- Born
- Died
- Birth nameLester Joseph Gillis
- Nickname
- George Nelson
- Height5′ 2″ (1.57 m)
- 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.
- IMDb mini biography by: frankfob2@yahoo.com
- SpouseHelen Wawznak(1928 - September 27, 1934) (his death, 2 children)
- In a gunfight with FBI agents, he shot agent Sam Cowley. Mortally wounded, Cowley fired back and hit Nelson, then died a few moments later. Nelson, dying from Cowley's bullets, escaped in a car with his wife driven by an accomplice, Paul Chase. When they saw a roadblock up ahead, they dumped Nelson by the side of the road and left him to die, not wanting to get caught with him in the car. Nelson died shortly afterward. Chase and Nelson's wife were arrested and tried for robbery and murder. Chase got life in prison with no parole, and Nelson's wife got 25 years.
- Had the dubious reputation of being the only 1920s gangster to kill three FBI agents.
- He was inducted into the criminal world by an old friend named Mike Rocanatto, a professional holdup man, who taught Nelson everything he knew. When Nelson felt he'd learned enough, he double-crossed Rocanatto and walked away with $100,000, leaving Rocanatto for the police.
- Hated his nickname, and tried to get other gangsters to call him "Big George" instead. This was ridiculous, of course, because he was only 5'2".
- When the FBI raided the John Dillinger gang's hideout in northern Wisconsin, Nelson was one of the few who escaped. Knowing that the FBI would stake out every road, he crept through the woods and underbrush for several miles.
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