His reputation boomed with the notoriety of his crimes, from robbing heavily guarded banks to murder. As a result of his ever growing reputation, John spent many of his later years in and out of prison and on the run from the law. He was forced to lead the life of a fugitive once the Chicago police department placed him on the Public Enemies list. Being placed on the list incited a response by the FBI along with local police departments in major areas around the country. The extra pressure by law enforcement eventually caused John to get minor plastic surgery to deceive the police.
Amazingly, the introduction of the threat of being killed by the FBI did not stop Dillinger from robbing banks throughout the country, like the First National Bank of East Chicago, Security National Bank in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and South Bend bank in Indiana. His criminal activity actually seemed to escalate between the later part of 1933 into 1934. He expanded his connections to a network encompassing many notorious criminals like Baby Face Nelson, who became a member of Dillinger's gang, and Roger Touhy, an Irish-American mob boss.
Dillinger's escape from Crown Point, an "escape-proof" prison in Indiana using a wooden gun undermined the entire law enforcement system and thus added to the culminating intensity of the manhunt for Public Enemy No. 1. He wrote a letter to his sister sometime around March 13, 1934 to reassure her that he was okay and to disclose the truth behind the Crown Point escape,
Dear Sis,
I thought I would write you a few lines and let you know I am still perculating. Dont worry about me honey for that wont help any, and besides I am having a lot of fun... I see that Deputy Blunk says I had a real forty five. Thats just a lot of hooey to cover up because they dont like to admit that I locked eight Deputys and a dozen trustys up with my wooden gun before I got my hands on the two machine guns...
Amazingly, the introduction of the threat of being killed by the FBI did not stop Dillinger from robbing banks throughout the country, like the First National Bank of East Chicago, Security National Bank in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and South Bend bank in Indiana. His criminal activity actually seemed to escalate between the later part of 1933 into 1934. He expanded his connections to a network encompassing many notorious criminals like Baby Face Nelson, who became a member of Dillinger's gang, and Roger Touhy, an Irish-American mob boss.
Dillinger's escape from Crown Point, an "escape-proof" prison in Indiana using a wooden gun undermined the entire law enforcement system and thus added to the culminating intensity of the manhunt for Public Enemy No. 1. He wrote a letter to his sister sometime around March 13, 1934 to reassure her that he was okay and to disclose the truth behind the Crown Point escape,
Dear Sis,
I thought I would write you a few lines and let you know I am still perculating. Dont worry about me honey for that wont help any, and besides I am having a lot of fun... I see that Deputy Blunk says I had a real forty five. Thats just a lot of hooey to cover up because they dont like to admit that I locked eight Deputys and a dozen trustys up with my wooden gun before I got my hands on the two machine guns...
Baby Face NelsonRoger Touhy |
Crown Point Prison After Dillinger's Escape He spend much of his remaining time on the run with his lover, Polly Hamilton. Hamilton held an exceedingly high opinion of John,
John Dillinger, or Jimmy, as he was to me, never liked to hurt any one's feelings. He was what you'd call on the up and up with me and all his friends every minute. (An quote from an interview Polly Hamilton gave to the Chicago Herald, reminiscing on her time with John Dillinger) Apparently while living in Chicago with Hamilton, he never disclosed his true criminal identity to her. John went about his life as normal as possible while around Hamilton, who did not know who her lover truly was until he was gunned down by FBI agents outside of the Biograph Theater, a trap set up by Ana Cumpanas, Hamilton's boss and owner of a Chicago brothel. |