The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Talking Gangster
Talk set on bank robber
By Sue G. Collins, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 7, 2008
Infamous gangster, viscous murderer and notorious bank robber John Dillinger drove west on Michigan Avenue through downtown Saline and into Milan one hot summer day in 1934.
Advertisement
He didn't stop to hold up another local bank, shooting up innocent bystanders in his path.
He was on a mission, though.
Dillinger was determined to launch an appeal to free his imprisoned girlfriend, Evelyn "Billie" Frechette, who was serving two years at the Milan federal penitentiary for harboring her boyfriend, recently dubbed "Public Enemy No. 1," by the FBI.
Dillinger came to Milan to visit Frechette when he was 31, early in July of 1934, the very same month he was shot dead in Chicago by three FBI agents outside the Biograph Theater.
This is the first chapter of a story Jim Farrar will share at a free presentation 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Community House on Neckel Court, across from the Milan Police Station, hosted by the Milan Area Historical Society.
Farrar is a Milan resident who stumbled into researching the history of Dillinger when he bought a 1933 Ford, just like the model the criminal stole and used in a string of robberies.
While restoring the sedan, the owner previous to Farrar found a pile of license plates tucked under the seat and dash board from 1933 and 1934 from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin, states where Dillinger and his entourage left a trail of damage during those years.
"I started looking into Dillinger and became intrigued with the Depression Era, prohibition and the drama that may have surrounded this car," said Farrar, now retired from Ford Motor Co. after 38 years. "I'd just sold a T-bird and was ready for a project, so I started to collect memorabilia to display with my new Ford."
When a friend from a nearby auto body shop stopped by to advise on polishing some scuff marks, they noticed one of the rear panels was dimpled.
"He told me the car had been shot at, those dents were from bullets."
Farrar's interest peaked.
Farrar collected photographs, FBI documents, newspaper clippings and antique eyeglasses, a pocket watch, keys and apparel similar to that Dillinger might have owned.
For the Milan Backstreet Cruizers summer Carfest, Farrar filled the back seat of the polished black sedan with antique bank bags overflowing with bills, vintage guns, bullets and even a "bloodied" white dress shirt.
He won the People's Choice Award for his presentation.
Check out a photo of the car at www.backstreetcruizers.com. That's just what Maryland resident Jeremy Dillinger did as he was researching his family's connection to the gangster.
"I was hunting in November, got home and found that a guy named Jeremy Dillinger called to say he wanted to buy the car," Farrar said. "He and his wife came to Milan, bought the car and my collection and stayed to tour around a bit."
While the young Dillinger cannot provide genealogical documentation to prove he's related to John Dillinger, there were a remarkable number of coincidences and reasonable connections, Farrar said.
"He said the family could not account for his grandfather in late 1933 and 1934, a period when John Dillinger was on the run, arrested and then incarcerated before escaping.
"His grandmother would shush the children's inquiries, explaining grandfather worked for the railroad and that a navy accident accounted for changes in his facial features."
Some say John Dillinger underwent plastic surgery in a Chicago apartment, where he also had his fingerprints burned off with acid.
Farrar has his own theories, which he'll share with the public later this month. He'll show a short documentary video to introduce John Dillinger, provide lesser known and personal facts and review the conspiracy theory about the deadly shooting.
"I spent an afternoon with Jeremy and his wife, and they shared some interesting tales," Farrar said. "I'm hoping that someone will come on the 20th and share what they know about the Milan jail in the '30s and maybe some recollections of Dillinger during those days, too."
Call 439-4007 for details about the presentation.
Staff Writer Sue G. Collins can be reached at 429-7380 or scollins@heritage.com.
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
Expanded
Web
Coverage
Staff Blog, "Inside The Newsroom"
TOP JOBS
