Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-07
Trapped by Woman,
Outlaw Shot Down;
Wife Is Sought
Long Hunt for Dickson,
Poetic Bandit, Ends
In St. Louis
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS. April 7.-Federa
agents who shot down Bandit Benny
Dickson as he grabbed for his guns
searched all known hideouts today
for his pretty, blond, gun-girl wife
Estelle.
we got Dickson. we'll get her,
commented one.
"Estelle Dickson Is wanted just
as badly as her husband was" de-
clared Gerald B. Norris, chief OF
the St. Louis Office of the Fedora
Bureau of Investigation.
The Dicksons-alWays travelling
together and heavily armed-were
wanted for three kidnapings, two
bank robberies and car theft.
officers expressed the belief Dick
sons slim, 17-year- old wife still is
in this area. She also is an expert
shot and at one time her skill with
a 90 rifle and revolver overshad-
owed that of her husband.
Trapped by Woman.
A lock of blond hair. probably
Estelle's, was in the desperado' s
pocket last night when he was slain
A mysterious woman in brown
apparently led the 27-year-old fugi-
tive into the Federal agents trap
a small restaurant in the outlying
business district. She entered the
cafe a moment before Dickson, Miss
Gloria Cambron. waitress, related
She said the woman was not Mrs
Dickson.
Then the man came in. the one
who was shot" Miss Cambron said
He sat down beside her. They
stayed only a few minutes, and
then he paid both checks and
walked beside her to the door
AS Dickson strolled out OF the
cafe, Federal agents closed In.
Dickson snatched at his two fully
loaded revolvers. The agents loosed
a hail of slugs and two bullets
felled Dickson. He died en- route to
a hospital.
Outlaw Wrote Poetry.
Dickson apparently attempted to
Justify his life of crime with poetry.
In his wallet was found a page
of closely typewriter, amateurish
poetry. The free verse, apparently
written by Dickson, explained his
peculiar philosophy of accomplish
ing good things for life" by doing
harm.
In the eyes of men. I am not
lust, and I should not live. But
in your eyes. o life. I see justiflca-
ton. You have taught me that
my path is right, if I am true to
YOU" it read.
He promised in the verse to put
future time into study and develop
ing into a higher type OF man, and
ito help others become higher"
A worn newspaper photograph OF
Adolf Hitler also was in the wallet.
Long Hunt Ended.
In killing Dickson, Federal agents
ended hunt that had extended over
Missouri. Kansas, Illinois, Michigan,
Indiana, South Dakota and adjoin-
ing States.
The Dicksons started their trail OF
crime after he attacked a driver S
license official in Topeka, Kans., IN
July, 1887.
Bank holdups charged to them
were the $2,187 robbery Of the Corn
Exchange Bank of Elkton, S. OAK.
on August Is, 1898. and of the North
west Security National Bank OF
Brookings, S. OAK, the following
December /, where they got SIT ,592.
Dickson, who had been having
brushes with the law since he was
II, also was wanted for the kidnap-
ing of Henry Metty and Claude Min
mis- near Leonidas, Mich, on Novem-
Der %, 1898. The desperate was
charged with taking them across
the State line into Griffith, Ind, and
stealing their automobile.
In Topeka, Mrs. James Dickson,
the outlaws mother, apparently did
not know of her sons life Of crime
or OF circumstances surrounding his
death. Deaf and In poor health, she
sees few visitors.
Inc husband, James DICKSON, To-
peka High School chemistry instrrc-
tor. and another son, Darwin, have
kept newspapers from her and other
wise shielded her from news Of
Benny's escapades.
When told of Benny's death late
last night, Mr.. Dickson and Darwin
said they would try to keep knowl-
edge of the fugitive's death from his
mother.
I'VE didn't expect to see Benny
alive again. We knew he was hunt
ed throughout the country, and we
expected he would be slai11," Darwin
said.