John Dilinger American famous bank robber, 'public enemy No.1' Date of Birth: 22.06.1903 Country: USA

Biography of John Dillinger

John Dillinger, also known as the "Public Enemy No. 1," was an American famous bank robber who revolutionized the criminal world by utilizing the technological advancements of civilization. He was an early adopter of using cars and was one of the first to employ hostage-taking during bank robberies. Dillinger became a notorious figure and evaded capture multiple times, becoming a headache for law enforcement throughout America. His exploits and eventual death parallel the story of the romantic duo of robbers, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.

Dillinger was born in 1903 in Indianapolis to a family that owned a grocery store. His father, who was married for the second time, was not particularly interested in raising his children. When Dillinger was three years old, his mother died from an injury, leaving him in the care of his stepmother, who did not treat him well. From an early age, Dillinger showed a tendency towards breaking the law. He formed a gang called the "12 Rascals" at the age of nine and was involved in a coal theft shortly after. Despite his criminal behavior, he was allowed to stay with his family. At the age of thirteen, Dillinger participated in a group rape but this was just a small episode in his troubled youth.

In 1919, Dillinger dropped out of school and became a mechanic, a profession he enjoyed due to his fascination with machines. He later used his knowledge of mechanics to select and prepare cars for his criminal activities. During this time, his family moved to Morrisville, and Dillinger continued to display his delinquent behavior. His father often beat him for refusing to work on the family farm, which was built by his older brother in 1920. In 1923, when his father refused to lend him his car, Dillinger stole someone else's car but was caught by the police. He was released on bail and, fearing his father's anger, never returned home. That same year, he joined the Navy and served on the USS Utah, but he soon deserted since discipline was not his forte. Upon returning to Morrisville, Dillinger was arrested for stealing chickens but had his sentence overturned. The following year, he fell in love with a teenage girl and decided to settle down. He moved into her house with her parents, and under their influence, he made an attempt to live an honest life by working as an upholsterer in a furniture factory and becoming a member of a local baseball club. However, this domestic bliss was short-lived. Soon, Dillinger and his new friends decided to rob a local department store. They found no money at the cashier's, so they hit him on the head and shot him. Dillinger was arrested, and in exchange for a reduced sentence, he cooperated and received a ten-year prison term, much to his surprise.

Like many famous criminals, prison became a school of life for Dillinger. It was there that he met Harry Pierpont, who introduced him to the world of bank robbery. With Pierpont's help and other inmates, Dillinger compiled a list of banks in the Midwest that were worth robbing. He also found potential accomplices while in prison. Dillinger was conditionally released in 1933, a time when the United States was going through a severe economic crisis. While Dillinger was in prison, the country changed dramatically. The post-war prosperity was replaced by the Great Depression, leaving millions unemployed and homeless. However, this did not deter Dillinger from pursuing his chosen career path, which was far from uncommon at the time. In 1933, an average of two bank robberies occurred every day in the United States. That same year, American statistics recorded over 1.3 million serious crimes, robberies, and murders, two-thirds of which went unsolved.

Upon his release, Dillinger immediately acquired weapons and formed a gang. The gang consisted of Harry Pierpont, John Hamilton, and several others. They began their criminal spree in September 1933, robbing a small bank, two supermarkets, a plant, and another bank. During their first robbery, Dillinger leaped over a nearly five-meter barrier in a manner similar to his favorite actor, Douglas Fairbanks. Four months after starting their spree, the police located and arrested the leader of the gang. From a small prison in Lima, Ohio, Dillinger managed to escape with the help of Pierpont, who organized an armed raid to free his friend. By that time, Pierpont had already escaped from four prisons. With Pierpont's assistance, Dillinger managed to also recruit new members for his gang and prepared for their future exploits. However, the law enforcement agencies began to catch up with them. While Dillinger was in hiding in Chicago, he was joined by Billie Frechette, his girlfriend, and Mary Kinder, Pierpont's wife. Two weeks later, Dillinger killed a police officer. During a shootout, the officer fired four shots at Dillinger, missing each time. In response, Dillinger shot and killed the police officer, which was his first murder.

Dillinger continued to commit armed robberies in different states, primarily targeting banks. After an intense chase following a robbery, Dillinger was wounded. He and one of his gang members, along with his lover, went into hiding in St. Paul, a favorite spot for gangsters. He rented an apartment for himself and his lover, but suspicious neighbors reported them to the FBI. A shootout ensued, during which Dillinger was wounded in the leg, but he managed to escape.

Desperate and on the run, Dillinger decided to commit an audacious act. On April 5, 1934, he visited his elderly father in Morrisville. Father and son reconciled and organized a secret party for family members and friends, unknowingly while the police were searching the family farm. The FBI never suspected that Dillinger would dare to hide in his father's house.

Later, his father made a statement: "I am John Dillinger's father, and I feel that John should be forgiven for everything he has done. Besides, I don't think he has done as much as they say he has. But I suppose that if he were given a chance, he would have straightened out within the family. We discussed this over lunch on Sunday. When we prepared to sit down to eat, we did not know that John was coming. He just walked in as if he had dropped from the sky."

Billie Frechette introduced herself to Dillinger's family as his future wife. Four days later, she was arrested for harboring a criminal, but Dillinger once again managed to elude the clutches of the FBI.

During a late-night getaway on April 13, 1934, Dillinger and his new accomplice, Homer Van Meter, raced their car north to find a place to replenish their weapon supply. In the small town of Warsaw, Indiana, they discovered that the police station was only guarded by one officer. The bandits stormed the station, struck the officer four times on the head, and took some weapons from the station's arsenal.

On April 20, Dillinger and members of his gang, along with several young women, were enjoying themselves at the Bohemian Lodge on the shore of Little Star Lake in Wisconsin. This resort town was the perfect hiding place since the vacation season had not yet begun. Dillinger, Hamilton, and several other gangsters were in the main building, while Baby Nelson and Van Meter were in a cottage by the lake with the women. The owner of the resort quickly realized who his guests were and informed the police. They attempted to surround the lodge, but their cover was blown by the barking guard dogs. In the ensuing shootout, Dillinger and his men escaped through the windows, leaving behind most of their weapons, their girlfriends, and their car. The battle resulted in the deaths of a police officer (killed by Baby Nelson) and an innocent passerby. However, Dillinger managed to bury the body of Hamilton, who died from sepsis and gangrenous inflammation of his wounds. Before burying him, Dillinger poured acid on Hamilton's face and fingers to prevent identification.

Despite the losses, Dillinger remained a thorn in the side of law enforcement in several states. A reward was offered for his capture, initially set at ten thousand dollars and later increased to twenty thousand dollars, a vast sum for that time. His photographs were posted everywhere by the police and FBI agents.