The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-04

John Wilson Dillinger, aged
father of the slain outlaw, adj
mitted to The Times today
that Johnnie gave the wood
en- gun to Fred Hancock (his
brother-in-law) as a keep
sake"
Pictures of Dillinger holding the
wooden pistol in one hand and a
sub-machine gun under his arm
were taken at the family reunion
April 8 at the Dillinger homestead
in Mooresville, The Times learned
today.
Refusing neWSpapermen permis-
sion to see the weapon" or take
pictures of it, Mr.. Dillinger ST., back
on the farm for few days before
going to Chicago to play the big
time" in vaudeville, admitted that
snapshots had been taken of John
at the reunion.
About Seven Inches Long
The 70-year-old farmer described
the wooden pistol as being about
seven inches long, with a short ham
die and looking pretty much like
the real thing" He admitted seeing
it on April 8.
Il can't let you see it now" said
the aging man." because I'm writing
book about John and we want the
picture of that wooden gun exclu-
Sive."
From all accounts it was a merry
party which Dillinger and his sweet
heart, Evelyn Frechette, enjoyed.
Dillinger, it was learned cloWned
with the toy gun and his more for
midable weapons, while the federal
agents were conducting their half
million dollar search for him.
Phillip Lutz Jr, attorney general.
told The Times today that the
Crown Point investigation still is
open. The attorney general said
that investigators from his Office
have been working on the case
steadily since Dillinger's escape.
$4,000 for Escape?
Mr.. Lutz told The Times that Ed
ward BARGE, his assistant, practice
ally has proven" that Dillinger paid
$4,000 to gain his freedom from the
jail.
Mr.. Lutz said that the name of
the man suspected of receiving the
$4,000 has been mentioned fire.
quently in connection with the case.
THE trouble in the investigation,
said Mr.. Lutz, is that we are deal
ing with convicts who are the only
ones with any knowledge Of the
alleged graft. They won't tell the
true story to us, but they have told
it to others who have relayed the in
formation to my Office"
Dillinger, according to investiga-
tors, used his personality to good
advantage IN disarming his jailers.
For weeks he had laughed and ioked
with guards until they came to re-
gard him as much overrated' as a
killer.
CahoOn Supplied ShOeblack
Sam Cahoon, turnkey of the
Crown Point jail, supplied the shoe
backing with which Dillinger paint
ed his wooden pistol black, Mr. Lutz
charges.
With the aid of his accomplish,
according to Mr.. Lutz's version, Dill
linger got out of his cell. The rest
was easy because of the laXity Of
the guards, he says. Dilinger mere
ly scared the turkeys with his
whitfield pistol and seized the real
weapons which had been left about
carelessly by the large force of spe-
cial deputies hired especially to
guard Diilinger, Mr.. Lutz continues.
When Dillinger got out Of the
CELL" Mr.. Lutz declares, "he knocked
the wooden pistol against the cell
door and turning to the frightened
Jail guards said, Boys, I did it with
this"
If Diuinger did pay $4,000 to buy
his way out of the Crown Point
jail, the desperate, according to
Captain Matt Leach OF the state
police, must have been about broke
when he was killed in Chicago.
IL Just Doesn't Pay
From figures supplied by the BAN
dit himself after his arrest in Day.
ton, o.. last August. Captain Leach
demonstrated in dollars and cents
why crime doesn't pay.
III show you Indiana's big shot
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