JOHN DILLINGER'S PARKER - Page 2

George Lander · 06-01-2011, 11:58 PM

Francis: From what my friend tells me and what is said in Alston Purvis' (Melvin's son) book "VENDETTA", Melvin Purvis looked on J. Edgar Hoover as a surrogate father figure. It is true that several innocent CCC workers were accidentally shot (friendly fire) at Little Bohemia, however Purvis and his men were under fire from a number of gangsters there including Machine Gun Kelly all of whom later escaped out the back of the building. When Dillinger was killed he was carrying the Parker under his coat plus a Colt 1911 in his belt. I think that Purvis was anything but a FUBAR. He just got screwed over by the man that he admired most and who gave him some faulty intel.

Bill: I'm sure that, as Francis said, the Parker probably was stolen by Dillinger but it will be interesting if the research letter shows who it was originally consigned to. I'm going to take some pictures of it next week when I see my friend again and also the PGCA letter when it arrives and I'll post them here. He really wants to find someone to make a high quality display case for it along with Purvis Colt 1911 that he was carrying when Dillinger was killed.

Best Regards, George

Big D · 06-02-2011, 08:02 AM

A friend of mine rescued a bank safe from a small bank in NW Oho that Dillinger attempted to break into. He failed but there are still marks indicating his efforts. He also has the newspaper account of Dillenger's attempt. The safe, which has gold gilt trim, now houses my friend's extensive Luger collection. Had to do a major reinforcement of the floor to support the safe.

Old and Reliable · 06-02-2011, 09:08 AM

[quote=George Lander;43932]Francis: From what my friend tells me and what is said in Alston Purvis' (Melvin's son) book "VENDETTA", Melvin Purvis looked on J. Edgar Hoover as a surrogate father figure. It is true that several innocent CCC workers were accidentally shot (friendly fire) at Little Bohemia, however Purvis and his men were under fire from a number of gangsters there including Machine Gun Kelly all of whom later escaped out the back of the building. When Dillinger was killed he was carrying the Parker under his coat plus a Colt 1911 in his belt. I think that Purvis was anything but a FUBAR. He just got screwed over by the man that he admired most and who gave him some faulty intel.

Bill: I'm sure that, as Francis said, the Parker probably was stolen by Dillinger but it will be interesting if the research letter shows who it was originally consigned to. I'm going to take some pictures of it next week when I see my friend again and also the PGCA letter when it arrives and I'll post them here. He really wants to find someone to make a high quality display case for it along with Purvis Colt 1911 that he was carrying when Dillinger was killed.

Best Regards, George[/So we can add Melvin Purvis's name to the list of others in a command position who were screwed over by high-ups on the C of C-- Lt. William Calley USA 1968 comes to mind-- But George, your usage of the mis-nomer "friendly fire"- huum-- it is true Dillinger and MG Kelley and others escaped from the shoot-out at Little Bo, but I think about a term from another George- in this case the late George Carlin- who once posed this conundrum-- "If fire fighters fight fires, and crime fighters fight crimes, what exactly do freedom fighters fight then?-- USA Ranger (Airborne) and former NFL star Pat Tillman- supposedly died due to that Fubar- and a few Officers got "fragged", but if I had been Purvis and found out that my orders lead to the tragic death of three CCC workers- it was dead dark night, few lights at the Bohemia. Purvis wanted to impress John Edgar Hoover- judged with 20-20 hindsight, he should have held his position, called in back-up and covered all the back roads and lakes, and waited until daylight, and tried to get Dillinger to surrended-

J. Edgar Hoover and "Tricky Dick" Nixon- two men who abused the power of their office to punish in a petty way anyone they felt was against them- and Hoover was a cross-dressing nutcase- he held so much power that even LBJ- no "panty-waist" and the below the belt infighting of politics in DC was cautious in his dealings with him-- Just as Nixon like to such down Scotch aboard the Prez. Yacht and plot and scheme, J. Edgar loved to bet the ponies- and his underworld "ties" arranged for him to win on "rigged races"--At least Dillinger was a "in your face" criminal, not a "behind your back variety" like Nixon and Hoover--If we hadn't had the Volstead Act and the Suffrage act that enabled many tee-totaling well meaning but ill-advised ladies new power, Capone would have been just another pimp in Five Points NY (aka- Hell's Kitchen) and Hoover would have remained a shiny-#@@ed office clerk in the Treasury Dept-- IMO anyway

George Lander · 06-02-2011, 01:32 PM

Well said Francis but hindsight is always 20-20! I never knew Purvis but do know the guy who knew him & I'll take his word to the bank! Lt. Calley was a scapegoat for his "superior ossifers" and Pat Tillman got FUBAR'D by a FNG. Combat is a crazy thing at best, but the responsibility always flows downhill instead of up. "S**t flows downhill, the CO chews out my ass & I chew out yours. It's called the chain of command. Small wonder some "senior ossifers" got fragged IMHO!

Best Regards, George

Ironman5 · 06-02-2011, 08:32 PM

This is a very interesting thread to me as Melvin Purvis was my Great Uncle. Good story on the Parker too. I can't wait to hear what comes out of the research letter.

Lloyd Purvis

Old and Reliable · 06-03-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.V. Purvis

This is a very interesting thread to me as Melvin Purvis was my Great Uncle. Good story on the Parker too. I can't wait to hear what comes out of the research letter.

Lloyd Purvis

-- I only mentioned the FUBAR at Little Bo in a context of history, just as I would have with my favorite General, Robert E. Lee, in reviewing his colossal blunders at Gettysburg in 1863, or for that matter, the Limey Generals involved at the bloodbath of the Somme in France in 1916, the Courts-Martial of Gen. Billy Mitchell circa 1926, Limey Sir Bernie L. Montgomery's op. "Market (Airborne)- Garden (Ground troops) in Holland circa 1944, Truman's relieving Gen Doug MacArthur of Command in Korea in 1951, Prez. Jack K and the CIA- Bay of Pigs FUBAR in Cuber (Cuba) 1961, then LBJ's plunging us into the "Big Muddy" vis a vis the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964, MACV C-in-C Gen Westmoreland's insistence on a costly war of attrition against an unseen enemy on his HOME TURF, Slick Willie Clinton's cowardice in Not bagging Bin Laden when he had the chance, and the list goes on--

When my other favorite General- George Smith Patton Jr. advised his field commanders in the words of Frederick the Great- "Audace-etc"-- remember, he had the best intel and staff (Colonel Koch masterminded the Winter of 1944 90% shift to relieve Bastogne and the brave men of the 101st AB encircled there by the Krauts) and he had that rare sixth sense few leaders are gifted with--

So- my apologies to the living relative of Melvin Purvis who posted here, we had our share of Junior "Ossifers" in Vietnam who thought that bagging a high enemy body count was a key to promotion- Captain Oliver North fell into that sector-- I was only commenting, blessed with a somewhat keen interest in history, and 20-20 hindsight- on a scenario I did not witness firsthand- How Dillinger managed to steal that 12 VH, and if he did (as I suspect he did) amputate the barrels, is fuel for another great search-

Ironman5 · 06-03-2011, 04:01 PM

No apologies needed. I have a very odd family tree... Melvin Purvis on one side, Bugsy Moran on the other. (Melvin's nephew married Bugsy's niece and created my Grandfather). All had passed on before I came along, so no stories. I've read alot about the G-Man and the popularity that ensued after Dillinger's death. I am always amazed that others still remember that short part of history. I've been collecting G-Man stuff (mostly the cereal box stuff) for about 20 years. And now a Parker story to go with it.

Best regards,

Blind Dog · 06-03-2011, 06:50 PM

Ironman, I get down to Noble County, south of Caldwell, every now and then to chase critters on the B&L coal lands. Anywhere near your neighborhood? Grouse used to be plentiful there, but have been hard to find the last few years.

Ironman5 · 06-03-2011, 07:57 PM

My Parents both went to high school in Noble County. My Sister is a Doctor in Caldwell as well. When you could still locate grouse in Ohio...that was a great place to hunt. Now it's just a great place to walk around. I am one of those that is a glutton for punishment and I still put in many miles every season just to come away dissappointed. I average 40-50 grouse hunts per season in Ohio and have only averaged just over 17 flushes per season over the last 10 years. I also hunt twice a year in Michigan where my Brit and I will find as many as 60 birds in a 3 day hunt. Spoils me...then it's back to Ohio where they are few and far between.

George Lander · 06-03-2011, 11:00 PM

I had another pleasant lunch today with my friend and spent most of the afternoon listening to his stories. He was a friend of Col. William Fairbairn and Capt. Peter Mason of what is now the British SAS. I heard lots of good stories about them & looked over the album of photos taken of Carbine Williams on his trip to Hollywood for the making on the movie. I remembered to take some pictures of Dillinger's Parker which I will try to figure out how to post here.

Best Regards, George