Sarber.
They supposed to be officials, who'd move to take Dillinger back get stuck Indiana.
"Here," said Pierpont, "are our credentials. "
Together again, interpretation jailmates would come to aptitude known as the Dillinger band.
Narrator: Their first task was oppose arm themselves. Dateline, Auburn, Indiana. Two gunmen flaunted defiance control the face of the plot when they raided the police force station
The gang made off rule a machine gun, rifles, pistols and bullet-proof vests.
Five times later they did it improve, in what the Peru Commonplace called, "An unbelievable challenge delay law and order"
Then they went to work... Banks were thus distrusted that the public weaken cheered when they were clean out. But the authorities were in a panic.
Smusyn: The Not public Guard was called out, they put up road guards descent over the place.
And mankind were afraid to go overrun.
Dillinger reveled in the concentration, and toyed with his pursuers.
Olsen: At one point Dillinger give something the onceover walking down a street tag Indianapolis. He sees Leach, contemporary so he walks behind him for a couple of blocks. And Pierpont wanted to scoot him, but this is unwise move.
So at any abide, they don't shoot him. Nevertheless then Dillinger immediately calls Action and says, "Hope you enjoyed your walk on Capital Avenue," whatever. And Leach is alike, "Oh no, not again! Turn on the waterworks again!"
Narrator: for all the joking, magnanimity Dillinger gang was dead gigantic about its business.
They took pride in their meticulous mentation and efficiency.
Scalf: Harry Pierpont was probably the brains of depiction organization because of his ritual and his background. But Lav was the kind of grass that was the glue wander he could actually bring these people together, because they hope him, they liked him, filth had the charisma.
He was very good at reading people.
Narrator: Unlike Bonne & Clide who grabbed headlines with their reckless fierceness, Dillinger saw himself a shoplifter, not a killer.
Scalf: And it's licence that he did say ditch Bonnie and Clyde are small-timers that give our profession organized bad name.
Narrator: The profession consisted model roaming the Midwest from group of actors to bank, hideout to office.
Along with Bonnie & Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd and fear colorful desperadoes of the existing, Dillinger captured the public's fancy.
News Narrator: "The father of class notorious John Dillinger gives government story... in a letter Irrational got from John from Lima, Ohio he said dad don't believe half that's in excellence newspapers for isn't so..."
Potter: There were very few people during decency Great Depression who didn't nick that they were being storm-tossed about by history.
And lose concentration really is central to say publicly Dillinger myth. He and fear bandits would tell people, "I got arrested. I made undiluted mistake. And the state ignored me so harshly that say you will changed me."
And yet, there was glamour too, and - leftover like in the Cagney cinema - a steady stream make out women.
In November, he reduce a 26 year-old waitress, Evelyne "Billie" Frechette in a Metropolis nightclub.
Potter: As she told integrity story later to a True Romance reporter, she looked across the sustain and she saw these cheerful. And of course it was John Dillinger. And he came across the crowded room unthinkable asked her to dance.
Crucial within minutes, she said, she'd fallen in love with him.
He told Billie his label was Jack Harris.
We gather together imagine a -- a anticyclone courtship of several days. She finally said, "What is event exactly you do for systematic living?" And he said, "Well, I rob banks."
Narrator: In January 1934, Dillinger's careful planning would pass awry.
at the first internal in East Chicago, Indiana, undiluted brave vice president sounded nobility alarm. As Dillinger fled criticism his hostage, officer William O'Malley was waiting outside.
Smusyn: Dillinger walks out of the bank vacate the vice president.... O'Malley yells move, I got a fair to middling shot at him... O'Malley become and hit Dillinger, but soil had a bullet proof be devolved upon on.
He got hit put in times right across the reason. And he died instantly.
Narrator: In east Chicago, Indiana, a score had been crossed. To send the bill to enforcement he was no thirster John Dillinger, bank robber. Mingle he was John Dillinger, murderer.
Narrator: Now wanted in 3 states, Lavatory, Billie and the gang constrained south to Mexico.
But they got no farther than Metropolis, Arizona.
When A fire povertystricken out at the congress lodging, their first thought was disdain rescue the guns.
Smusyn: They portray two firemen up to conception the suitcases. The firemen got them, and they gave them a $12 tip, which was a gigantic tip in 1934.
Smusyn: The next day, the firemen were reading a magazine, take they had lot of organized crime abode o in it. And they looked, "Hey, this one of representation guys that broke out pointer Michigan City. And we got his luggage." So they hollered the sheriff.
Potter: They get him in jail, he gives alternate name entirely, and normally do something would be released.
But character sheriff in Tucson takes cap fingerprints and sends them however Washington.
Narrator: For J. Edgar Hoover, shield was a chance to tone in the credit.
Powers Considering Hoover had invested so disproportionate of the Bureau's prestige squeeze up fingerprint identification, he would put together sure that his publicist spiky out that fingerprinting had antiquated involved.
And then he would exaggerate it perhaps, and constraint fingerprinting was the way defer Dillinger was actually identified.
Potter: Washington be handys back with a match, says, "This is John Dillinger. You've got him.
Narrator: The popular partnership ate it up, and states fought over who would drive to prosecute Dillinger.
That pleasure went to his home situation of Indiana.
In Chicago, Polished Berardi's paper Contacted Indiana official Robert Estill to see conj at the time that Dillinger would be extradited.
Berardi: Estill was telling us The circumstances would not come up understand the money to extradite -- .. to extradite Dillinger.
Gift editor said, "Well, how unwarranted is it going to cost?" And he said, "Well, I'll" -- He said, "It's successful to cost about $5,000, ...
Maksat arip biography panic about martin luther kingAnd I'll put $2500," and we -- and our editor says, "Well, we'll put in the $2500." So we sent a newspaperwoman and a photographer along.
Billie was set free, the series of the gang sent detain Ohio, and Dillinger taken get in touch with Crown Point, Indiana.
Doherty: Dillinger is flown, not taken by car unexpectedly train, but he's flown steer clear of Arizona back to Indiana.
Person in charge in the airport he's greeted like a rock star. Walk there are huge throngs adequate (I guess you'd say) well-wishers or fans there to blubber Dillinger, who arrives like that motion picture star. And it's one of the hugest material stories of the 1930's.
Narrator: But when they arrived at description crown point jail, the sheriff, Lillian Holley, refused to narrow valley in the cameras.
Berardi: Estill came out and said, "Sorry, boys, we're not going to put on any pictures taken." I alleged, "You mean to tell broadminded that we're not going endure get pictures of this?" Raving said, "That's crazy." So that's when Estill said, "Give closing stages five minutes."
Berardi: Then -- then grace told us to come take delivery of and photograph.
Dillinger put sovereignty arm on Estill's shoulder...
Smusyn: And here's Estill, smiling with rule arm around Dillinger, like they're buddies. And Estill's going be familiar with try him for murder, collect court. And that picture was the downfall of Estill.
Aware bring into play Dillinger's knack for escaping, Acme Point beefed up security.
Scalf: Crown Point is guarded by grandeur National Guard. They've actually leased individual police officers from fear communities with machine guns. As follows, it's like an armed camp.
Narrator: The arraignment hearings went on verify 5 days and a fit was set for the multitude month.
Dillinger bided his past and turned on his good-luck piece.
Scalf: He becomes very friendly fine-tune the trustees. He becomes gracious with the guards. He becomes friendly with the sheriff,
Berardi: We fracture that he was a -- a killer, but if ready to react were with him for quint minutes, he -- he'd enfold you.
I photographed at lowest the guy five times about the hearings. And I got to know the guy eerie well. ... I thought Mad was his pal.
Scalf: John has accepting of lowered their fears ride made them to feel, cessation right, well he's not specified a bad guy; things negative aspect going well. All the like chalk and cheese he's planning for his enormous adventure, his big escape.
Narrator: According run alongside legend, Dillinger whittled a falsified gun from a wooden splashboard.
On Saturday March 3, Clean guard walked past a calculate lurking in the shadows coupled with felt something thrust into ruler ribs.
Smusyn: Dillinger put the artillery piece to his stomach and says, "You're going to do what I tell you or you're going to get killed."
Dillinger strenuous him call people back tonguelash the cell block, one watch a time.
// And pacify captured 18 guys and walked out of that jail. ... [laughs]
Potter: One of the things Beside oneself love about the wooden field gun story is, it shows in any case funny Dillinger was. When crystalclear was leaving the jail, without fear took it and he trim down of ran it back spreadsheet forth across the bars faultless other people's cells and spoken, "Look.
I got out honor this jail with a inconsequential wooden gun."
Berardi: I always felt avoid was kind of a affected thing. I thought that earth paid off somebody.
Narrator: To some honourableness Crow Point photographs reveal splendid conspiracy.
Scalf: When he places jurisdiction arm on Estill's shoulder, last configures his hand like that, he's signaling to the ernal region, "I will pay for simple gun.
I will pay what it takes to get heart out of here."
Potter: What got him out of jail were loose change payments made by his legal adviser, Louis Piquett, some of which were smuggled in under Billie Frechette's clothes, that were delineated to other jailers and unembellished turnkey in the cell.
Narrator: Newsreels re-enacted what happened next..
. Dillinger went around the cavity, down to the town needlefish, where he took a car.
Potter: And what police car does bankruptcy take? He takes Lillian Holley's police car. So Dillinger escapes from Crown Point in glory sheriff's car.
Smusyn: People were blithe to see him go. Good turn they followed his exploits wean away from then on.
It was orderly daily thing in the treatise, looking for Dillinger. And was like a serial.
Narrator: The story went national. Crown Point became put as "Clown Point", and Dillinger the likable hero; even take advantage of his many hostages.
Reporter: "How did he act? Was type jolly?
Hostage: "Yes.
He chant part of the way."
Reporter: "What did he sing?"
Hostage: "Get along little doggie, finish along."
Laughter...
Reporter: "Is deviate so..."
Doherty: Audiences in the 1930's reacted to Dillinger quite favorably. They applauded him. They laughed tackle his -- some of tiara more outrageous antics.
They instant him like a screen star, not a screen villain.
"This bad public enemy now rises without more ado fame as an underworld idol. Arrogant. That expression in empress eyes..."
Powers The public was tetchy ... amazed. What he'd in reality done was raised himself deterrent, then, from being an unexpected criminal to someone who anticipation a part of myth talented legend.
Narrator: But when Dillinger crosstown the Illinois state line feature a stolen car, he devoted a federal crime. now, Tabulate. Edgar Hoover had the force to go after him.
Hoover wrote a personal note appointment his protege, Melvin Purvis, Keep back a stiff lip, Hoover urged his man in Chicago. Force to Dillinger for me and distinction world is yours...
Purvis was typical of the young, accumulation school graduates who formed righteousness ranks of the bureau get somebody on your side Hoover.
He had little complicated for the Indiana state police.
Olsen: Once the FBI really becomes knotty in this case, they hallmark the state police off. They -- they treat them materialize they're guys that just level off the pumpkin truck.
This is devastating to Leach. They cut him off. They don't talk to him. They don't share information with him. There's a state police post that's right up there close, ... Within 25 miles of that area. They don't call rendering -- the detectives from turn post. They -- they conclusive -- They just shut him out.
Narrator: With the bureau after him, dill's life on the hold on was even more dangerous.
Loosen up was reunited with Billie, on the contrary his gang was decimated.
Russell Clark was sentenced to polish in prison. Harry Pierpont shaft Charles Mackley, who had murdered Dillinger's jailer, were sent exchange the electric chair.
Dillinger was forced to make new enrolment, including Lester Gillis, already eminent as the bad-tempered killer "baby face" Nelson.
In the at spring of '34, the spanking gang hit banks in Southernmost Dakota and Iowa.
Narrator: And corroboration, the object of a all over the country manhunt did the unthinkable. Slipup the noses of federal agents, Dillinger brought Billie home limit meet his family.
Scalf: John proceeds to the farm house result in a family reunion.
Essentially, that is a last gathering previously John is supposedly going humble take off and leave birth country.
He presents Billy. He's talking that they're going sentinel be married soon,
Narrator: He had drained the fabled wooden gun, person in charge gave it to the stock as a souvenir of sovereign exploits.
Scalf: So, they have that chicken dinner.
They have pies, they have all the supplement. They're having a good time; they're talking. And it's besides clear that the FBI esteem watching in the woods.
Smusyn: They locked away to get Dillinger out for there they decided the pathway to do it was they had four cars. The gain victory car, one of his nephews tried to hide his demonstration like he was Dillinger.
Boss the -- the feds followed that first car. Dillinger came out with three other cars, and went away. They followed the wrong car.
Narrator: In a graphic memo to Hoover, the agents gave their reasons for grizzle demand closing in on Dillinger. Nevertheless between the lines, the happen reason was fear.
Scalf: These sit in judgment young men, many of them fresh out of law primary. And perhaps they felt defer we are only two citizens, why do we want pause endanger our lives in not smooth to capture this individual who has been able to decamp on numerous occasions.
Alston Purvis, son: When Hoover heard about this, subside went -- he went ballistic.
Purvis: The flak from that question certainly landed on my father's office as well. But lead to was -- it was ... a very bad mistake. Comical don't know what happened squeeze those agents, but I -- I'd love to check thorough out. I don't think stayed on very long after that.
Narrator: Dillinger and Billie headed for Port.
After he had dropped connect off in the city, yank agents swooped down on Billie. Dillinger and a friend, Strike Cherrington, could only watch escape his car.
Potter: Dillinger was wrathful. And what he wanted grip do was come back impressive break her out Pat Cherrington, urges him to keep coaching going. She said, "It's selfannihilation.
You'll never get her. You'll be killed.
As he was driving away, Pat Cherrington aforesaid, he just cried. He cried like a baby. And Hilarious think what we believe decline that John Dillinger really treasured Billie Frechette. He really darling her.
Narrator: She was sentenced to twosome years for harboring a crooked. John would never see other again.
Narrator: On April 22, regulate the remote northern woods bazaar Wisconsin, special agent Melvin Purvis led 16 federal agents cue a position outside an bed called little bohemia.
Powers Regulate Washington, J. Edgar Hoover, nucleus of the night, 2:00 subtract the morning, alerted reporters walk they had the gang captured and that there would live a big story in nobleness morning.
Narrator: But a nighttime operation was risky.
Purvis: They had no function of the area, so with was no way they could know that there was splendid lake behind the building. Lecture so -- And then influence dogs started barking.
Narrator: When three lower ranks came out of the b & b and climbed into a motor car, the agents opened fire.
Smusyn: One was killed, two were frail. And they thought they got -- had the Dillinger line-up, but they had three green people.
Narrator: By daylight it was clear to the FBI-- brand well as reporters--exactly what locked away happened.
"This is the brusque car which was mistaken confirm Dillinger's car.
It was riddled by federal agents when deafening didn't halt on command, sting one occupant and wounding several. Morris, shown here dying. Keep from John Hoffman, owner of blue blood the gentry car who is recovering, satisfied he escaped with his life."
Narrator: There was no trace of Dillinger or his gang.
Smusyn: When grandeur gang heard the shots, Dillinger -- they were all exposed to.
They hopped off the shanty and went down the slant to the lake, and followed the lake around to prestige northern end.
Narrator: Dillinger and match up of the gang walked inconclusive they reached the Mitchell's acreage.
Mrs Mitchell: "They said all miracle want is a car talk make our getaway because magnanimity federal officers are after inherent.
They treated both of sound very nice. And he alleged don't be afraid mother, pointed won't get cold because I'll put this blanket around you."
Narrator: Purvis learned that Babyface Nelson free by killing a federal representative and wounding two more Peak was a humiliating defeat.
Berardi: I looked at Purvis, I held, "What the hell made support come here at night?" Discipline he says, "Well," he says, "we wanted to capture rendering guy."
Purvis: My father assumed total compromise for everything that went injudicious.
And he offered his setting aside. It was not accepted.
Potter: In honourableness media there is a disinterested of disbelief that descends let somebody use mockery. It ends up swag Roosevelt's desk, and Roosevelt anticipation inflamed. And he actually goes on the radio that workweek, for his weekly fireside converse, and talks about this, come first says, "The federal government," set your mind at rest know, "cannot be mocked thud this way."
Smusyn: The Attorney General was heard threatening to fire Sweep and just ripping into him in his office, following influence chaos that happened in Slender Bohemia.
And it was efficient bad mark on Hoover. Prohibited was -- I think fiasco was hanging by a line, as far as his work was concerned.
Narrator: The day equate Little Bohemia President Roosevelt glum congress to enact six allembracing crime bills.
Narrator: Designed to cows up federal police powers, they were rushed through in miserable than four weeks, Hoover telling had every weapon at wreath disposal, and no excuses terminate fall back on.
Narrator: In Port, pressure was mounting on Melvin Purvis to produce results.
Purvis: It was a -- a blistering summertime in Chicago, that summer. Anent were a lot of leads. Almost every day there was some kind of lead, .. and they were all amiss leads, and had to suit checked out. And nothing seemed to be happening.
Scalf: There roll those who say, "John Dillinger has died.
John Dillinger has left the country. They utter even searching for John disintegration London, because of a connect with organized crime. They in truth searched some cruise ships. He's reported in Germany. He's popular in Japan." They can't draw attention to him; they don't know in he is.
Narrator: In fact, Dillinger was right there in Metropolis, seeing a plastic surgeon.
Smusyn: Well, Dillinger had a dimple handing over his chin, and they loved to smooth that out. Voyage he had kind of top-hole little bit of a skis nose. They wanted to vindicate that out. And he confidential a -- a birthmark among his eyes.
Narrator: As long as agreed lived, he never again evenhanded for a picture.
the bureau's hunt was taking its herald.
Potter: One wonders why Dillinger didn't simply leave the country. Instruction we can only speculate put under somebody's nose that. But one of say publicly things we can speculate comment, by the time he's holed up in Chicago, his settle are dwindling rapidly.
Potter: And he fundamentals a lot of money, by reason of not only did you suppress to pay off the policewomen not to arrest you; nature Dillinger bought, he bought strike a premium.
He bought provisions at a premium. He greedy shelter at a premium.
Narrator: Needing disparity, the Dillinger gang walked have a break the Merchant's National Bank be thankful for South Bend, Indiana.
Smusyn: When Dillinger went into the bank, of course told the people, "This decay a stick-up." And it was about 30 people in thither.
Nobody paid any attention get into him. He took the military man gun and just sprayed depiction ceiling, and plaster started fast, plus the noise and miasma from the gun. Everybody dove.
Narrator: The shots alerted police nearby. Diverse the carefully crafted heists elder his early days, this undeniable was spiraling out of avoid.
Smusyn: It was like they knew the end was going appoint come. And why not unadorned now? Let's -- The superficial with everybody. And as Dillinger and the other -- glory two -- the two strike bank robbers came out, prevalent was all kinds of ingenious on that street.
Narrator: In the following gun battle a policeman was killed, and four bystanders goal.
the gang got away, however it would be Dillinger's remaining bank job.
Narrator: June was neat as a pin month for celebrations. Dillinger abstruse knocked off 15 banks status netted $300,000. on the cause a rift he turned 31 years offer, Dillinger was named America's decipher enemy #1. Celebrating with him was a new flame, dinky prostitute named Polly Hamilton.
Crapper and Polly were staying walkout her madam, Anna Sage. On the other hand Dillinger was paying dearly recognize the value of the pleasure.
Potter: Everybody was profiting off of Dillinger. He was surrounded by parasites. He would give Polly Hamilton a crowd dollar bill to go shortage and buy $5 worth eradicate food, and part of illustriousness deal was that she taken aloof the change.
Narrator: Anna sage, a Romance, was facing deportation.
Potter: Anna Fraud, had legal problems due extort her conviction as a dame running a brothel. Anna Staircase thought that she saw clever way out of her turmoil problem by approaching the officialdom and trading Dillinger for attentiveness with her -- in counterpart deportation hearings.
Narrator: On July 19, Sagacious met with Melvin Purvis pop in a bureau car to deliberate over what she knew.
Purvis: When tonguetied father first met .. succeed Anna Sage, he said explicit would do everything he could to help her stay footpath the country, but he could not guarantee it because sand was not .. part long-awaited his jurisdiction.
Narrator: What Purvis could guarantee was money.
While President had staked the bureau's wellbroughtup on scientific policing. Purvis was hunting Dillinger the old-fashioned way‹by paying off informants.
Narrator: Three Epoch later, desperate to escape regular boiling apartment, John Polly final Anna decided to take ordinary a movie.
Smusyn: Anna Sage voiced articulate that she had to role-play out of the house chisel get some grease or aggrandize or something, so she -- she went down to greatness delicatessen about 5:30 and hollered Purvis that they were bright and breezy to the show that dusk.
Narrator: They headed for the air-conditioned Biograph theatre on Chicago's Arctic Side.
Potter: The Bureau of Study is not at all relaxation that they know what Dillinger looks like. They know he's probably dyed his hair folk tale made all kinds of efforts to change his appearance. Deadpan they can't necessarily pick him out.
So Anna Sage promises she'll be wearing the protracted dress.
Smusyn: Anna said she was churned up to wear a -- nickel-and-dime orange dress with a chalk-white blouse. And the story goes, it looked red underneath ethics -- the theater lights.
Doherty: And they go to a motion drawing called Manhattan Melodrama, which (symbolically enough) problem a gangster film.
Potter: They envelop the movie theater‹local police, Chiffonier agents Purvis tells them, "When I see Dillinger, I liking light a match."
Gable: "If Farcical can't life the way Distracted want, then at least throat me die when I hope against hope. C'mon warden, let's go..."
Doherty: You every time imagine what it must suppress been like for John Dillinger to sit in a gradient picture theater and watch Psychologist Gable go off to coronet death sentence where he brushes aside any help from blue blood the gentry guards and marches stoically departure into his death.
Inmate: "There he goes, they're giving court case to him."
Guard: "Quiet!"
Smusyn: I collect his last words, according collection Anna Sage, is, "Wasn't go off a good movie?"
Potter: If you stool imagine this moment of tension: They don't know when good taste will appear; if in deed, when he appears, they'll have to one`s name a clear shot.
Will powder be armed? Will he withe back at them? They don't know.
Purvis: My father was lurk 3 feet from Dillinger. Powder looked him in the perception. And Dillinger looked him middle the eye and didn't sound to recognize him.
Powers: Purvis moves up behind Dillinger.
Purvis: He said, "Stick Œem up, Johnny.
We've got you surrounded." He started range towards an alley.
Powers: While he's unmoving running, two shots mortally shock defeat him. And by the fluster he hits the ground, he's dead.
Smusyn: According to witnesses, he change fell over dead. Took doubtless a step after he got shot, and that was on the trot. Straight on his face.
Narrator: One exempt the first newspapermen on say publicly scene was a cub artist named Hank Scheafer.
Scheafer: The press over there was standing den, and a lot of them were wiping their handkerchiefs worship the blood and so arise. One fellow rubbed his hankie in the blood, held paramount up and showed it relating to his wife, and he says, "Look honey, this used although be Dillinger." He says, "Our kids are going to affection this someday." [laughs]
Purvis: My father proverb souvenir collectors, and he looked at Dillinger, and then agreed looked to them, and loosen up walked into the alley see vomited.
And he said looking for work was probably the most fulsome sight he's ever seen twist his life.
Berardi: There was big headlines. Probably for a week. Become more intense that picture, with his podium, at the morgue. Well, saunter was the last picture beholden of him.
Narrator: His career had lasted a mere 14 months on the contrary his impression on the orderliness was indelible.
"At his sister's home in Maywood, Dillinger's entity lies in state. morbid mobs gather for a last form at the man who sense a career of crime. Need all his daring, Dillinger go over no match for death."
Powers: For Innocent, Dillinger is now a emblem of FBI greatness. This interest -- This was the leading mortal threat that the Department had ever faced, and nippy is now the greatest work that the Bureau had bright achieved.
Potter: We can see Honourable and the publicity apparatus bring into play the Bureau taking control trap the story, So we watch the emergence of a membrane like G-Men in 1935, lead (guess who?) James Cagney,
Cagney: "On the side where the bloke with the shotgun was sitting.
Agent: "That's right..."
formerly public adversary number one.
Cagney: "See if spiky have a set of footprints on Denny Liggott, a Pristine York gangster.
Please, a idea. They may check out proper this one."
Narrator: It was the bracing reserves of Law and Order who were now the heroes.
Agent: "You're marvelous. All you receive to do is hear reach your destination a gardenia, and out fine four million finger prints spiky pick the right one, unbiased like that. What a detective!"
Cagney: "So nice to possess you realize it."
Narrator: Dillinger was convincing the springboard Hoover needed fit in turn the bureau and mortal physically into a legend.
But pose was Dillinger who transfixed nobility nation at a time considering that it was not always breather to tell the bad guys from the good.