The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-24
VAN METER is
SOLE DILLINCER
GANG SURVIVOR
Fl. Wayne Outlaw Brains of
Mob. Declares Cap
tain Leach.
BY JAMES DOSS
Times stan Writer

only one Of the original Dillinger
gang still is alive and at liberty, now
that the man from whom the mob
took ITS name is dead.
The only man Of the original FIVE
to escape death or capture is Homer
Van Meter, r. Wayne. who was. in
the opinion Of Captain Matt Leach
% the state police. the brains" Of
the mob.
When the DIlinger gang started
operating about a year ago. its mem
beers were John Diliinger. Van Meter,
Harry Copeland. Sam Goldstine
and Walter MOhler.
Dillinger was the leader but Van
Meter did most Of the better think
ing for the gang. according TO
Captain Leach.
NohIer Behind Bars
Mohler didn't last long. He was
too ambitious.
In Michigan City prison. he drank
shellac and produced the effect Of
tuberculosis so Cleverly that ne was
gwen a "furlOugh" for sanitarium
treatments. He recovered" at once.
of course. and Joined the others Of
The original five.
Then M0hler got ambitious. He
dropped down into Kentucky and
tried 10 rob a bank single-handed.
He Is now back in prison.
Then GOldstein was captured. He
and Dillinger rented an apartment
IN the exclusive Beverley apartments
IN Gary Captain Leach and Gary
police laid a trap for them. but only
Goldstein was IN the apartment
when the raid was made.
DIllinger made his getaway.
Copeland Captured Later
Copeland was captured much
later. but still the ghOst-like figure
OF Van Meter fitted on. always at
the flngerupS of state and city
police and federal men.
And Van Meter not only is clever.
He has. according TO Captain Leach.
plenty of what commonly is termed
cold nerve.
Remember the radio incident?"
asked Captain Leach.
ivan Meter. Copeland. GOldStine
and MOhler were driving in Chicago
and they had a couple of sub
machine guns in the car. They all
had pistols too.
A Chicago squad car approached
and one of the gang-I think it was
Dillinger or Nohler-said. Let's let
EN- have IT,.
Interested in Radio
An Van Meter said was Shut
your -- head. I'll handle this"
Then Van Meter, according TO
Captain Leach. got out of the mob
sters' car and approached the Chi
ragO police squad difidently.
He explained to the Chicago police T
that the five were a bunch of boys
lrem down IN the sticks of Indiana" /
ana that they would like TO see how /
the police radio works"
We're up for the worlds fair" /
Van Meter said glibly, and I've I
been telling the boys that if We
waited around here long enough /
that one of those squad caSs with
a radio IN it would show up.
How about explaining it to us?"
Police Oblige Bandits
The Chicago coppers said they
would explain. so Van Meter beck
oned the boys from down in the
sticks of Indiana" over to the car.
A pleasant three-qu8rterS Of an
hour was consumed while the big
town CopperS Condescendingly eX-
planned the working OF the police
radio.
The boys from the sticks" stood
around in apparently bUCOlic Won
der. nursing pistols in their armpitS.
Well" said Van Meter. that's
certainly nice of you boys. We al
ways heard that YOU big town cops
are kinda hard noSed. but you've
certainly treated us swell. So lOng. 7
Never Close to Capture
And that's lust the kind of fellow
Van Meter Is" asserts Captain
Leach.
If We captured him today, If
Ohio authorities or. bank employees /
couldn't identify him. the only /
thing We could do would be TO take |
HIM back 10 the state prison as I
parole vlOlatOr.
We have reason 10 believe that I
he never has taken part IN any In .
diana bank robbery. We've got SIX
cases against John Dil!inger. but
not a one against Van Meter.
We never have come close 70
catching him and as far as know, .
nobody else has He'll take lot of
catching. II its ever done"