Dillinger memorabilia at the Kosciusko County Historical Society banquet Thursday, Oct. 21. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW —  A presentation about the life of notorious gangster John Dillinger was the main event at the Kosciusko County Historical Society’s annual banquet Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Center Lake Pavilion. 

Because of Dillinger’s local connection – he was born in Indianapolis and led the infamous raid on the Warsaw Police Station in 1934 – the historical society hosts guided tours each year retracing the path taken during the raid.

KCHS Director Greg Steffe entertained those in attendance with facts and legendary stories about the man who was named public enemy number one by the FBI.

KCHS Director Greg Steffe has extensively studied the life of Dillinger. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

Dillinger was a notorious bank robber who was accused of robbing 24 banks and four police stations between 1933 – 1934. 

Dillinger was born June 22, 1903, in Indianapolis. His mother died in 1907, just before his fourth birthday. Dillinger was then raised by his older sister, Audrey, and her husband until their father remarried in 1912.

In 1923, Dillinger enlisted in the United States Navy where he was assigned to the battleship USS Utah. He later deserted when the ship was docked in Boston and was eventually dishonorably discharged.

Dillinger was sentenced to prison from 1924-1933 on charges stemming from his involvement in a grocery store robbery.

While in prison, Dillinger became acquainted with experienced bank robbers Harry Pierpont, Charles Makley, Homer Van Meter and Russell Clark. The five began planning heists to be carried out upon their release. 

On June 21, 1933, Dillinger committed his first bank robbery in New Carlisle, Ohio. 

In January 1934, Dillinger and his gang were captured in Arizona. Dillinger was extradited to Indiana and taken to Lake County Jail in Crown Point, facing charges for the murder of a police officer who was killed during a Dillinger gang bank robbery in East Chicago, Indiana.

He escaped from jail in March 1934.

In the early morning hours of April 13, 1934, Dillinger and Van Meter, armed with Thompson submachine guns, attacked Warsaw Police Officer Judd Pittenger, who was making his rounds on South Buffalo Street.  

Dillinger thrust the muzzle of his gun into Pittenger’s ribs and demanded he turn over the keys to the local police station.

“Now Judd Pittenger, being a very calm and rational individual, an intelligent man, did what any normal person would do … he reaches down and grabs hold of the machine gun, pushes it away and then begins to wrestle with the most desperate criminal in America over possession of a submachine gun,” Steffe told the audience.

Eventually, Dillinger and Van Meter were able to wrestle Pittenger into the alley and took his service revolver.

Dillinger and Van Meter then forced Pittenger to take them to the police station where they stole three bulletproof vests and two revolvers. 

As Dillinger was removing the vests from a cabinet, Pittenger managed to knock Van Meter off balance and ran from the room, leapt over a staircase and made it outside where he cut across a small park on the corner, across the street and down an alley.

By the time Dillinger and Van Meter made it outside, Pittenger was nowhere in sight, and the two fled the area.

After evading police in four states for nearly a year, Dillinger was wounded and returned to his father’s home to recover. In July 1934, he went to Chicago to hide out in a brothel owned by Ana Cumpanas, who told authorities where to find him.

On July 22, 1934, local and federal law enforcement attempted to arrest Dillinger as he was leaving a movie theater. Dillinger reportedly pulled his gun as he tried to run but was shot and killed by special agents.

For decades, rumors have existed questioning the identity of the man killed in Chicago and buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.

In 2019, Mike Thompson and Carol Thompson Griffith, who claim to be the nephew and niece of Dillinger, petitioned to have the body exhumed for a forensic analysis and DNA testing to determine if the individual buried there is indeed Dillinger. 

Representatives of Crown Hill Cemetery objected, and in January 2020, a motion to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit was filed on Thompson’s behalf. 

In addition to the Dillinger presentation, Kosciusko County Historical Society officers and board members for 2022 were elected.

Jerry Frush will remain on as KCHS president, with Steffe as 1st vice president, Tim Leiter as 2nd vice president, Marge Warren as 3rd vice president, Loran Sims as secretary, Sheryl Hanna as assistant secretary, Jim Tinkey as treasurer and Connie Schlag as assistant treasurer. 

Three-year term board members for 2022 include: Cynthia Green, Avis Gunter, Connie Schlag, Ron Shoemaker, June Thomas and Ann White. 

Anyone interested in becoming a member or volunteering at the Kosciusko Historical Society may call (574) 269-1078, visit the website or stop by the Old Jail Museum at 121 N. Indiana St., Warsaw.

Jerry Frush will serve as Kosciusko County Historical Society president in 2022. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels.