All language subtitles for American.Lawmen.S01E03_English

IT'S THE MONEY
OR YOUR LIVES, MUTTS.

Narrator: AT THE HEIGHT
OF THE DEPRESSION,

AN UNPRECEDENTED CRIME WAVE
SWEEPS THE NATION.

NOT ONE STEP CLOSER,
NELSON!

Man: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
YOU HAD CROOKS

WHO COULD OUTGUN
MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

NELSON LOVED KILLING.
THE GUY WAS A TOTAL PSYCHOPATH.

THEY WERE FACING DEATH
FROM A MACHINE GUN

IN THE ARMS OF MEN
LIKE PRETTY BOY FLOYD,

BABY FACE NELSON,
AND JOHN DILLINGER.

Narrator: THE INCREDIBLE STORY

OF HOW LAWMAN MELVIN PURVIS

TAKES ON AMERICA'S
DEADLIEST OUTLAWS...

HE DID TAKE DUTY
AND HONOR TO HEART.

Narrator: WE GO INSIDE
THE DRAMATIC MISSION

TO BRING AMERICA'S MOST
WANTED TO JUSTICE,

A TRIAL BY FIRE
THAT FORGED THE MODERN FBI.

I KNOW HOW
YOU CAN CATCH HIM.

THESE MEN WOULD BE HUNTED DOWN.

DILLINGER,
WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED.

Narrator:
AS AMERICA RISES AS A NATION...

VIOLENCE REIGNS.

A FEW BRAVE SOULS
FACE THE DANGER,

FIGHTING TO CREATE JUSTICE
FROM CHAOS.

THESE ARE THE STORIES
OF AMERICAN LAWMEN.

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Man: WHAT'S FASCINATING

ABOUT THE POST-DEPRESSION PERIOD
OF THE MIDWEST

IS THE BAD GUYS,
THE GANGSTERS.

THEY REALLY HAD THE UPPER HAND.

THEIR FACES WERE ON
WANTED POSTERS

IN EVERY POST OFFICE
AND EVERY BANK IN AMERICA.

THEY WERE SUPERSTARS OF CRIME.

MAKING A DEPOSIT
TODAY, SIR?

ACTUALLY, DARLING, I'M HERE
TO MAKE A WITHDRAWAL.

EVERYBODY,
THIS IS A STICKUP.

PUT YOUR HANDS UP
AND GET BACK AGAINST THE WALL.

NO ONE WAS READY
FOR THE SUDDEN WAVE OF CRIME

THAT HIT IN THE '30s, THESE SORT
OF FAST-MOVING,

BANK-ROBBING GUYS
WITH MACHINE GUNS.

RED, LET'S GET TO WORK.

[ MACHINE GUN FIRE, SCREAMING ]

DARLING, YOU WANT TO
FILL THIS UP FOR ME?

HERE YOU GO.
JUST RIGHT HERE, FILL IT UP.

Maccabee: BANKS ARE BEING ROBBED
ALL OVER AMERICA.

WE'RE TALKING HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS OF BANK ROBBERIES

RIGHT ABOUT
1932, '33, '34.

THESE CHARACTERS
STARTED COMING OUT

LIKE JOHN DILLINGER,
BABY FACE NELSON,

AND PRETTY BOY FLOYD.

ALL RIGHT, THERE YOU GO.
HURRY UP A LITTLE BIT.

ALL RIGHT? THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
THERE YOU GO.

BANKS HAVE BEEN ROBBED
BEFORE BUT NOT TO THIS LEVEL.

I THINK IT WAS A PERFECT STORM
OF SEVERAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

[ ALARM RINGING ]

Hendley: YOU HAVE
THE THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN,

WHICH IS A MACHINE GUN
THAT ONE PERSON CAN HOLD.

GANGSTERS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SAW
THE VALUE OF THESE WEAPONS.

THAT'S IT?
THAT'S EVERYTHING?

YOU HAVE YOURSELF
A GOOD DAY.

YOU HAVE A NEW BREED
OF CRIMINALS,

CROOKS WHO COULD OUTGUN
MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

YOU HAD 'EM BY THE '30s,
YOU KNOW, VERY FAST CARS,

V-8 CARS WITH V-8 ENGINES

THAT CAN DO OVER
100 MILES AN HOUR.

AND SO THAT GAVE CRIMINALS
AN INCREDIBLE

VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION.

BANK ROBBERY, YOU KNOW,
WAS A STATE CRIME.

AND YOU COULD EASILY JUMP
FROM THE BORDER

OF ONE BORDER
TO THE OTHER.

SO IT WAS VERY EASY
TO ESCAPE JUSTICE.

Maccabee: MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT
IN THE 1920s,

THE 1930s WAS LOCAL.

THERE WASN'T
A NATIONAL POLICE FORCE

LIKE WE KNOW TODAY.

**

THE FBI, AS IT'S CURRENTLY
CALLED TODAY,

HAD VERY LIMITED POWER.

Hendley: THE FBI WERE NOT ARMED.

THEY WEREN'T EVEN
ALLOWED TO MAKE ARRESTS.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO ACCOMPANY
LOCAL OR STATE POLICE

AND JUST INVESTIGATE
VARIOUS FEDERAL OFFENSES.

Maccabee:
J. EDGAR HOOVER WANTED HIS FBI

TO BE THE NATIONAL POLICE FORCE
FOR THE UNITED STATES

THE WAY SCOTLAND YARD
IS FOR THE U.K.

TO CREATE
THIS HUGE POLICE FORCE,

HE HAD TO CREATE AN ENEMY.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE, TO BE AHAB,

YOU HAD TO HAVE
THE BIG WHALE.

Rice: BY DESIGNATING SOMEONE
AS PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE,

THAT WOULD GET
MORE MEDIA ATTENTION.

IT WAS ALSO HELPING
IN HIS BATTLE WITH CONGRESS

TO GET MORE FUNDING

IN WHAT WAS A VERY LEAN
ECONOMIC TIME.

Hendley: MELVIN PURVIS JOINED
THE FBI THINKING

IT WOULD ONLY BE
A SHORT-TERM CAREER.

POLICE AT THE TIME
DIDN'T HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION.

THEY WERE, YOU KNOW,
SEEN AS CORRUPT.

SO HOOVER REALLY WANTED TO FIGHT
AGAINST THAT SORT OF STEREOTYPE

AND SAY MY GUYS
ARE INCORRUPTIBLE,

THEY'RE STRAIGHT ARROWS.

PURVIS CAME
FROM A LAW BACKGROUND.

AND HE WANTED TO SORT OF MAKE
HIS MARK IN THE WORLD.

AND HE ALSO,
I THINK, PERCEIVED IT

AS BEING MORE EXCITING
THAN TO BE A COURTROOM LAWYER.

Rice: VERNE SANKEY
WAS THE FIRST PERSON DESIGNATED

AS PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE.

HE WAS WANTED
OUT OF SOUTH DAKOTA

FOR A KIDNAPPING.

**

YOU'RE DONE, SANKEY.

SANKEY WAS ARRESTED
HERE IN CHICAGO.

HE WAS CONVICTED OF HIS CRIME
AND EVENTUALLY DIED IN PRISON.

LET'S GET HIM UP.

Woman: MELVIN PURVIS
WAS A SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN.

AND HE DID TAKE DUTY
AND HONOR TO HEART.

HE WAS A COP'S COP.

HE ALWAYS LOOKED OUT
FOR HIS FELLOW FBI AGENTS.

MY FATHER NEVER
DID ANYTHING HALFWAY.

HE WAS OFFERED AGENT
IN CHARGE OF CHICAGO,

AND THAT WAS AS HIGH
AS YOU COULD GET.

BUT IT WAS THE ONE THAT
WAS MOST HIGH PROFILE, TOO,

ALWAYS WATCHED BY NEWSPAPERS.

IT WAS, UM, ONE WHERE
YOU DID NOT WANT TO FAIL.

Hendley: BABY FACE NELSON
WAS AN UNPLEASANT GUY.

AS HIS NAME IMPLIES,

HE WAS SORT OF SHORT OF STATURE
AND VERY SHORT-TEMPERED.

HE WAS JUST
A NASTY PIECE OF WORK.

AND HE'D HAPPILY KILL
CIVILIANS OR POLICEMEN

OR ANYONE WHO GOT IN HIS WAY.

[ GUNFIRE ]

Poulsen: PRETTY BOY FLOYD WAS
A GENUINE OKLAHOMA OUTLAW.

AND HE CAME FROM THAT TRADITION,

BELLE STARR
AND THE DALTONS AND JESSE JAMES.

HE CAME RIGHT OUT
OF THAT REGION.

PRETTY BOY FLOYD
HATED HIS NICKNAME.

YOU KNOW, HE REGARDED IT
AS KIND OF DEROGATORY.

THE TURNING POINT FOR FLOYD
WAS HIS INCARCERATION.

AND HE BECAME A VICIOUS,
HARDENED CRIMINAL IN PRISON.

Maccabee: JOHN DILLINGER REALLY
WAS A SMALL-TOWN CROOK.

HE ROBBED A GROCERY STORE

WHEN HE WAS A VERY YOUNG MAN

AND WAS SENT TO PRISON.

DILLINGER GETS A PhD
IN CRIME IN PRISON.

AND WHEN DILLINGER
GETS OUT OF PRISON,

HE'S AN EXPERT CROOK.

Hendley: AND THE FBI IS ONE
OF THE FEW ORGANIZATIONS

THAT WAS SEEN
AS BEING ABLE TO TAKE ON

THESE BAD GUYS,
THESE DESPERADOS.

Poulsen: JOHN DILLINGER
WAS APPOINTED

PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE
IN THE HOOPLA

SURROUNDING THE CROWN POINT
COUNTY JAIL ESCAPE.

Maccabee:
HE STEALS A SHERIFF'S CAR,

TAKES IT ACROSS STATE LINES,

AND HE BECOMES THE MOST
WANTED FEDERAL FUGITIVE

IN AMERICA, WHICH ENABLES
THE FBI TO START HUNTING HIM.

THE WARRANT FOR THIS IS
COMING DOWN TODAY, PURVIS.

YOU NEED TO BE READY.

I CAN START PUTTING A FILE
TOGETHER IMMEDIATELY, SIR.

THE BUREAU NEEDS THIS.

YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, SIR.

YOU CATCH ME DILLINGER,
THE WORLD IS YOURS.

THE JOHN DILLINGER CASE BECAME
MY FATHER'S RESPONSIBILITY.

IT WAS A VERY HIGH-PROFILE CASE.

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Rice: THE AGENTS THAT RUN
WHAT WAS CALLED

THE DILLINGER SQUAD

WERE LITERALLY CHASING
DOWN DOZENS OF LEADS EVERY DAY.

UNFORTUNATELY,
MOST OF THEM DIDN'T PAN OUT.

BUT EVERY ONE
HAD TO BE CHECKED OUT.

IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
FOR ANYONE

THAT WAS WORKING
ON THE DILLINGER SQUAD

BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE HAD
THE SHOOT FIRST MENTALITY.

**

IT'S THE MONEY
OR YOUR LIVES, MUTTS.

[ LAUGHS ]

FILL THE BAG.

HOW'S EVERYBODY
DOING TODAY, HUH?

[ MACHINE GUN FIRE, SCREAMING ]

I'M DOING WONDERFUL.

[ ALARM RINGING ]

DON'T MOVE.

Rice: DILLINGER ONLY USED
VIOLENCE OR FIRE

WHEN HE WAS TRAPPED.

NELSON ENJOYED FIREARMS.

HE ENJOYED DEATH.

[ MACHINE GUN FIRE ]

HOW YOU DOIN', HUH?
HUH?

-WHAT ARE YOU LOOKIN' AT?
-NOTHING.

DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?

BABY FACE NELSON DIDN'T START
OUT AS A VICIOUS SOCIOPATH.

IT WASN'T UNTIL HE GOT
BEHIND A TOMMY GUN

THAT THAT VICIOUS STREAK
FOUND EXPRESSION.

SHUT UP!
SHUT UP.

IS THAT REALLY
ALL YOU GOT?

BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ATE
A WHOLE LOT OF IT.

MY FATHER, YOU KNOW,
REALLY DESPISED NELSON.

I THINK EVERYBODY DID.

I THINK EVEN JOHN DILLINGER
DESPISED HIM.

HE WAS PART OF THE
JOHN DILLINGER GANG FOR A WHILE.

THEN, DILLINGER
DIDN'T TRUST HIM AT ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JUST GIVE ME THE GOODS.

ANOTHER WHISKEY.

IN TRACKING PEOPLE DOWN
LIKE DILLINGER,

MY FATHER WOULD TAKE INFORMATION
FROM ANY PLACE HE COULD GET IT.

VERY STRONG.

WHO WANTS TO KNOW?

YOU REMEMBER THAT GIRL?

WE USED TO DATE.
WHAT'S IT TO YA?

DID YOU KNOW
SHE'S NOW AN ASSOCIATE

FOR THE JOHN DILLINGER GANG?

I'M GONNA ASK YOU
ONE MORE TIME,

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?

YOU'VE BEEN AN EXCELLENT
INFORMANT FOR THE BUREAU.

YOU WANT TO KEEP
THAT GOING DON'T YOU?

LISTEN...

HER AND I WERE
A LONG TIME AGO.

I DON'T EVEN
KNOW HER ANYMORE.

OKAY, NO PROBLEM.

SO WHO DO YOU KNOW?

Maccabee: THE BREAKS FOR THE FBI
WERE OFTEN THE WOMEN.

THESE WERE THE GIRLFRIENDS
OF THE GANG.

THE WOMEN WERE A FOUNT

OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
HOW THEIR MEN WERE HIDING

AND HOW THEY OPERATED.

Poulsen: JOHN DILLINGER
MET EVELYN FRECHETTE

IN A SPEAKEASY IN CHICAGO
CALLED THE OLYMPIAN.

YOU KNOW
I'M A WEALTHY MAN?

I'D TRADE IT ALL
TO BE THAT GLASS.

[ CHUCKLES ] I SUPPOSE YOU
THINK THAT'S CLEVER.

YOU DON'T?

IT'S TERRIBLE.

YOU'RE TERRIBLE.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

MELVIN PURVIS
WAS ASTUTE ENOUGH TO SEE

THAT THERE WAS
GREAT SIGNIFICANCE

IN THESE WOMEN GIVEN
THE RELATIONSHIP

THAT THEY HAD TO THE DESPERADOS.

HE MADE SURE THAT THEY WERE
FOLLOWED EVERYWHERE

THAT THEY WENT.

ALL RIGHT, YOU WAIT HERE.
I'M GONNA GO INSIDE.

OH, YOU STAY.
I'LL GO IN.

LAST TIME YOU WENT, ANYWAY,
YOU GOT ARRESTED.

Rice: SHE CAME TO CHICAGO
IN SEARCH OF AN APARTMENT.

SHE WAS GONNA RENT IT
IN HER NAME

SO THAT IT WOULDN'T
DRAW ATTENTION

TO THE LANDLORD OR NEIGHBORS

THAT JOHN DILLINGER
WAS MOVING IN.

THANKS.

PURVIS AND THE BUREAU
KNEW WHO FRECHETTE WAS.

WHISKEY.

SHE WAS CONSIDERED CULPABLE
IN SOME OF THE BANK ROBBERIES

AS SOMEONE WHO AIDED
AND ABETTED THEIR EFFORTS.

**

SEAT TAKEN?

Poulsen: WHEN MELVIN PURVIS
CAPTURED EVELYN FRECHETTE,

HE HAD THE HOLY GRAIL.

SHE KNEW EVERYTHING.

DILLINGER WAS ABSOLUTELY IRATE.

I THINK HE WANTED
TO KILL MELVIN PURVIS.

**

THEY WERE UNDER
A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE.

THE MANHUNT HAD BEEN ON
FOR 9 MONTHS AT THAT POINT.

HOOVER DIRECTED PURVIS
TO TAKE AS MANY MEN AS HE COULD,

HEAD NORTH AS FAST AS HE CAN,
AND TRY AND MAKE AN ARREST.

EVELYN FRECHETTE WAS TAKEN
TO A SECRET LOCATION IN CHICAGO.

AND SHE WAS SUBJECTED
TO PHYSICAL DISCOMFORTS

LIKE LACK OF SLEEP AND, UH,

MORE SERIOUS METHODS OF DURESS.

BUT SHE WAS
A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT FOR HIM.

AND SHE NEVER REALLY CRACKED.

Rice: PURVIS HAD RECEIVED
A TIP FROM SOMEBODY

UP IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN

THAT DILLINGER
AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE,

BELIEVED TO BE MEMBERS
OF HIS GANG,

WERE HIDING OUT
IN LITTLE BOHEMIA.

THE FBI HAD VERY
LITTLE EXPERIENCE

SURROUNDING A BUILDING
AT NIGHT IN THE DARK.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY
HAD NEVER REALLY DONE BEFORE.

Poulsen:
THE MAJOR PROBLEM OF THE AMBUSH

AT LITTLE BOHEMIA WAS TIMING.

BUT THEY GOT A CALL
FROM THE PROPRIETOR

THAT THEY'RE PLANNING
TO LEAVE RIGHT AWAY.

SO THEY RUSHED OVER THERE.

[ DOG BARKING ]

WILL YOU SHUT UP?

THEY'RE JUST DOGS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

YEAH, AND I'M GONNA KILL THOSE
DOGS IF THEY DON'T SHUT UP.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Maccabee: IT'S LATE AT NIGHT,
PITCH BLACK.

REMEMBER, DILLINGER
ESCAPED ALREADY AT LEAST TWICE.

DON'T LET HIM ESCAPE AGAIN.

THE FBI IN THE 1920s
AND 1930S,

YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE
THEIR COURAGE.

MANY OF THEM WERE NOT TRAINED
AS COPS OR SOLDIERS.

THEY WERE TRAINED IN
LAW OR ACCOUNTING.

AND THEY WERE FACING DEATH
FROM A MACHINE GUN

IN THE ARMS OF MEN
LIKE JOHN DILLINGER.

[ CAR ENGINE REVVING ]

HALT!
HALT!

THE FBI YELLED, "FEDERAL AGENTS.

HALT."

HALT RIGHT THERE!

BUT BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WERE UP,

THESE THREE MEN DID NOT HEAR IT.

FIRE!

STOP.
STOP FIRING.

STOP FIRING.

THIS ISN'T
THE DILLINGER GANG.

Poulsen: THEY WERE CIVILIAN
CONSERVATION CORPS WORKERS

WHO WERE JUST OUT FOR A BEER.

AND ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN
WAS KILLED.

THE ONE WHO SHOT UP THE CAR WITH
THE MACHINE GUN WAS CARTER BAUM.

AND CARTER BAUM FELT
REALLY GUILTY ABOUT THAT

'CAUSE HE, YOU KNOW,
HE WAS A VERY GENTLE GUY.

THE GUNFIRE ALERTED DILLINGER
AND THOSE THAT WERE INSIDE THAT,

YOU KNOW,
THE POLICE WERE COMING.

THEY LOST THE ELEMENT
OF SURPRISE.

THAT'S WHEN ALL HELL
BROKE LOOSE.

[ GUNFIRE ]

**

DILLINGER AND HIS MEN
MAKE THE GETAWAY.

Poulsen: BABY FACE NELSON

WENT A DIFFERENT DIRECTION
FROM DILLINGER.

Melvin: NELSON!
STOP RIGHT THERE!

NELSON!
NELSON!

AFTER PURVIS REALIZED
THAT THE DILLINGER GANG MEMBERS

HAD ESCAPED, HE TRIED TO SET UP
A PERIMETER FAR ENOUGH AROUND

THE LODGE TO HOPEFULLY
INTERDICT THE GANG MEMBERS.

Alston: IT WAS CARTER BAUM,
AND THERE WAS A --

A LOCAL POLICEMAN
IN THERE WITH HIM.

THEY WERE SENT
TO CHECK OUT A LEAD THAT

ONE OF THE DILLINGER GANG
HAD BEEN SEEN.

I KNOW YOU TWO.

I'M GONNA GIVE IT
TO YOU HIGH AND LOW.

Maccabee: THE FBI AGENT
HAD A BULLETPROOF VEST

THAT COVERED HIS STOMACH
AND HIS CHEST.

BABY FACE SHOOTS HIM IN THE NECK

AND IN THE LEGS.

Alston: NELSON LOVED KILLING.

THE GUY WAS A TOTAL PSYCHOPATH.

BAUM WAS KILLED INSTANTLY.

BAUM WAS SORT
OF A PROTéGé OF MY FATHER.

YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE FAILURE
AT LITTLE BOHEMIA WAS ONE THING,

BUT TO HAVE
CARTER BAUM KILLED, TOO,

WAS JUST --
WAS TOO MUCH.

MY FATHER WAS IN CHARGE OF THAT
OPERATION AT LITTLE BOHEMIA.

AND SO HE TOOK ON
ALL RESPONSIBILITY

OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.

Hendley: IT WAS SUCH A DISASTER.

THIS MARKS ONE
OF THE FIRST TIMES

THAT AGENTS HAD BEEN KILLED IN
ACTION AGAINST ARMED BAD GUYS.

**

MY FATHER FELT
THAT HIS CAREER IN FBI

HAD COME TO AN END.

IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE BUREAU, I SHOULD RESIGN.

Hoover: YOU COULDN'T HAVE DONE
ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY ANYWAYS.

AND THIS BUREAU NEEDS YOU
TO CONTINUE DOING YOUR WORK.

I WON'T LET
YOU DOWN, SIR.

SEE THAT YOU DON'T.

Poulsen: THE LITTLE BOHEMIA RAID

TURNED THE TABLES
ON MELVIN PURVIS.

THAT WAS THE POINT WHERE HOOVER
STARTED TO HARASS HIM

AND MADE PLANS
TO BRING IN HIS REPLACEMENT.

**

AFTER LITTLE BOHEMIA, MY FATHER
COULD NOT AFFORD

ANOTHER MISS ON DILLINGER.

MAX.

YOU TELLING ME YOU DIDN'T
AID AND ABET JOHN DILLINGER?

YOU KNOW WE HAVE THE POWER
TO MAKE YOUR LIFE HELL?

NICE HIT, ED.
DO YOU WANT TO TALK NOW, MAX?

Rice: AT ITS HEIGHT,
THERE WERE 12 AGENTS ASSIGNED

TO WHAT WAS CALLED
THE DILLINGER SQUAD.

THEY WEREN'T JUST
FOLLOWING LEADS

ON TRYING TO FIND ONE PERSON.

IT WAS TRYING TO LOCATE,
IDENTIFY,

AND ESSENTIALLY ERADICATE
THE ENTIRE GROUP.

FOR DILLINGER, THE SHOOTOUT
AT LITTLE BOHEMIA

WAS A REAL SERIOUS WAKE-UP CALL.

HE REALIZED HOW CLOSE
HE WAS TO BEING APPREHENDED...

OR WORSE.

DILLINGER TRIED TO HAVE PLASTIC
SURGERY TO CHANGE HIS FACE.

HE HAD THREE MOLES
REMOVED FROM HIS CHEEK.

HE HAD A CLEFT CHIN
THAT WAS FILLED IN.

AND HE HAD A FACELIFT.

Rice: HE WASN'T USED TO DEALING
WITH THESE AGENTS

THAT CAME ALL THE WAY FROM
CHICAGO SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES

AND ALMOST CAPTURED
HIM AND HIS GANG MEMBERS.

HE KNEW NOW THAT THE BUREAU
WAS AFTER HIM.

**

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Maccabee: A LOT OF THE REASON
WHY PEOPLE ARE NOSTALGIC FOR

THE JOHN DILLINGER/
BABY FACE NELSON ERA

IS THE IMPRESSION

THAT THEY DIDN'T KILL
INNOCENT PEOPLE.

THEY WOULD ONLY KILL
COPS OR FBI AGENTS.

THAT'S FALSE.

Rice: THERE WERE
AT LEAST 13 DEATHS

ATTRIBUTED
TO THE DILLINGER GROUP

DURING THE YEAR AND A HALF

THAT THEY WERE TERRORIZING
THE MIDWEST.

[ GUNFIRE ]

Hendley: PURVIS REALLY REALIZED
HE HAD TO UP HIS GAME.

HE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW

THAT HOOVER WAS GETTING
DISPLEASED WITH HIM.

SO HE KNEW HE HAD
TO GET RESULTS.

YOU SEEN THIS GUY?

HERE, TAKE A GOOD LOOK.

YOU SEEN THIS GUY?

INFORMATION
THAT LEADS TO DILLINGER

AND HIS CAPTURE
IS $10,000 IN YOUR POCKET.

Rice: THAT WAS A HUGE SUM
OF MONEY AT THAT TIME.

AND I THINK THAT'S
PART OF THE GENIUS,

IF YOU WILL,
OF HOOVER RECOGNIZING

THAT HE CAN ENLIST COOPERATION
FROM CERTAIN PEOPLE

WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE
BE INCLINED

TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
TO THE FBI.

AT THAT PERIOD, DILLINGER
NEEDED TO STAY OUT OF SIGHT

AND LAY LOW.

HIS ATTORNEY PUT HIM TOGETHER

WITH A WOMAN WHO WAS WILLING
TO KEEP HIM IN HER APARTMENT.

ANNA SAGE WAS A PRETTY
FAMILIAR POLICE FIGURE

WHOSE NAME WAS IN THE PAPERS
QUITE OFTEN

FOR HAVING BEEN ARRESTED
ON PROSTITUTION CHARGES.

SHE HAD A THREAT FACING HER

THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE
DEPORTED TO HER NATIVE ROMANIA.

**

Melvin: YOU ALONE?

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

THE REWARD MONEY?

YOU'LL GET
A SUBSTANTIAL SUM.

MOST IMPORTANT,
I NEED TO STAY IN AMERICA.

NO DEPORTATION.

THAT'S BEYOND MY AUTHORITY.

UH...

I'LL BRING YOUR SITUATION
TO THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE

IN WASHINGTON.

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

I KNOW
HOW YOU CAN CATCH HIM.

TELL ME EVERYTHING.

Rice: SHE WAS OFFERING TO
ESSENTIALLY SET UP DILLINGER.

SHE KNEW WHERE AND WHEN
HE WOULD BE AT VARIOUS TIMES.

IN JULY OF 1934,

SHE CALLED PURVIS
AND SAID THAT SHE

AND ANOTHER GIRL,
POLLY HAMILTON,

THE LADY THAT DILLINGER
WAS DATING AT THAT TIME,

WERE GONNA ACCOMPANY DILLINGER
TO A MOVIE LATER THAT EVENING.

IT WAS A VERY HOT SUMMER NIGHT.
THE THEATER WAS AIR-CONDITIONED.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE
WOULD ROUTINELY GO

TO A MOVIE IN THE EVENING,

NOT NECESSARILY
TO WATCH THE MOVIE

BUT TO GET IN OUT OF THE HEAT
AND THE HUMIDITY.

PURVIS WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED.

HE ASSEMBLED THE MEN
IN THE OFFICE.

THEY WERE ALL ARMED.
HE GAVE 'EM A BRIEFING.

WE'RE LOOKIN' FOR
AN ORANGE SKIRT, HOLLIS.

OKAY.

HEY, ORANGE SKIRT.

PURVIS ACTUALLY SAW DILLINGER
ARRIVE AT THE THEATER,

PURCHASE TICKETS,
AND GO INSIDE.

HE KNEW DILLINGER.
HE HAD SEEN HIM BEFORE.

MY FATHER FOLLOWED HIM
INTO THE THEATER.

MY FATHER, HE FELT
THAT MAYBE

THEY COULD GO UP BEHIND HIM
AND PIN HIM DOWN AT THE THEATER.

BUT IT WAS JUST TOO CROWDED.

[ LAUGHTER ]

SO THEY ALL WAITED OUTSIDE.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

MOVIE GETS OUT AT 10:35.
SO LET'S ALL TAKE OUR POSITIONS.

YOU GUYS OVER THERE.
HOLLIS, OVER THERE.

WHEN I SEE DILLINGER,
I'M GONNA LIGHT MY CIGAR.

THAT'S YOUR QUEUE TO MOVE IN.

LET'S BE MINDFUL OF
THE BYSTANDERS.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER
LITTLE BOHEMIA ON MY HANDS.

OKAY?

I'M SURE THE PRESSURE
AND THE ANTICIPATION

THAT HE WAS FEELING WAS INTENSE.

HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO BRING THIS CASE TO A CLOSE,

TO APPREHEND
PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE.

HE HAD NO IDEA

WHEN DILLINGER
WAS GONNA COME OUT,

IF HE WAS ARMED,
IF HE WAS GONNA FIGHT

OR TRY AND FLEE.

THE AGENTS WERE TRYING
TO BE INCONSPICUOUS.

BUT THEY WERE ALL DRESSED
IN SUITS, UH,

WHICH WAS SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL.

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?

HEY, HEY, PUT THAT GUN DOWN.
PURVIS!

THE THEATER MANAGER
CALLED THE POLICE

AND SAID, "THERE'S
SOME SUSPICIOUS PEOPLE

HANGING OUT AROUND MY THEATER.
I THINK THEY'RE GONNA ROB IT."

PUT THE GUN DOWN.

HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE DOING?

Man:
SHOW ME YOUR IDENTIFICATION.

HE'S A FEDERAL AGENT.
HE'S WITH ME.

Rice: PURVIS HAD
THIS PLAN IN PLACE.

AND NOW HE THOUGHT, WELL,
THIS IS IN JEOPARDY

OF BLOWING UP IN MY FACE AGAIN
BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING
PUTTING ARMED MEN ON THE STREET?

YOU AND YOUR MEN
HAVE TO LEAVE.

NOT UNTIL I KNOW JUST WHAT
THE HELL IS GOING ON.

GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

PURVIS DIDN'T WANT LOCAL POLICE
OFFICERS TO BE PRESENT,

AS IT WOULD BE
A TIP-OFF TO DILLINGER.

**

DILLINGER, HAMILTON, AND SAGE
WERE SOME OF THE FIRST PEOPLE

TO COME OUT OF THE THEATER.

DILLINGER IS STANDING OUT THERE

IN FRONT OF
THE BIOGRAPH THEATER.

HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT HE'S
SURROUNDED BY FBI AGENTS.

**

Rice: PURVIS, BECAUSE HE WAS
ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE

THAT HAD ACTUALLY SEEN DILLINGER

AND KNEW FIRSTHAND
WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE,

HE POSITIONED HIMSELF
IN A DOORWAY,

JUST SOUTH OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE
TO THE THEATER.

AND THE PLAN WAS
THAT HE WAS GONNA LIGHT A CIGAR

WHEN HE WAS POSITIVE IT WAS HIM.

AND THEN HE WALKED OUT BETWEEN
ANNA SAGE AND POLLY HAMILTON.

**

MY FATHER LOOKED HIM IN THE EYE.

MAYBE HE WAS MAYBE
4 OR 5 FEET FROM HIM.

AND HE SAID,
"STICK 'EM UP JOHNNY,

WE'VE GOT YOU SURROUNDED."

**

[ GUN COCKS ]

WHEN JOHN DILLINGER WAS SHOT,
IT WAS VERY SADDENING

FOR MY FATHER, IN A WAY.

MY FATHER NEVER
HATED JOHN DILLINGER.

AND DILLINGER NEVER
HATED MY FATHER.

MY FATHER NEVER REALLY
SAID THIS,

BUT I SENSED THERE WAS SORT
OF A KIND OF A MUTUAL RESPECT

BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

AFTER JOHN DILLINGER
WAS SHOT, A WOMAN

CAME AND DIPPED HER HANDKERCHIEF
IN HIS BLOOD AS A SOUVENIR.

MY FATHER WENT IN THE ALLEY
AND THREW UP.

I THINK IT JUST MADE HIM SICK.

HE NEVER REALLY GLORIED
IN HIS DEATH.

MY FATHER WANTED TO TAKE HIM
ALIVE, IF POSSIBLE.

Maccabee: WHEN MELVIN WAS
ON HAND FOR THE KILLING

OF JOHN DILLINGER IN FRONT
OF THE BIOGRAPH MOVIE THEATER,

MELVIN WAS TURNED
INTO A NATIONAL FOLK HERO.

AND J. EDGAR HOOVER
DID NOT LIKE THAT.

Poulsen: HOOVER WAS VERY JEALOUS
OF MELVIN PURVIS.

FOR ONE AGENT TO BE GETTING SO
MUCH PUBLICITY WAS UNTHINKABLE.

AFTER DILLINGER,
PRETTY BOY FLOYD

BECAME PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE.

Poulsen: PRETTY BOY FLOYD DID
NOT FIT THE PROFILE NECESSARILY

OF SOME OF THESE OTHER
INNER-CITY GANGSTERS.

ALTHOUGH HIS BANK ROBBERIES
WERE NONDESCRIPT,

HE WAS TRUSTED
BY THE FARMERS AND PEOPLE

WHO WERE DESPERATELY POOR
IN THE DEPRESSION.

Alston: MY FATHER SORT OF FELL
UPON FLOYD BY ACCIDENT.

THEY WERE ON
ANOTHER CASE IN CINCINNATI.

AND THEN WORD CAME
THAT FLOYD HAD BEEN SEEN.

**

HALT, PRETTY BOY!

HALT!

Alston: OF COURSE,
MY FATHER SAID, "HALT."

HAD HE HALTED THEN,
HE WOULD'VE BEEN TAKEN ALIVE.

FLOYD WAS SHOOTING AT THEM.
THEY WERE SHOOTING BACK.

HALT, PRETTY BOY!

HALT!

**

DIDN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS,
PRETTY BOY.

DAMN YOU.

MY NAME IS
CHARLES ARTHUR FLOYD.

I THINK MY FATHER KIND OF

FELT SORRY FOR FLOYD
WHEN HE WAS DYING.

IT WAS NOT A PLEASANT THING
AT ALL.

AFTER FLOYD WAS KILLED, UH,

OF COURSE, THE PRESS
WERE EATING THAT UP,

EVERY NEWSPAPER
IN THE COUNTRY ALMOST.

Hoover: PURVIS!
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES

ARE YOU TO ENGAGE ON ANY MATTERS
RELATING TO PUBLIC ENEMIES.

DO YOU HEAR ME?

MELVIN PURVIS HAD BECOME
TOO POPULAR FOR THE FBI.

AND HIS CELEBRITY WAS SOMETHING

THAT HOOVER WANTED
TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

JUST STAY OUT OF IT!

HE WAS NOW BEING HUNTED

BY A VASTLY DIMINISHED
MELVIN PURVIS,

WHO WAS BEING KEPT
BEHIND THE SCENES

BY J. EDGAR HOOVER.

Man:
NELSON, STOP RIGHT THERE!

WHEN THE WORD CAME
INTO THE CHICAGO FIELD OFFICE

THAT NELSON HAD BEEN SPOTTED,

PURVIS WAS TOLD
HE COULD NOT COME ALONG.

Nelson:
I KNOW YOU TWO.

I'M GONNA GIVE IT
TO YOU HIGH AND LOW.

BY KEEPING HIM BEHIND A DESK

IN A KIND
OF INCOMMUNICADO SITUATION,

PUT OTHER AGENTS AT RISK.

TWO OF THE AGENTS THAT WERE
DISPATCHED FROM CHICAGO

WERE SAM COWLEY
AND HERMAN HOLLIS.

COWLEY AND HOLLIS LITERALLY
WALKED INTO A TRAP.

NOT ONE STEP CLOSER,
NELSON!

**

PURVIS WOULD'VE BEEN
DEVASTATED BY THE FACT

THAT HE WAS KEPT OUT OF IT.

PURVIS WAS A MORE PRACTICED
PARTICIPANT IN GUNFIGHTS.

SAMUEL COWLEY NEVER WENT
TO THE FIRING RANGE.

HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PRACTICAL
BALLISTICS EXPERIENCE.

THEY DID NOT ANTICIPATE
THAT NELSON WAS READY

AND POISED FOR BATTLE.

**

Maccabee: BABY FACE IS ALMOST

LIKE SOME HIDEOUS
TERMINATOR-LIKE VILLAIN,

BECAUSE BABY FACE
IS RIDDLED WITH BULLETS,

AND HE'S STILL SHOOTING.

Poulsen: BABY FACE NELSON,

WITH 17 SLUGS
IN HIS BODY,

KEPT FIRING AT THEM
AND ADVANCING ON THEM.

NELSON WAS WOUNDED
DURING THE SHOOTOUT.

BUT HE WAS STILL ABLE TO ESCAPE.

Poulsen: HOLLIS DIED INSTANTLY.
HE WAS SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD.

COWLEY HAD INTERNAL INJURIES.

BUT HE WAS MORTALLY
WOUNDED AT THE BATTLE

AND TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL.

COWLEY.

I THINK WE GOT HIM.

YOU KNOW, TO SEE THIS GUY
YOU WORK WITH

WITH HIS STOMACH
BLOWN COMPLETELY OUT

WAS QUITE A SHOCK FOR HIM,
AND MY FATHER REACTED.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

AND HE WAS TALKING
TO A REPORTER AT THE HOSPITAL.

AND HE SAID, "I'LL GET NELSON
DEAD OR ALIVE,

AND I DON'T CARE
WHICH ONE IT IS."

Melvin: GENTLEMEN.
ANYBODY TOUCH ANYTHING?

NO.
NOPE.

Alston: MY FATHER FELT BOTH SAD
AND RELIEVED

IN THAT IT WAS THE END
OF A LONG JOURNEY.

LET'S PACK HIM UP.

HOOVER KNEW THAT HE COULDN'T
FIRE MY FATHER.

MY FATHER WAS TOO FAMOUS.

BUT HE STARTED PUTTING MY FATHER

ON THESE INSIGNIFICANT CASES,
STUFF THAT WAS --

YOU WOULD NEVER GIVE TO SOMEONE
OF MY FATHER'S STATURE.

HE SENSED THAT HOOVER
DIDN'T WANT HIM ANYMORE,

THAT HOOVER WAS JEALOUS.

AND HE ESSENTIALLY DROVE HIM
FROM THE BUREAU.

THERE'S A QUESTION MARK
OVER WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED

IN PURVIS' LAST HOURS
ON THE EARTH.

WAS IT A DELIBERATE SUICIDE
OR JUST A MISTAKE?

Alston: IT'S NEVER BEEN PROVEN

WHETHER MY FATHER'S DEATH
WAS SUICIDE OR AN ACCIDENT.

I TEND TO THINK
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

NOT THAT I THINK THAT SUICIDE
IS ANYTHING DISHONORABLE.

I THINK ANYBODY HAS A RIGHT

TO TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE
IF HE WANTS TO.

BUT I DON'T THINK HE DID.

THERE WAS TOO MANY THINGS
THAT POINTED AGAINST THAT.

AT HIS FUNERAL, THERE WERE A LOT
OF FORMER AGENTS WHO CAME.

BUT THERE WAS
LETTER OF CONDOLENCE

FROM HOOVER, NOTHING OFFICIAL
FROM THE FBI AT ALL.

HOOVER TRIED TO WRITE PURVIS
OUT OF THE HISTORY.

[ WOMAN SCREAMS ]

HE WAS THERE
FOR THE DILLINGER DEATH.

HALT, PRETTY BOY!

HE WAS THERE FOR
PRETTY BOY FLOYD'S DEATH.

AND HE'S THE NAME
THAT STANDS OUT

IN SPITE OF ALL THE EFFORTS

AT CENSORING HIM
OUT OF THE HISTORY.

MELVIN PURVIS WAS
AN INSTRUMENTAL FIGURE

IN HELPING TO MOLD
AND SHAPE THE FBI

INTO WHAT IT BECAME TODAY,
JUST AS MUCH

AS J. EDGAR HOOVER,
QUITE FRANKLY.

THAT WAS A TURNING POINT
IN THE HISTORY

OF THE BUREAU
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE PUBLIC NEEDED
ANOTHER KIND OF HERO.

MY FATHER PROVIDED THAT IMAGE.