Dillinger Movie Out Today; Raid In Warsaw Recalled
Dillinger Movie Out Today; Raid In Warsaw Recalled
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Dillinger Movie Out Today; Raid In Warsaw RecalledWhile Warsaw may not be mentioned in the new film "Public Enemies," released today, the focus of the movie was in the city at least one time, maybe more.
According to www.imdb.com, "in the action-thriller 'Public Enemies', acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard in the incredible and true story of legendary Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger (Depp), the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover's fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public."In 1934, Dillinger and his gang robbed three police departments for weapons. The police stations were in Auburn, Peru and Warsaw.
Kosciusko County Jail Museum Director Jack Elam said Police Officer Jud H. Pittenger was the only officer on duty the night of April 12, 1934. Pittenger was going from door to door of businesses, rattling their door handles, making sure they were locked.
Dillinger and two of his associates overpowered Pittenger, Elam said. They took Pittenger to the police station, had him unlock the doors and then knocked him out. This occurred at about 1 a.m. April 13.
According to a the April 13, 1934, edition of The Warsaw Union newspaper, Dillinger and his buddies "gave the once-over to the Warsaw police headquarters in the city building, stole three bullet proof vests and two revolvers, and then faded into the darkness without leaving a forwarding address."
Elam said Pittenger recovered as Dillinger and his gang were still going through the police station. Pittenger "fled down the stairs, falling most of its length, and dodged into an alley back of the Centennial theater just in time to get out of the range of the machine guns flourished by the two desperadoes as they followed him," The Warsaw Union reported.
Pittenger saw the gang enter a dark-colored sedan, parked on Indiana Street, and drive away to the north, past the county jail. Pittenger was uncertain which direction they took after reaching Main Street.
"That was the only time he created any problems" in Warsaw, Elam said of Dillinger. At no time did Dillinger serve time in the Kosciusko County Jail, Elam said, despite stories to the contrary.
According to a letter to the editor of The Warsaw Union later, the equipment stolen from the Warsaw police station was found in Little Bohemia, Wis., where Dillinger hid out.
There also are stories about Dillinger staying at the Barbee Hotel.
An employee of the Barbee Hotel said Dillinger and mobster Al Capone both stayed at the Barbee Hotel. Capone also stayed at The Sphinx on Lake Wawasee.
Elam has a connection to the Dillinger family. John Dillinger actually was John Dillinger Jr., named after his father. John Dillinger Jr. had a brother, named Jake. No matter how poor Jake and his family may have been, Elam said, Jake was very honest and wouldn't have taken a million dollars if you laid it in front of him.
Jake had a son, who also was named John Dillinger. Elam went to high school with Jake's son. While their teacher was shocked by John Dillinger being named after his uncle, Elam said the students thought it was funny. Of course, Elam said, they also went to high school with another student named Benjamin Franklin.
