Lester Joseph Gillis was born on December 6th 1908 in the near west side of Chicago, Illinois. Lester's parents were both Belgium immigrants. His mother, Marie Douget came from a farming background. She immigrated to the US with her family in 1889. Although she had already met her future husband, Joseph Gillis in Belgium, the couple were reunited and married in their new country.
By the age of 14, Lester had been given the nickname that was to stay with him for the rest of his life. His gang had 'christened' him Baby Face Nelson because of his slight stature and youthful appearance. He was already an accomplished car thief having been arrested for this on a number of occasions before he was eventually sent to penal reform school. He was released on parole just 2 years later, but within 5 months he was sent back having been arrested for committing the same offence. Nelson was not to see his father again as a free man as on Christmas Eve 1924 Joseph Gillis committed suicide. Nelson was just 16 years old.
In 1928 Nelson had met Helen Wawzynak, a 16 year old sales assistant with whom he fell in love and married. Helen never used her husband's alias, Nelson, choosing to use the name Gillis throughout their marriage.
It wasn't long before Nelson was back behind bars, sentenced to a prison term of 1 year to life for robbery in January 1931. Having served a year of his sentence, Nelson was transferred from the state penitentiary Joliet, Illinois to Wheaton, Illinois to stand trial for another charge of robbery. On February 17th 1932, Nelson overpowered his guards and escaped as he was transferred back to Joliet.
Nelson made his way to Sausalito, California where he met John Paul Chase, a man whom he was to be closely associated with for the rest of his life. Chase was born on December 26th 1901. He started to smuggle liquor in 1930 (the prohibition or Noble experiment ran from 1919 - 1933). Nelson joined Chase as an armed guard on a truck carrying illegal liquor. The pair grew so close that Chase often introduced Nelson as his half brother.
Joined by his wife, Helen, Nelson lived in California until May 1933 before moving to Long Beach, leaving Chase in Sausalito. The pair were reunited in December and stayed together for about a year. During this time a man was shot and killed in Minneapolis. Witnesses noted the registration number of the car the killers escaped in and this was later traced to Nelson.
Dillinger, Public Enemy Number One
On March 3rd 1934, John Dillinger escaped from jail in Crown Point, Indiana using a wooden pistol. Dillinger's escape is believed to have been financed by a newly formed gang which included Nelson, Homer Van Meter, Tommy Carroll, Eddie Green and John Hamilton. Just 3 days later, Dillinger and the gang robbed the Security National Bank at Sioux Falls South Dakota, escaping with approximately $49,000. Nelson shot and severely wounded a motorcycle cop, Hale Keith as he arrived on the scene. This was the start or a robbery spree. 10 days later the gang hit the first National Bank in Mason City, Iowa escaping with $52,000.
Time for a little rest and recuperation, Nelson and Helen joined the gang at the Little Bohemia Lodge, Wisconsin for a short vacation. But the FBI received a tip off and planned to raid the Lodge on April 22nd. Unfortunately their presence was announced by the barking of local dogs giving the gang time to escape but leaving some of the women behind. Helen was arrested and later charged with harbouring a fugitive.
Nelson made his way to a nearby house where he forced his way in, taking two hostages in the process. FBI special agents J.C. Newman and W. Carter Bain, accompanied by a local agent arrived but Nelson was too quick. Charging up to the car he ordered the agents out but before they could obey he opened fire, killing them and making his escape.
Helen was released on parole approximately a month later and quickly rejoined her husband.
On Saturday June 30th, Dillinger, Nelson and Van Meter were part of a gang which hit the Merchants National Bank. They emerged with $28,000 and 3 hostages. However the police opened fire wounding Van Meter and 2 of the hostages, but didn't succeed in stopping their escape.
Dillinger was killed outside the Biograph Theatre Lincoln Park on July 22nd b y FBI agents. The next day J. Edgar Hoover announced that Nelson was now public enemy number one.
Baby Face Nelson, Public Enemy Number One
Nelson, Helen and Chase left Chicago for California but made several trips backwards and forwards, even being stopped for speeding on one occasion. Had the police searched the vehicle they would have found a number of guns and machine guns.
Inspector Samuel P. Cowley and special agent Herman Hollis were assigned to capture Nelson. They tracked him to Barrington Illinois where a gunfight broke out. Hollis was killed during the short battle and Cowley was critically injured and died the next day. Nelson suffered a gunshot to the stomach. Chase helped his friend into Cowley's car, and with Helen at his side they fled the scene.
An anonymous tip led the FBI to Nelson's body. It was found wrapped in a blanket, lying in a ditch alongside St Peter's Catholic cemetery. Nelson died on November 27th 1934, Helen Gillis was arrested on November 29. She was sentenced to one year and a day for violation of her parole. Chase was arrested on December 27th and charged with the murder of Inspector Cowley. On March 31st 1935, having been found guilty, Chase was transferred to Alcatraz where he remained until 1954. He was paroled on October 31st 1966 and died of cancer on October 5th 1977.
Helen Gillis died in 1987 and is buried alongside her husband at St Josephs Cemetery River Grove, Illinois.
Sources:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
- FBI online Famous Cases.
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