The 1930s in America were synonymous with one name in the criminal underworld: John Dillinger. Labeled “Public Enemy Number One” by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Dillinger’s notoriety stemmed from his audacious bank robberies and daring escapes. His criminal career, though relatively short, captured the imagination of the public and law enforcement alike. Dillinger’s first brush with the law occurred in 1924 at the young age of 20, after assaulting a grocer. This early offense marked the beginning of a life punctuated by prison stints and escalating criminal activities, ultimately leading him to become the infamous figure etched in American crime history. By 1933, Dillinger had assembled his own gang, and they quickly gained infamy for their expertly executed bank heists across the Midwest.
John Dillinger mugshot from the 1930s
In January 1934, John Dillinger, accompanied by his associates Harry Pierpont, Charles Makley, and Russell “Art” Clark, sought refuge in Tucson, Arizona. They rented a house located at 927 North Second Avenue. However, freshly waxed floors at their rented house prompted the gang to seek temporary accommodation at the Hotel Congress. This seemingly minor inconvenience inadvertently set the stage for their downfall. On January 23, 1934, at 7:20 a.m., a fire broke out at the Hotel Congress. Amidst the chaos, some guests on the third floor were particularly anxious about their luggage. When firemen assisted in retrieving their belongings, the men generously tipped them $12. The unusual weight of the luggage and the extravagant tip piqued the firemen’s curiosity.
This curiosity led them to a copy of True Detective Mysteries magazine, a publication known for featuring sensational crime stories. Leafing through its pages, the firemen recognized the faces of the hotel guests as members of the notorious Dillinger gang. Connecting the dots, the astute firemen promptly alerted the Tucson Police Department.
FBI wanted poster for John Dillinger
The Tucson Police acted swiftly based on the firemen’s tip. On January 25, 1934, law enforcement apprehended John Dillinger and his gang members in a series of coordinated arrests. Charles Makley was the first to be captured while driving to Grabe Electric on Congress Street. Russell “Art” Clark was apprehended at the rented house on 927 North Second Avenue around 11 a.m. Harry Pierpont was stopped while driving; under the pretext of clearing paperwork related to his Florida license plate, he was directed to the Tucson Police Department where he was arrested. Finally, John Dillinger himself was arrested at 927 North Second Avenue at 6:30 p.m., concluding the Tucson chapter of his criminal saga.
Following their capture in Tucson, Dillinger was transferred to the supposedly secure Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana. However, his infamy was further cemented when he orchestrated a daring escape from this jail just a month later, adding another layer to the legend of John Dillinger, the elusive Public Enemy Number One. While historical accounts may vary slightly on the exact dates of Dillinger’s arrest and the Hotel Congress fire, verification through archived Tucson newspapers confirms the timeline of these events. Similarly, the address of the capture house at 927 North Second Avenue is corroborated by 1934 Tucson newspaper reports, solidifying the details of this significant episode in the John Dillinger story. Today, the Tucson Police Department still possesses some of the firearms belonging to the Dillinger gang, serving as tangible artifacts of this dramatic capture.
