Indianapolis Times, Volume 45, Number 254, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 March 1934 — Page 1

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DILLINGER LOOSE; HUNTED BY POSSE

‘HELP OR DIE’ GANG PLEDGE IS RECALLED Dillinger Fulfills Boast to Break ‘Any Jail'; Lima Guarded. BY BASIL GALLAGHER Times Staff Writer John Dillinger. public enemy No. 1, bandit and murderer, is Iret again. Making good his boast in the Tucson <Ariz, prison that “no jaii can hold me,” he once more has outwitted the law and. armed with a machine gun, is speeding along midwest roads, free. For the second time in four months, he has escaped from jails despite extraordinary precautions of the police. And today, as state police and lawenforcement officers in all parts of Indiana and adjoining states concentrated on the hunt for the desperado. a pledge admitted to havo been made between Dillinger Harry Pierpont. Charles Mak.ey and Russell Clark was recalled by slate policemen. No Idle Gesture Riding back on the Golden State Limited, from Tucson, Pierpont and Makley admitted to the writer that the four prisoners had pledged themselves to "help each other 01 die trying to do it.” It was no idle gesture, the bandits were frank in admitting. • Listen,” Makley said once on the long trip back to Indiana, “the gang is made up of us lour —Dillinger. Pierpont, Clark and myself. That's the whole gang, the rest of the guys who escaped with us were just punks. We re sticking together. All for one and one for all, see. Remembering this underworld alliance. police today were tightening their guards around the little jail at Lima. 0.. where Pierpont, Makley and Clark are being held awaiting trial for the murder of Sheriff Jess Sarbcr early in October, when Dil"ltnuer Was freed from that jail, On that occasion, police recalled, that same undying and twisted loyalty to each other was displayed when the desperadoes, led by Pierpont. delivered Dillinger from the jail with a brutality and coolness seldom equalled in criminal annals. Most Desperate Gang And today, with Dillinger desperately engaged in cheating the electric chair for the murder of Detective Pat O'Malley in East Chicago in November, police recalled the astounding events which have led up to the new chapter being written in the esccapades of the “terror mob ” conceded to be the most desperate gang in the country today. On Sept. 25. guards and trusties at the Indiana state puison were overpowered by ten convicts led by Pierpont. Makley and dark and, amidst a secene of wild confusion. made their escape, kidnoping an aged sheriff. Taking the little used back and side roads in the northern part of Indiana, the convicts made their way to Indianapolis, leaving the sheriff at the roadside on the wav. The bandits hid in a house in the westerin part ot the city and secured clothes and automobiles. Desperate Forays Short Then, in a series of desperate forays, the bandits terrorized this city and set out upon a series of carefully planned bank robberies. The state was aroused. An elaborate system of highway blockades was set throughout the state, manned by the national guard. Despite the greatest man-hi/.t in the history of the state, the bandits played hop-scotch with the police and perpretrated at last four bank robberies, at Greencastle. East Chicago. Ft. Wayne and South Bend, which netted them more than $200.000. In a brush with the state police at Ben Davis. James Jenkins, one of the desperadoes was thrown out of the car and later killed by a Brown county farmer. James Clark was captured near Gary. Walter Dietrick was taken captive in Chicago. Edward Shouse was captured while planning to hold up a bank in Paris. 111., after Eugene Teague, state policeman, had been killed accidentally in the raid. One by one the lesser members of the •'terror mob” were captured or killed. Only the ringleaders and two lesser members were at large. Police were anxious to get Pierpont. Dillinger. Makley or Clark. Chicago Detective Slain But these desperate members of the gang had moved to Chicago. With Mary Kinder and other women alleged to be their decoys, buying cars and renting apartments for them, the gang kept a jump ahead of the police. A Chicago detective was killed in an attempt to capture iPerpont in a garage Dillinger successfully evaded a small regiment of Chicago and Indiana police when he shot his way through a cordon of officers leaving a doctors office. But the “heat was on the gang.” i After a sojourn in Florida, the gang moved west to Tucson. Ariz. The story of their capture there by the “hick town” police force is history. Without a shot being fired, the four most desperat* members of the gang were taken by the Tucson officers and turned over to the Indiana police.

NRA w Wl 0 OUR Mk*T

VOLUME 45—NUMBER 254'

‘Whew! I’m Glad I’m at Home,’ Sighs Mary Kinder, Told of Gang Leader’s Escape; ‘Hurrah,’ Shouts Her Sister

BY HELEN LINDSAY Time. Staff Writer ‘■YITHEW! I'm glad that I'm W home!” Surprised at the news brought to her by a Times reporter this morning of John Dillingers escape from the jail at Crown Point. Ind , Mary Kinder breathed a huge sigh of relief. “I was at a dance last night, and a state police officer saw' me and talked to me there,” she continued. “I’m glad that proves an alibi for me.” Though she admonished her

National Guard Is Ready to Hunt John Dillinger Militia Ordered to Stand By to Aid State Police in Huge Man Hunt. National guard airplanes, weapons and personnel were placed at the disposal of the state police today in the search for John Dillinger who escaped from the county jail at Crown Point. Resources of the Indiana national guard were placed at the disposal of state police today in the search for John Dillinger, notorious outlaw, who escaped from the Lake county jail.

TUCSON SHERIFF GIVES WARNING ‘lf Dillinger Comes This Way, We’ll Catch Him,’ Officer Says. “If he comes this way we’ll catch him again and bring him back to Indiana.” That was Sheriff Jake Fallar’s facetious comment today in Tucson. Ariz., when The Times called the man who assisted in the capture of the “terror mob” at Tucson by longdistance telephone to tell him of the escape of Dillinger. “What's the matter with you folks in Indiana?” the sheriff asked. “Say. I think you better send that gang back to Arizona to be held.” “But.” he added, “on second thought. I guess you’d better let them run around Indiana. It cost Pima county about SIOO a day to lodge 'em here and the rewards weren't all we expected, either. But we’ll be glad to help any time. I guess the Indiana jailers don't know how to handle “bad men.”

SANDERS DRAWS FIRE OF SENATOR JOHNSON Republican Chairman Preaching Despair, Says Californian. By United Press WASHINGTON. March 3. —Senator Hiram Johnson (Rep., Cal.), who supported President Roosevelt in 1932. denounced the “partisan” activities of Chairman Everett Sanders of the Republican national committee today in a statement accusing Mr. Saunders of “preaching a doctrine of defeat and despair.'” IDENTIFY SLAIN ROBBER Victim Is Found to Be Paroled New York - Convict. The burglar slain early yesterday in Barskin's dry goods store. 1245 Oliver avenue, was identified as Leon Lamphere. 19. of 937 Division street, a paroled convict from Auburn (N. Y.) prison. Lamphere was slain by Elmer Yeager, 48, of 1441 Totman avenue, merchant policeman. BYRD SHIP ESCAPES ICE Bear of Oakland Continues Trip to New Zealand. By United Press SS. BEAR OF OAKLAND. March 3.—(By Mackay Radio* —The Bear was making slow progress through high seas today after having escaped danger of being frozen in the Antarctic ice all winter.

Dr. Wynekoop Collapses Under Merciless Quizzing

By United Prms CRIMINAL COURT BUILDING, CHICAGO, March 3.—Dr. Alice Lindsay Wynekoop collapsed on the witness stand today. The 63-year-old physician collapsed while she was being questioned mercilessly by Prosecutor Charles S. Dougherty about the details of discovery of the body of her daughter-in-law, Rheta, on the night of last Nov. 21. The jury hurried from the room as the defendant slumped forward in her chair under the barrage of cross-examination. She is charged with murder in connection with Rheta's death and was on the stand in her own defense. Immediate restorative measures were taken and Dr. Wynekoop soon Lm

The Indianapolis Times v Occasional rain tonight and tomorrow; slightly warmer tonight and somewhat colder tomorrow afternoon.

sister. Mrs. Margaret Behrens, who shouted “Hurrah” when she heard the new\s of the escape, Mary's face was wreathed in smiles. “I don’t see how r he managed it.” she said, in wondering tones. “They said he w'as being guarded so carefully.” 000 MARY had little comment to make on her own release from the Marion county jail this week, where she was held on a charge of aiding Dillinger. Harry Pierpont. and other members of

Governor Paul V. McNutt, after a conference with Adjutant-General Elmer F. Straub, said that national guard airplanes, weapons and personnel would be made available immediately. The Governor said he didn't think it would be necessary to call out the troops themselves unless it were discovered that Dillinger is hiding in Indiana. Straub said he would instruct all national guard officers to have their men ready for instantaneous mobilization if it is found necessary _to enlist their aid. Meanwhile A1 G.'Feeney. supey* intendent of the state police, kept in almost constant communication with the state police barracks at Tremont, in Lake county. Feeney ordered all roads in the northern part of the state blockaded and placed every member of the force on twenty-four-hour duty. Captain Matt Leach of the state police was informed of the escape when he telephoned state police headquarters, en route back here from Michigan City, less than an hour after the break. News Spreads Fast The news of John Diliinger’s escape spread like wildfire throughout the city and newspaper offices and city and state police headquarters were swamped with telephoned inquiries for verification of the report. A number of bankers called city police to verify the report in preparation to taking precautions against possibility of a bank holdup to finance Dillinger and his new mob in their flight. Chief Mike Morrissey, when informed of the escape, said that it would be unfair, at this distance from Crown Point, to criticize officials there for anything that occurred.

Jail Break Cites Need of Police Radio, Chief Says

State Barracks Twenty Miles From Scene of Escape Informed of Deed From Here, Feeney Reveals. Twenty-five miles from the county jail at Crown Point is the barracks of the state police at Tremont. John Dillinger escaped from the Crown Point jail.

The Tremont barracks did not hear of the escape until informed by state police headquarters at Indianapolis. which in turn had been informed by press services and Indianapolis newspapers. On the basis of this, A1 Feeney, director of public safety, todaypleaded for all-state radio communication between state police barracks. county sheriffs and city officers. “If Indiana is to cope with crime and criminals and prevent a re-

regained composure and told Judge Harry B. Miller: “Don't let them take me from the courtroom. I want to finish it now.” The judge ordered a pillow be brought to cushion the physician's head while she rested during a temporary recess. Dr. Catherine Wynekoop. the defendant's own I daughter, was ordered to attend her mother and was asked by the judge whether digitalis would be necessary. She replied in the negative, but was highly indignant at the decision to permit her mother to continue. “She should be taken to a hospital and put to bed,” cried the pretty young member of the Wynekoop family, which has long been famous in medical circles. V

INDIANAPOLIS, SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 193-1

the gang to escape last September. “No, that wasn't luck,” she denied. “I w T as innocent, and so they couldn't prove anything on me.” Mary’s plan for the day included no gangster escapes, she said. Clad in a pink smock this morning, she was busily looking over a scrapbook of newspaper clippings which her mother, Mrs. Viola Patterson, 930 Daley street, had kept for her. while she fled across the country with members of Dillinger’s gang. She had planned to pack summer clothing in a trunk, for storage, and had a morning appointment with a hairdresser. Mary said she had not gone to Lima to see Pierpont becaues she knew? she w'ould not be given permission to see him. This afternoon, she was to see her attorney, Miss Jessie Levy, who represented her in the criminal court before Judge Frank P. Baker this week. 000 “j\ATSS LEVY is in communicaiVltion w'ith the attorney in Tucson, and is attending to getting my clothing and jew'elry, held there, returned to me,” Mary explained. “The clothing and jewelry w r ere held when Mary was arrested in Tucson, in company w'ith Harry Pierpont, alleged trigger man of the ‘terror mob.’ Mrs. Patterson, overjoyed this w'eek to have Mary free and at home again, looked around the small apartment in its morning disarray, and sighed in anticipation. “Well, the law will be here, to ask you more questions, Mary,” she warned her daughter. “We’d better get the house straightened up.” And Mary, erstwhile “gunman’s moll.” and often referred to as the “brains of the Dillinger gang,” got busy. “Just a little home girl,” she said, smiling. POISONED HIGHBALL SLAYER IS SpaipTED Dr. Sara Ruth Dean Guilty of Killing Dr. Kennedy, By United Press COURTROOM. GREENWOOD. Miss., March 3.—Dr. Sara Ruth Dean w r as convicted by a circuit court jury here today of charges that she killed Dr. John Preston Kennedy w'ith a poisoned highball in jealous anger at his play to remarry his divorced wife. The penatly was fixed at life imprisonment. WAR DEBTS MAY KEEP CONGRESS IN SESSION Extensions Beyond Anticipated May 1 Seems Likely. By United Press WASHINGTON. March 3.—Congress has been swinging along at a rapid rate, but information that President Roosevelt planned a war debts message before adjournment brought predictions today that the session w'ould continue well beyond May 1, its anticipated duration. TTie May 1 date now appears to have been overly optimistic. The w r ar debts issue, added to the controversial tariff question, may drag the session into the summer.

currence of the Dillinger escape, then we must be equipped with radio,” he said. He urged that state policemen be selected on the merit system and that more modern equipment be purchased to supplant the antiquated tools with which the state police now attempt to combat crime. “Strict discipline, in addtion to the merit system of selecting state policemen, will do much with the aid of radio to prevent another occurrence like this,” said Mr. Feeney. Governor Paul V. McNutt today said that the state had launched a vigiorous campaign to capture John Dillinger, “terror mob” leader. “We have called in the aid of the state police, city police of Indianapolis and other cities in the state and county enforcement officers,” he said. “The state of Indiana offered to take Dillinger to the state prison at Michigan City, when he was brought back from Aucson. Ariz.,” the Governor continued, “but the offer w r as turned down by the Lake county authorities.” Governor McNutt added that no blame can be fixed for Dillinger’s escape today until the investigation is completed. Bag of Clothing Stolen A sealskin bag valued at 575 and containing clothes valued at $l5O was stolen from an automobile owned by C. A. Linsley. 6304 East Washington street, while the car was parked in Jackson street near the Union station last night. „

NO. 1 PUBLIC ENEMY OF NATION BREAKS OUT OF CROWN POINT JAIL, BRANDISHING WOODEN GUN

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Woman Sheriff Prostrate After Criminal’s Escape

4 Don’t Think We’ll Have Any Trouble With Him,’ Officer Said When Taking Charge of Dillinger. BY ARCH STEINEL Times Staff Writer “1 think a lot of these stories about Dillinger are exaggerated. I am not overawed by Dillinger. We will take all necessary precautions to prevent an escape, but 1 don’t think we’ll have any trouble.”

On Jan- 30, Sheriff Lillian Holley uttered these words as John Dillinger, terror gangster, was broughtback from Arizona to face trial on bank robbery charges and a count. Today Mrs. Holley was prostrate in her living quarters at the county jail, due to excitement over the escape of the notorious criminal. She refused to answer her telephone or reply to any queries from press representatives. Mrs. Holley was not disturbed w'hen Dillinger escaped ;oday. She w r as in her living quarters and was not locked up with the rest of the jail attaches. At the time Mrs. Holley became the legal custodian of Dillinger, she said that outside guards would be placed around the jail to prevent a repetition of his Lima (O.) escape. The guards w'ere placed. Today, not one of these guards could be found who saw Dillinger and the Negro accompanying him escape through the garage door at the rear of the jail. In her preparations for caring for Dillinger, the woman sheriff said that he would be kept in a solitary cell and that at all times an armed guard would watch his cell. Mrs. Holley succeeded her husband, Sheriff Roy Holley, who was slaifi last spring in a gun fight with a madman at Ross. Ind. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 41 10 a. m 41 7a. m 40 11 a. m 42 Ba. m 42 12 (n00n)... 43 9 a. m 43 1 p. m 44

Terror Mob’s Trail Is Dotted by Blood, Death

The more serious exploits of the “terror mob,” led by John Dillinger and Harry Pierpont, which created a reign of terror in Indiana and a score of other states for nearly five months, are as follows: Sept. 26.—Finley P. Carson, prison clerk, shot and seriously wounded when ten convicts escaped from the Indiana state prison at Michigan City. Oct. I.—Harry McDonald, Brown county farmer, wounded by James Jenkins, escaped convict, who was shot to death by the posse of which McDonald was a member. Oct. 12. —Jess Sarber, sheriff, shot and killed at Lima. 0., by Pierpont, accompanied by other members of the gang when the aged sheriff resisted delivery of the jail. Dec. 14—William Shaniey, ser-

John Dillinger

DILLINGER PAL ‘TOUGjTKILLER Negro Companion in Escape ‘Quick on Trigger,’ Is Warning. By Times Special GARY, Ind., March 3.—John Dillinger, in picking out a mate to aid him in his second jail delivery, took one of the toughest Negroes in Gary. Police of this city today said that Herbert Youngblood. Dillinger’s companion, would “shoot at the drop of a hat,” and was e'ery bit the bad man of his owm race that Dillinger has proven to be. Youngblood was convicted for the slaying Nov. 23, 1923, of August Piazza, a prominent Italian fruit merchant of Gary. Piazza was in a filling station as Youngblood attempted to stick up the place. The slaying was termed one of the “most cold-blooded slayings in the county” by Gary officers. A check of Youngblood’s home failed to divulge anything of value to Gary detectives. His relatives had not seen or heard from him.

geant of Chicago police, shot and killed by members of the Dillinger gang at a garage which he attempted to search. Dec, 20—Eugene Teague. Indiana state policeman and Indianapolis resident, shot and killed at Paris. 111., in the capture of Edward Shouse, member of the “terror mob.” Jan. 15—Patrick O'Malley, East Chicago policeman, shot and killed in the $20,000 holdup of the First National bank of East Chicago, for which Dillinger was charged with murder. Jan. 26—Dillinger, Makley, Clark and Pierpont captured in Tucson, Ariz., with Mary Kinder and two other women. Today— Dillinger escapes from the Crown Point tlncy jail.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis

Escapes From Lake County Cell, Takes Private Automobile of Sheriff Lillian Holley and Accomplice. ACCOMPANIED BY NEGRO DESPERADO Car Roars Off for Chicago, Driven by Garage Mechanic; Machine Gun Is Seized by Feared Indiana Criminal. (Pictures and other details on Pace 3) By L uited Press CROWN POINT, Ind., March l.—Using a wooden gun to intimidate his guards, John Dillinger broke out of the county jail here today. It was the latest of a series of daring, law-defying escapades engineered by the desperado whose career in crime gained for him the title of America’s No. 1 public enemy. Within a few hours after the escape, carried out in defiance of the extra guards posted by Lake county’s woman sheriff, Lillian Holley, the car carrying Dillinger and a Negro accomplice was sighted near Peotone, 111., east of here. Ernest Blunt, the guard who was intimidated by Dillinger’s makeshift imitation of a gun and who was taken with the desperado in the sheriff’s car, was released near Peotone. Blunt was unceremoniously thrown out of the car and was found by Ed Rust, a farmer, who took him to Peotone. With him was the night mechanic at the Main Street garage, from which Dillinger and his accomplice stole the sheriff’s car. The two immediately joined a hurriedly organized posse and started in pursuit of the desperado.

The sheriff’s car was a Ford sedan equipped with a siren, colored headlights and red wheels. It bore Indiana license plates numbered 679929. The car was believed headed toward Morris, 111. Three other prisoners followed Dillinger and the Negro out of the jail. The trio returned to their cells, however, when they saw the desperado take a machine gun from the office of Warden Lew Baker. The Negro was a convicted murderer named Herbert Youngblood. The daring outlaw carried a machine gun and his accomplice was armed with a revolver. Behind them they left the emergency armed and guarded jail house locked fore and aft with all guards and deputy sheriffs locked in their cells. Sheriff Holley, who had boasted that Dillinger ‘ would never get out of jail,” was reported to have been in her sleeping quarters at the time of the jail break. Shortly after she was informed of the break she became hysterical, it was said. Takes All Jail Keys Since Dillinger took all the jail keys with him, it was impossible immediately to gain entrance to the bullpen and cell block. The break occurred at 9:20 a. m. At 9:30 Dillinger, the Negro and the jail fingerprint expert, Deputy Sheriff Ernest Blunt, appeared at the Main Street garage, adjoining the jail and criminal courts building. Blunt was covered by Dillinger s machine gun and the Negro's pistol. Three employes of the garage were forced to hold their hands aloft while the desperado cooly picked out Sheriff Holley’s automobile. “One move out of any of you and I’ll blow your head off,” Dillinger saidBlunt warned the garage employes to comply with Dillinger s commands. “He knocked over one guy inside the jail,” Blunt said. Singles Out Mechanic Dillinger then singled out Ed Saager. night mechanic at the garage to drive the automobile and forced Blunt to take the back seat of the automobile. The Negro vaulted into the car and pushed his gun against Blunt’s side. Dillinger then climbed into the machine and gave the command to “get out of here.” Saager turned the automobile and sent it out of the garage with the engine roaring. The garage employes rushed out to see the car turned northward. It was revealed that the break occurred at the regular hour for releasing the prisoners from their cells for exercise. The guards evidently were taken by surprise. Takes Two Guns Dillinger and Youngblood armed themselves in the warden’s office, Dillinger taking two machine guns and the Negro a revolver. When the other three prisoners returned to the jail cells, Dillinger followed them and kidnaped Deputy Sheriff Blunt. Dillinger locked the jail doors with Blunt’s keys. He then led the other two through the warden’s living quarters into the warden's kitchen. There Mrs. Baker cowered in fright before the machine guns. “Just take it easy,” Dillinger said.

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"Bea nice girl and we may not shoot you.” Mrs. Baker held her hands up and the bandit led the way down a flight of stairs to the jail garage. There were no automobiles in the garage and the men ran to the Main Street garage. Lima Doubles Guards By L uited /’rots LIMA, 0., March 3. Guards around the barricaded Allen county jail, where three confederates of John Dillinger are awaiting murder trial, were doubled today immediately after receipt of word that Dillinger had broken from jail at Crown Point, Ind. The three gangsters here are accused of leading the band of men who raided the local jail last Oct. 12. killed Sheriff Jesse L. Sarber and liberated Dillinger. The men, Harry Pierpont, Russell Clark and Charles Makley, were captured with Dillinger in Tucson, Ariz. National guardsmen under command of Brigadier-General Harold M. Bush have been on patrol here constantly ever since the men were returned three weeks ago today from the Indiana state prison. General Bush scoffed at reports that Dillinger might succeed in coming here and freeing his companions; but nevertheless as a precautionary measure he ordered the guard doubled and the men manacled. “I'm not going to blow up just because one man got out,” General Bush said. ‘We are prepared for any attempt to free these gangsters. The Angel Gabriel might be able to get out of here, but no one else could-” Pierpont is schedu’ed to go on trial Tuesday on a charge of murdering Sarber. Counsel for him today filed affidavits asking removal of Judge Emmit Everett, on grounds that he was “biased and prejudiced.” Gary Rumor Denied By Times Special GARY, Ind., March 3.—“ We haven’t got him here. If we did have, we'd hold on to him.’ That was the laconic reply today of Gary police officers to legions of phone calls regarding a rumor that John Dillinger, escaped mobster, had been captured in that city. “In fact,” added Gary police, “we didn't know he had escaped until it was so long afterward that he could have been in Hong-Kong, China.” Sheriff Is Blamed By United Prt ss MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., March 3. —Warden Louis E. Kunkel of the state prison today blamed Sheriff Lillian Holley and other Lake county officials for the escape of John Dillinger from jail there this morning. “When Dillinger was brought to Lake county from Tucson, Ariz., I told Lake county officials I would be glad to hold him in the prison for safekeeping,” Kunkel said. “But Mrs. Holley answered that she didn't know what the plans were.” Squads Ordered Out By United Press CHICAGO, Mrach 3.— Five squads of heavily armed men were mobilized by Dan Gilbert today and sent out to look for John Dillinger with orders to ‘ shoot to kill.”