Melvin Purvis

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Melvin Purvis

Melvin Purvis (born October 24, 1903 in Timmonsville , South Carolina , † February 29, 1960 in Florence , South Carolina) was an operative at the FBI law enforcement agency in the United States in the early 1930s. He was best known for his hunt for the gang around John Dillinger . To this day, Purvis is considered to be the civil servant who managed to apprehend most of the public enemies .

Life

Purvis was in 1903 as the son of a wealthy tobacco farmers in South Carolina born and graduated in 1927, the law school . After graduating, he worked briefly as a lawyer. His wish to work as a diplomat for the United States could not be granted, which is why he joined the FBI in 1927. Because of his success, he soon became head of the Birmingham , Oklahoma City, and later Cincinnati offices . In 1932 he was appointed head of the Chicago office, known at the time as an extremely corrupt and violent city.

From 1934 Purvis was confronted for the first time with the Dillinger gang, which attracted attention in the American Midwest mainly through bank robberies and prison breakouts. Purvis was directly entrusted with the manhunt for the criminals and met Dillinger and his accomplices personally on April 22, 1934. While the gang hid in a forest hut in Rhinelander , Wisconsin , on the run from the authorities , the police succeeded in locating the hiding place of the criminals through tips from local residents. Purvis led a command on April 22nd to arrest the criminals. However, the gang escaped after a bloody gun battle with many injured and three dead.

On July 22, 1934, Purvis succeeded in putting Dillinger in the Chicago cinema "Biograph" with the support of his girlfriend, Anna Sage . Dillinger died while trying to avoid arrest, shot by FBI agents Charles Winstead , Clarence O. Hurt and Herman E. Hollis. Dillinger's buddies Homer Van Meter and Babyface Nelson were also killed a few months later in an exchange of fire with police and FBI officers.

Purvis was also responsible for the capture of Kansas City's enemies Adam Richetti and Vern Sankley.

Although Purvis became very popular in a short time through the successful prosecution of the Dillinger gang, he retired from the FBI in 1935. It is believed that his deteriorating relationship with the head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover , was due to the growing popularity with resentment and envy, the reason for the departure was.

After leaving, Purvis worked as a lawyer again. Thanks to his fame, he won an advertising contract with the breakfast cereal maker Post Toastis . The story of the hunt for the Dillinger gang was initially published in comic book stories. Purvis continued to work as a radio host for his own station in Florence, South Carolina, and as a book author ( American Agent ).

During the Second World War Purvis became a member of the OSS and last served there with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel . After the war he was involved in the investigation of war crimes. He later developed cancer and died of suicide on February 29, 1960 .

Movies

Various film and television productions were dedicated to the life of Purvis and his hunt for the Dillinger gang:

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Purvis, Melvin
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American employee of the FBI
DATE OF BIRTH October 24, 1903
PLACE OF BIRTH Timmonsville , South Carolina, United States
DATE OF DEATH February 29, 1960
Place of death Florence , South Carolina, United States