Baby Face Nelson(1908-1934)
Lester Joseph Gillis, aka "Baby Face Nelson", began his crime career at an
early age in a street gang in the Chicago slums. He was given the
nickname "Baby Face" by his gang members because he looked much younger
than he actually was (14). His specialties were car theft, bootlegging and
armed robbery. He spent several years in prison on auto theft and bank
robbery charges. In 1932, while being returned to prison from a trial
for another bank robbery, he escaped custody and fled to California,
where he hooked up with a bootlegging gang. Nelson traveled among
California, Indiana and Minnesota, becoming involved in several
murders.
In 1934 he returned to the Chicago area, where he hooked up with a gang led by the infamous John Dillinger. Later that year the FBI learned that Nelson, his wife and other members of the Dillinger gang were staying at a resort lodge in northern Wisconsin. They surrounded the lodge, but in the ensuing gun battle Nelson, Dillinger and other gangsters escaped. Nelson broke into a nearby house and took its occupants hostage. When FBI agents and local police checked the house, Nelson opened fire, killing one of the agents, then escaped. Not long afterward the Dillinger gang, including Nelson, robbed a bank in South Bend, IN, killing a police officer. Later, in Chicago, Nelson killed two police officers who happened upon a meeting of the gang. On 6/22/34 Dillinger was shot dead by FBI agents in Chicago, and Nelson and the rest of the gang fled to California, but returned to Chicago a short time later. The FBI received a tip that he had been seen driving a stolen car near Barrington, IL, and sent two agents to investigate. The agents spotted the car with Nelson and a fellow gang member, Paul Chase, and a running gun battle ensued. By the time it was over the two FBI agents had been killed and Nelson, mortally wounded, was driven away by his accomplice. He died that night. His body was left near a cemetery, where it was found the next morning.
In 1934 he returned to the Chicago area, where he hooked up with a gang led by the infamous John Dillinger. Later that year the FBI learned that Nelson, his wife and other members of the Dillinger gang were staying at a resort lodge in northern Wisconsin. They surrounded the lodge, but in the ensuing gun battle Nelson, Dillinger and other gangsters escaped. Nelson broke into a nearby house and took its occupants hostage. When FBI agents and local police checked the house, Nelson opened fire, killing one of the agents, then escaped. Not long afterward the Dillinger gang, including Nelson, robbed a bank in South Bend, IN, killing a police officer. Later, in Chicago, Nelson killed two police officers who happened upon a meeting of the gang. On 6/22/34 Dillinger was shot dead by FBI agents in Chicago, and Nelson and the rest of the gang fled to California, but returned to Chicago a short time later. The FBI received a tip that he had been seen driving a stolen car near Barrington, IL, and sent two agents to investigate. The agents spotted the car with Nelson and a fellow gang member, Paul Chase, and a running gun battle ensued. By the time it was over the two FBI agents had been killed and Nelson, mortally wounded, was driven away by his accomplice. He died that night. His body was left near a cemetery, where it was found the next morning.
