Did John Dillinger Die at the Biograph Theater?

Controversy over the Death of Public Enemy #1

Jul 1, 2009

Gangster John Dillinger was believed to have been gunned down by the FBI on July 22, 1934. But some historians claim it may not be Dillinger who was killed that night.

Notorious Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger was believed to have been trapped and shot by the FBI at the Biograph Theater on July 22, 1934. But some historians claim it may all have been part of an elaborate coverup.

John Dillinger America's First Public Enemy Number One

John Herbert Dillinger was a notorious depression-era bank robber and gangster. Born on June 22, 1903 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the son of a grocer, he got in trouble with the law at an early age. He then embarked upon a life of crime marked by daring bank heists and bold escapes. Eventually, he teamed up with other seasoned criminals to form The Terror Gang. Dillinger and his crew robbed banks with clockwork precision and evaded capture on numerous occasions. It was not until Dillinger crossed state lines that the FBI got involved. A big reward was soon offered for his capture.

Ambush at the Biograph Theater

Anna Cumpanas, alias Anna Sage, jumped at the bait. A friend of John’s girlfriend, Anna was a prostitute on the verge of being deported. She made a deal with the FBI in a plan to set John up. She informed FBI agents that on Sunday evening, July 22, 1934, the three of them were going to the theater to watch a Clark Gable film. She was to wear a red dress so agents would be able to quickly identify Dillinger’s party. After that she was called “the Lady in Red”, a symbol of her betrayal.

The agents did not want to risk harming innocent people, so they waited until the three left the theater, then surrounded them. Dillinger tried to make a run for it. He went for his gun and was shot down by the FBI.

Was the Man Shot that Night Dillinger?

Questions have been raised as to whether the man killed that night was actually John Dillinger. Respected crime writer Jay Robert Nash contends that the dead man was actually a petty criminal named Jimmy Lawrence. In 1970 Nash along with Ron Offen wrote a book, Dillinger: Dead or Alive which explores in depth this theory.

The corpse of the man shot that night bore some discrepancies to Dillinger’s physical description. The corpse had a different eye color than Dillinger’s, appeared to be shorter and heavier, and lacked some of his known scars. The dead man also had a chronic heart condition, while Dillinger was very athletic. This and other discrepancies leads Nash to speculate that the FBI had been duped into shooting the wrong man and then had covered up their mistake.

Nash believes the incident was the result of an underworld scheme to allow Dillinger to escape into obscurity. Jimmy Lawrence was a small-time hood with known mob connections who bore a close resemblance to Dillinger. He may have been an unknowing pawn in the trap, or volunteered willingly because of his heart condition.

Re-Examining the Evidence

In 2006, a documentary on the Discovery Channel explored the case by bringing in a team of experts to examine the autopsy and other evidence. Their conclusion supports the commonly-held belief that Dillinger was killed by the FBI that fateful night. With the modern techniques of DNA, an exhumation and examination of Dillinger’s remains might answer the question once and for all. However, at present time, no plans have been made to investigate the matter further.

Nash, Jay Robert. Bloodletters and Bad Men. New York: M. Evans and Company, 1995 ISBN 087131-777-X

The copyright of the article Did John Dillinger Die at the Biograph Theater? in Criminals/Outlaws is owned by Vickie Britton. Permission to republish Did John Dillinger Die at the Biograph Theater? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.