Lot 381
John Dillinger - 1st Booking Mugshot, & Five Members of His First Gang. John Dillinger's first booking photograph (1924 real-photo mugshot) & handwritten investigative files pertaining to 5 members of Dillinger's first gang: Harry Pierpoint, Charles Makley, Russell Clark, Tommy Carroll and John Hamilton.
Information is jotted on the back of each card, such as physical description (including a limp, amputated fingers, etc.), crimes committed, and "pal of John Dillinger." Law enforcement officers kept these files as ready references and updated them as the criminals were caught or killed. Dillinger's card lists an alias (Jack Lawrence) and calls him a murderer, bank robber, and bully.
The crime for which Dillinger was arrested at the age of 21 (robbing a local grocer), and for which this mugshot was taken, occurred September 6, 1924. Dillinger's prison experience embittered him and he became friends with hardened criminals such as Harry Pierpont, John Hamilton, and Russell Clark. In April 1934 Dillinger was named Public Enemy Number One but he was actually popular with the public because he was robbing banks which were foreclosing on people (it was the Depression). He was set up by Anna Sage, a Rumanian brothel owner who was going to be deported, and on July 22, 1934 he was shot down outside the Biograph Cinema by young FBI agent Melvin Purvis. He was 31 years old.
This is believed to be the only surviving real-photo specimen of Dillinger's first arrest other than one in the Indiana State Archives.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $2,950 |
