Up next in 10
John Dillinger: Public Enemy #1 – The Most Wanted Outlaw of the 1930s
2K views
Mar 19, 2025
Imagine a time when the line between hero and villain was blurred—when the Great Depression turned ordinary men into outlaws, and one daring bank robber became a legend. This is the story of John Dillinger, the most notorious criminal of the 1930s, whose bold heists, daring escapes, and relentless pursuit by the FBI made him Public Enemy Number One. From his small-town roots in Indiana to his dramatic final moments outside a Chicago theater, this video uncovers the real story behind the myth. Was he a ruthless gangster or a Robin Hood figure of the era? 🔹 The Great Depression & Rise of Bank Robbers 🔹 Dillinger’s Most Daring Heists & Legendary Escapes 🔹 J. Edgar Hoover’s Mission to Bring Him Down 🔹 The Final Showdown That Shocked America Join us as we explore the life, legacy, and legend of John Dillinger, the man who defied the law and captivated a nation. 💬 What do you think—was Dillinger a criminal mastermind or a folk hero? Let us know in the comments! John Dillinger: Public Enemy #1 – The Most Wanted Outlaw of the 1930s 🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more incredible true crime stories! --~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~--~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Curious about how artificial intelligence can boost your productivity and creativity? Explore MaxAI, your ultimate AI companion designed to simplify tasks and enhance efficiency. Whether you need help with writing, data analysis, or creative brainstorming, MaxAI has got you covered.
View Video Transcript
0:00
[Music]
0:06
[Music]
0:18
imagine a world where the line between
0:21
hero and villain blurs where a
0:23
charismatic Outlaw becomes a legend and
0:26
where the Great Depression turns honest
0:29
men into thieves welcome to the Roaring
0:33
1930s and the extraordinary tale of John
0:36
Dillinger America's most notorious bank
0:39
robber and Public Enemy Number One in an
0:42
era when Banks were seen as the enemy of
0:44
the Common Man one daring criminal Rose
0:47
to infamy capturing the hearts of a
0:50
nation and the Relentless pursuit of the
0:52
newly formed FBI this is the story of a
0:55
man who went from smalltime crook to
0:58
America's Most Wanted a tale of
1:01
audacious heists daring escapes and a
1:04
cat and mouse game that would change the
1:07
face of lore enforcement forever join us
1:10
as we delve into the life of John
1:12
Dillinger the man who taunted the law
1:15
defied death and became a legend in his
1:19
own time from his humble beginnings in
1:22
Indianapolis to his dramatic final
1:24
moments outside a Chicago Theater will
1:27
uncover the truth behind the myth and
1:30
the man who became the FBI's Ultimate
1:34
Prize this introduction sets the stage
1:37
for Dillinger story highlighting the
1:39
historical context his
1:42
notoriety and the high stakes chase that
1:46
made him famous it draws from the
1:48
information provided in the context
1:51
while creating an engaging hook to
1:53
capture the viewers attention all my
1:56
life I've wanted to be a bank robber now
1:59
that it's finally happened I think I'm
2:01
almost the best Thief this country has
2:03
ever seen my success is evident I've
2:07
robbed over a dozen Banks taking
2:09
hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash
2:12
to pull off my heists I just need my
2:15
gang my gun and a fast car if you aim to
2:20
be the most wanted man in America you've
2:22
got to be ready for the heat they won't
2:25
stop me or they'll have to take me out
2:28
in the pursuit of Public Enemy numers
2:30
one Edgar Hoover the first director of
2:33
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
2:35
orders Melvin pervis The Man In Charge
2:38
in Chicago to drop everything and find
2:42
John Dillinger by
2:44
1933 bank robbers had become so
2:48
successful that for the first time some
2:51
of the largest banks began to
2:54
occasionally station guards however the
2:56
challenge wasn't just about getting in
2:58
showing a gun and taking the money the
3:01
real problem was escaping John Dillinger
3:05
proved to be skilled at this task
3:08
getting in and out quickly and making
3:09
sure the getaway car was ready he
3:12
taunted the law and defied death
3:14
believing himself Invincible but
3:17
challenging everyone so closely made him
3:20
realize it was better to start
3:23
disappearing now John Dillinger was the
3:26
most wanted man in America Public Enemy
3:30
number one Dillinger's Fame was
3:32
solidified during the Great Depression
3:35
an economic Apocalypse in which many
3:38
Americans lost their jobs and homes due
3:40
to foreclosures on their Farms the
3:43
relationship between the American people
3:45
and their Banks was hostile considering
3:49
the villains who seized their
3:50
possessions through
3:52
foreclosures the depression turned
3:54
honest men into Petty thieves and
3:57
although prohibition had already created
3:59
a generation of Outlaws the acceptance
4:02
of certain illegal activities especially
4:05
those perceived as victimless made an
4:08
entire generation of Americans more
4:10
comfortable with criminal Behavior than
4:13
ever before perhaps they would have been
4:16
before John came from a modest
4:18
background in Indiana born in
4:20
Indianapolis from an early age he had
4:23
problems although he was bright and
4:26
intelligent he was unruly and got into a
4:29
lot out of trouble like everyone else
4:32
the first thing he stole was a chicken
4:35
he enjoyed the usual things he went away
4:38
to the Navy for a while but couldn't
4:41
handle the discipline so he came back
4:44
home to pick up where he left off
4:47
Dillinger's first major crime was
4:49
robbing a storekeeper named Frank Morgan
4:53
in his hometown in Morrisville Dillinger
4:57
was frankly an inept Thief
5:00
night apparently after drinking too much
5:03
he and another guy decided they needed
5:05
more money they took a large metal bolt
5:08
wrapped it in cloth hit a man on the
5:11
head with it and took quite a bit of
5:13
money Dillinger was arrested
5:16
immediately he didn't ask for a lawyer
5:19
and foolishly agreed with the prosecutor
5:22
to plead guilty to this minor crime
5:25
people told him that if he pleaded
5:27
guilty he would only get a slap on the
5:30
wrist and it was a slap but it was still
5:33
a direct hit to the face to dillingers
5:36
and his family's surprise he was sent to
5:40
prison for a 10 to 20e sentence for a
5:43
drunken and foolish robbery of a
5:46
storekeeper what's fascinating is that
5:49
while entering the Reformatory as a fool
5:51
and amateur he met many future members
5:54
of his gang and earned a PhD in crime he
5:58
learned the necess necessities of the
6:00
trade from the experts what he learned
6:03
in prison wasn't just about money in
6:05
Banks and having a gun he learned how to
6:08
systematize bank robbery he identified a
6:12
series of tasks that needed to be done
6:15
with each gang member taking on one of
6:17
these roles the Vault man the lobby man
6:21
the man covering the lobby the guy at
6:23
the door and the getaway driver most
6:26
important element of all was the Escape
6:29
Plan
6:30
after serving 8 and 1 half years he was
6:32
granted parole and was now ready to put
6:34
his education to the test Dillinger
6:37
wasted no time the kid from Indiana who
6:40
could barely rob a storekeeper was now
6:43
capable of stealing police grade
6:45
bulletproof vests and high powerered
6:47
machine guns which gives an idea of how
6:50
incredibly sophisticated he became in
6:53
crime while in prison if Dillinger was a
6:57
novice before you could say he became a
6:59
professional after robbing his first
7:01
bank and a handful more in no time it
7:05
was what we could call a hot streak in
7:09
one of his many robberies the police
7:11
arrested him and he was incarcerated in
7:13
the state prison awaiting trial a few
7:16
days later some of Dillinger's friends
7:19
who had escaped from the Indiana State
7:21
Prison appeared dressed in uniforms
7:24
before the prison Sheriff posing as
7:27
agents who wanted to transfer the
7:29
prisoner back to the Indiana
7:31
Penitentiary Sheriff didn't believe them
7:34
and when he asked for their credentials
7:36
one of the criminals pulled out a gun
7:39
and shot him they then took the keys
7:42
freed Dillinger from his cell and locked
7:45
the sheriff's wife in another cell
7:48
before escaping although none of these
7:50
criminals had specifically violated any
7:53
federal laws the assistance of the FBI
7:56
was required for their capture
7:59
identification and location after the
8:02
identification division confirmed his
8:04
identity through fingerprints they began
8:07
their search for his capture meanwhile
8:11
the gang robbed several banks in these
8:14
heists there were very few deaths and in
8:17
some cases none public reading the news
8:20
in the newspapers and irritated with the
8:22
bankers for the recessionary effects of
8:24
the Great Depression began to idolize
8:27
Dillinger as a robin hood-like figure
8:30
with notable personal style even the
8:34
gang members seemed to be discreet about
8:36
the violence used in their robberies
8:38
Dillinger enjoyed the thrill of bank
8:40
robbing he wasn't just a thug it wasn't
8:43
his style but he liked the drama of it
8:46
all even so friction and violence were
8:51
inevitable in their grand performance
8:54
John Hamilton one of his gang members
8:56
shot and killed an agent in chic Chicago
9:00
a month later during a shootout the gang
9:03
killed Officer William O Ali in a
9:06
robbery at the First National Bank of
9:08
East Chicago Dillinger would enter the
9:11
bank and sing his usual Line This is a
9:15
robbery hands up and step aside during
9:19
this particular Heist there weren't as
9:21
many people involved typically their
9:24
robberies had between four and six
9:26
people but the job in Chicago was done
9:29
with only two or three it didn't fit my
9:32
usual pattern of heists but it had to be
9:34
done the police burst in and we froze I
9:38
aimed the gun at them saying I'm not
9:40
going to shoot you but this time things
9:43
got a little out of control the gang
9:45
ultimately had to kill Officer William
9:47
om Ali it wasn't characteristic of
9:50
Dillinger to kill people
9:52
gratuitously Dillinger wasn't in the
9:55
business of murder he was in The
9:58
Business of Being a successful bank
9:59
robber but he was perfectly willing to
10:02
kill to get the money he felt was
10:05
rightfully his I've always felt bad
10:08
about the death of people but it was
10:10
just part of the job honestly no one was
10:13
100% sure who killed that officer the
10:17
fact is it doesn't even matter who
10:19
actually pulled the trigger if people
10:21
believe you shot a cop that's bad news
10:25
the outcome of the bank robbery in
10:26
Chicago was devastating as it meant he
10:29
could now face the death penalty if he
10:32
went to trial he would probably have
10:34
been found guilty and sentenced to death
10:37
so at that moment everything changed for
10:41
him he had everything to gain by
10:43
escaping and everything to lose if he
10:47
were caught one thing was very clear he
10:50
had no plans of being captured by the
10:53
government or anyone else laws were
10:55
written in such a way that if a bank was
10:58
robbed for example in Michigan the FBI
11:02
faced difficulties turning it into a
11:04
federal crime the FBI didn't have the
11:08
authority to investigate that robbery
11:10
one of the reasons Dillinger was so
11:12
successful and had such longevity was
11:16
that once you left a county the sheriff
11:18
wouldn't pursue you the gang
11:21
subsequently moved to Florida and then
11:24
to Tucson Arizona there on January 23rd
11:27
1934
11:29
a fire broke out at the hotel where
11:32
Clark and muly members of the gang were
11:36
hiding under false names firefighters
11:39
recognized the men from their
11:41
photographs and a local police officer
11:43
arrested them along with Dillinger and
11:47
other members several firearms and over
11:49
$5,000 in cash which represented a
11:53
fortune at the time were found including
11:56
part of the loot from the bank robbery
11:58
in Chicago go by then Dillinger was
12:01
becoming a true National figure he had
12:04
left behind the guise of a simple
12:06
Indiana Bandit and was appearing in
12:08
National
12:09
newspapers Dillinger was facing a charge
12:13
of murder for the death of the police
12:15
officer in the Chicago Bank long arm of
12:18
the lore had reached John Dillinger and
12:21
he took his first flight in an
12:23
airplane received in Chicago with an
12:26
incredible scene crowds of press and a
12:29
motorcycle Convoy to escort him back to
12:32
prison some said I was arrogant and with
12:36
good reason I was more famous than them
12:39
smarter and better looking right next to
12:43
Dillinger was the prosecutor and in a
12:46
nearly iconic photo Dillinger put his
12:48
arm around the prosecutor's shoulder and
12:51
laughed it was quite funny as he boasted
12:54
that he would escape from prison as if
12:57
he didn't care at all Viller was sent to
13:00
the prison in Indiana which was said to
13:03
be escape proof fugitive Escape groups
13:06
surrounded it with shot guns and paraded
13:08
through the streets additionally there
13:10
were several locked doors and a long
13:12
Corridor that any inmate would have to
13:15
navigate without being detected to get
13:17
out the authorities boasted a lot about
13:19
how the prison was escape proof all this
13:22
talk about a famous escape proof prison
13:25
I swear people attempting fate or at
13:28
least tempting me but most of the time
13:32
you don't escape from prison by picking
13:35
locks or fighting your way out you
13:38
escape with cunning and that's something
13:41
I have plenty of on March 3rd
13:44
1934 Dillinger used one of his tricks to
13:48
escape he carved an object shaped like a
13:51
gun out of an unspecified material
13:54
possibly a bar of soap or a piece of
13:56
wood and intimidated the prison guard
13:59
into opening his cell so he could flee
14:03
after locking up his custodians this
14:05
incident further paved his way to fame
14:09
the story was widely disbelieved such a
14:12
thing could never have happened but in
14:14
fact it seems to have been true he
14:17
managed to take a couple of guards
14:19
hostage with this makeshift gun however
14:22
at some point he made his way through
14:25
these locked doors went down the stairs
14:28
where he obtained two Thompson
14:30
submachine guns and managed to leave the
14:32
building
14:34
unnoticed he then went outside to the
14:36
garage and stole the sheriff's car a
14:39
fine Ford
14:40
V8 as you know I have a high regard for
14:44
those cars I even wrote to Ford himself
14:47
praising the vehicle the Press mocked
14:49
this action and published headlines
14:51
making fun of the sheriff which only
14:54
increased the robber's popularity
14:56
however The Fugitive made the mistake of
14:58
Crossing ing the state line into Indiana
15:01
in the stolen vehicle thereby violating
15:04
a federal law and involving the FBI in
15:07
his capture what good is the FBI what
15:11
good is Edgar Hoover if they aren't
15:15
pursuing Dillinger this car theft was
15:18
the card Hoover needed to play to get
15:21
into the game the Manpower and weaponry
15:24
of the FBI could now be directed towards
15:28
John Dillinger
15:29
I'm Melvin pervis from the Federal
15:31
Bureau of Investigation and I have my
15:34
orders to capture John Dillinger at any
15:37
cost There Will Be Blood and Glory but
15:41
not enough of one and too much of the
15:43
other suddenly Dillinger was receiving a
15:47
lot of attention unwanted attention
15:50
perhaps what propelled him from being a
15:52
national figure to the most famous
15:54
criminal in the world was his prison
15:57
escape now he was the most wanted man in
16:00
America Public Enemy Number One the top
16:03
bank robber in the country that was
16:06
great but being Public Enemy Number One
16:09
also brought its own set of problems the
16:12
FBI was closing in like dogs at the
16:15
dinner table they had entered the
16:17
pursuit of Dillinger after the prison
16:20
escape almost all other high profile
16:23
cases in the office took a back seat as
16:27
Hoover ordered the man in charge
16:29
Melvin pervis to basically drop
16:32
everything and find John Dillinger
16:35
meanwhile some members of the gang were
16:38
sentenced to death for murder While
16:40
others received life sentences after
16:43
this Dillinger teamed up with his
16:45
girlfriend Evelyn FR and later allied
16:49
with other criminals including the
16:51
infamous Babyface Nelson with this
16:54
second gang he also managed to execute
16:57
major Bank heists
16:59
the Public Enemy now ascended to fame as
17:02
an underworld hero and here I was on the
17:05
Silver Screen just like the movie stars
17:08
given the amount of press I received it
17:11
was no surprise that there were very few
17:13
places where I could disappear except St
17:16
Paul in that crazy City my girl and I
17:20
could remain unnoticed the police in
17:23
that city was so corrupt and so willing
17:25
to take bribes that a Public Enemy like
17:28
John Dillinger could walk down the
17:30
street greet the police and they would
17:32
tip their hats without reporting or
17:35
arresting him this was the safest city
17:39
in the United States for a criminal
17:42
tracking Dillinger wasn't easy but then
17:45
the St Paul police received a tip from
17:47
the land lady about her new tenants the
17:51
curtains were always drawn and she could
17:54
never get a glimpse into the apartment
17:58
in St Paul call seeing something a bit
18:00
odd wasn't unusual as it housed many
18:04
Public Enemies of the time however the
18:07
land lady decided to call the police
18:10
thinking maybe someone had an illegal
18:11
still or something two young officers
18:14
went out to check thinking it would be
18:17
nothing they knocked on the door and a
18:20
voice said it was Billy Dillinger's
18:22
girlfriend saying she wasn't decent and
18:25
would be out in a moment they kept
18:27
knocking and then then boom Dillinger
18:31
burst through the door and amidst
18:33
gunfire John Dillinger Public Enemy
18:36
Number One the most wanted man in
18:38
America escaped once again it was
18:42
thrilling except for getting shot I must
18:45
have really ticked them off I simply
18:47
jumped and took off you know what they
18:50
call me right the rabbit because I just
18:53
disappear and no one can catch me I like
18:56
that name and the reputation that comes
18:59
with it the embarrassment for the FBI
19:01
was huge but still Edgar Hoover was
19:05
trying to justify his burgeoning police
19:08
force Dillinger was a strong argument
19:12
for the need for a powerful FBI Hoover's
19:15
Ambitions for the FBI were such that
19:17
they needed to be a force capable of
19:20
dealing with the nation's number one
19:22
villain in a way the encounter between
19:26
Edgar Hoover the FBI director and John
19:29
Dillinger was the perfect match they
19:32
were made for each other Dillinger was
19:35
the best thing that could have happened
19:37
to Edgar Hoover Dillinger made Hoover
19:41
and the FBI what they are today after
19:44
the recent confrontation Dillinger and
19:47
his girlfriend Evelyn went to
19:49
Morrisville where they stayed at his
19:51
father's and step brother's house until
19:54
his wound healed subsequently the FBI
19:57
lost track of Dylan
19:59
three four and even five times within a
20:02
matter of weeks the trick was to keep
20:05
moving so I decided to find a safe house
20:09
in a place with someone I thought I
20:10
could trust I was becoming too arrogant
20:14
the FBI had received a tip that I was
20:17
meeting with a mafia contact at a local
20:20
Tavern for some reason I had to send my
20:24
girl to check if our contact was there
20:27
it was one of the biggest mistakes I
20:29
made the FBI managed to arrest
20:31
Dillinger's girlfriend and sentenced her
20:33
to a $1,000 fine and 2 years in prison
20:37
for being an active accomplice now
20:41
Dillinger was absolutely distraught he
20:45
had to get her out of there he loved her
20:48
that was clear he was consumed with
20:50
talking and planning ways to rescue her
20:53
until it seemed she sent him a note
20:55
saying John don't do it worst that will
20:59
happen to me is a year and a day for
21:01
being an accomplice and besides if you
21:04
get caught they'll kill you well my
21:07
father always says that hard work cures
21:09
all ills and he's not wrong with Billy
21:13
in jail all I can do is what I do best
21:16
rob banks I know the pressure is
21:19
mounting with Hoover's Public Enemy
21:21
strategy it's turning me into a star
21:24
making Hoover himself a star G Hoover
21:28
wanted John Dillinger to be Infamous so
21:31
that when the FBI took Dillinger down
21:34
Hoover could claim all the credit to
21:37
Congress and say if we didn't have a
21:39
federal police force like the FBI we
21:42
couldn't catch filthy rats like
21:44
Dillinger Hoover needed to make the FBI
21:48
even more powerful so Edgar Hoover
21:51
realized that his career and the future
21:54
of the FBI rested on one thing killing
21:58
on Dillinger subsequently one Sunday
22:02
night Melvin pvis received a phone call
22:05
with a tip that Dillinger and his men
22:08
were hiding out in a rustic Resort in
22:11
the Wisconsin Woods for some reason
22:14
something about this call sounded true
22:18
this was their chance Dillinger was a
22:21
big prize and the icing on the cake was
22:24
that he was Hol Up with someone as
22:27
dangerous as B Baby Face Nelson they
22:30
used airplanes which was crucial because
22:33
they had very little time pervis
22:36
essentially moved Heaven and Earth to
22:38
gather every available FBI agent from
22:40
Chicago and the surrounding areas so the
22:45
FBI flew to Wisconsin to capture and
22:48
hopefully kill John Dillinger we went to
22:52
Little Bohemia to take a break I guess
22:55
the feds don't believe in taking
22:57
vacations but they'll regret
23:00
interrupting hours when Melvin pervis
23:03
and his FBI team arrived on a dark Road
23:07
outside they managed to get the element
23:09
of surprise although Dillinger was
23:12
inside they should have been able to
23:14
surround the place and capture him
23:17
however none of these FBI agents were
23:20
trained for a shootout in the dark and
23:22
in the wilderness so they stumbled over
23:25
each other the FBI was completely
23:27
unprepared
23:29
everything that could go wrong did amid
23:32
the nerves and adrenaline they observed
23:34
a car driving away the FBI had orders to
23:38
shoot to kill they had been humiliated
23:42
by Dillinger's previous escapes so pvis
23:45
and several agents began shouting halt
23:48
stop FBI federal agents unfortunately
23:53
the car's radio was on and quite loud
23:57
they didn't hear the agent and shifted
23:59
gears to speed away FBI opened fire on
24:04
the car it wasn't Dillinger gang it was
24:07
a conservation worker who had been in
24:10
the wrong place at the wrong time an
24:13
innocent man was killed by the FBI and
24:17
another was injured but the worst part
24:20
for the FBI was that their gunfire in
24:23
the middle of the night alerted
24:25
Dillinger's gang to their presence they
24:28
looked out the window and saw a group of
24:30
Agents stumbling in the dark it was then
24:32
that Dillinger Babyface Nelson and the
24:36
rest of the gang realized they were in
24:39
serious trouble FBI was in the woods
24:43
there was an exchange of gunfire
24:45
Dillinger and some of the gang members
24:47
opened fire from the second floor rooms
24:51
Babyface Nelson killed Agent Carter Bal
24:55
and all the gang members fled in various
24:57
directions outwitting the agents the
25:00
aftermath of Little Bohemia was dramatic
25:03
that night was certainly the lowest
25:05
point in FBI history up to that time and
25:08
by any measure it remains one of the
25:11
lowest points in FBI history to this day
25:14
Melvin pvis in particular was devastated
25:18
because an FBI agent was killed under
25:20
his supervision raids failure led to the
25:23
death of a comrade all the political
25:26
capital and media retention they had
25:28
accumulated in the previous months was
25:31
suddenly squandered goua became a
25:35
laughing stock Dillinger was the first
25:39
Public Enemy labeled as a superstar a
25:41
notorious celebrity but a celebrity
25:44
nonetheless everyone in the United
25:46
States knew who he was don't get me
25:49
wrong he loved the attention but having
25:52
one of the most recognizable faces in
25:54
the country when you have a price on
25:56
your head is not not good for business
26:00
in the following weeks and months
26:02
Dillinger tried to change his appearance
26:04
by visiting some surgeons perhaps to
26:07
remove some moles and that distinctive
26:09
Clift in his chin the FBI received many
26:13
tips but most of them LED nowhere they
26:16
hadn't made much progress until they got
26:18
a breakthrough they received a phone
26:20
call from the Chicago Police from a
26:23
detective named Martin
26:25
zakovich the detective had a source the
26:28
source's name was Anna and she reported
26:32
that a man named Jimmy Lawrence was
26:34
staying with her but he was actually
26:36
John Dillinger this made sense as Anna
26:40
and Dillinger had a prior relationship
26:43
Anna had significant reasons for turning
26:45
him in as she had just received a letter
26:48
from the immigration department warning
26:50
her that she was about to be deported
26:53
back to her native Romania she decided
26:56
that this was an opportunity to claim
26:57
the substantial reward for Dillinger and
27:00
also seek assistance from the
27:02
immigration department to avoid
27:05
deportation meanwhile I was hiding out
27:08
in Anna's brothel but it wasn't long
27:10
before I started to go a little stir
27:12
crazy I needed to get out and get some
27:15
fresh air with my new girl Polly of
27:18
course Anna reported a plan where she
27:21
John Dillinger and Dillinger's new
27:24
girlfriend Polly Hamilton would go to
27:26
the movies together the left nothing to
27:29
chance after the previous Fiasco
27:32
Dillinger had left the agency on its
27:34
knees now 3 months later it was time for
27:40
Revenge the plan was that when the crowd
27:42
exited the theater Melvin pervis would
27:46
look for Dillinger when he saw him he
27:49
would light a small cigar he was holding
27:52
signaling everyone to move the area
27:55
around the theater was surrounded by
27:57
more than a dozen armed agents as the
27:59
FBI wanted to make absolutely sure they
28:02
got the right guy after all these
28:05
mishaps peris's hand trembled so much
28:09
that he struggled to light the match as
28:11
Dillinger walked along the sidewalk the
28:14
agents began closing in on him when
28:16
Dillinger realized something was wrong
28:19
he drew his gun and started running down
28:21
the alley at that moment the agents
28:24
fired and killed him instantly to give a
28:28
an idea of Dillinger's celebrity and
28:30
notoriety women leaned over his body and
28:33
soaked their petticoats and dresses in
28:35
his blood hoping to take a piece of the
28:38
life force of Public Enemy Number One
28:40
with them it was more than just the heat
28:43
that made my skin crawl it was suddenly
28:45
clear to me that I had been set up the
28:48
headlines that followed Dillinger's
28:50
death were astounding not just in
28:53
Chicago but also in New York and abroad
28:56
in London to too and Berlin he had
29:00
become an international figure something
29:04
about John Dillinger his story and his
29:07
Manhunt clearly resonated with the world
29:11
the irony of it all was that he was
29:13
considered a movie star and died near a
29:16
theater Dillinger's life was a film and
29:20
people read it like a script and saw it
29:22
like a movie anyone over 60 or 70 still
29:26
has a story about Dillinger he became
29:28
part of Chicago's law and American
29:31
tradition and the truth is it's as
29:34
compelling as the legend itself if you
29:37
enjoyed the story of John Dillinger
29:39
please don't forget to like subscribe
29:42
and hit the Bell icon for more gripping
29:44
Tales From history's underworld stay
29:47
tuned for our next episode thank you for
29:51
watching
29:54
[Music]
#Crime & Justice
#Law Enforcement