Charles Makley and Russell Clark, along with Clark's girlfriend, Opal Long, had arrived ahead of Harry Pierpont and John Dillinger. They spent and drank freely, feeling secure from arrest in the little town.
Pierpont and his girl Mary Kinder arrived a few days later, with Dillinger and Evelyn Frechette following a few days after them.
Little did they know that Clark and Makley had begun to draw the attention of the local police.
On Janurary 25, the police discovered the hideout of Clark and Makley's on North Second Avenue. They observed Makley leaving and followed him to a radio store.
Once the outlaw entered the store, the police arrested him without a struggle. The police then returned to the house on Second Avenue, and a officer pretended he had a message for Clark. As the officer pulled a gun, Clark yanked him into the home and they began to struggle. Opal Long quickly slammed the door on the other officers rushing to the rescue and broke one of the policeman's finger.
Clark manuvered the policeman into the bedroom and another officer finally reached Clark and hit him over the head with the butt of his gun.
Clark was taken to have his head wound was treated, then off he went to join Makley in jail.
Not too long afterwards, Pierpont came calling, but left quickly when he saw evidence of a struggle.
Harry was pulled over on Sixth Street as he and Mary were leaving town. The policeman remained friendly and told Harry that he needed to have a visitor tag on his car or he would be pulled over by every cop in town.
Pierpont at first hesitated, but bought the line. He offered to allow the policeman to ride with him to the police station. The officer climbed into the backseat and shakedly hid his gun between his legs. Pierpont was supposedly a cold blooded killer. But to the officer he seemed like a soft spoken gentleman.
That changed once Pierpont entered the jail and saw Clark and Makley's luggage. He grabbed for a gun in his pocket, and it took several policemen to finally subdue the bank robber.
And it was the end of the road for Harry and his gang.
Several hours later, John Dillinger was captured as he and Evelyn pulled up to the house on Second Avenue.
The county let the curious pass by the outlaws. As Pierpont, Clark and Makley were taken back to Indiana by train with Captain Matt Leach, Harry had been was forced to pose with the police that arrested him.
Not a glorious moment for Harry Pierpont. It defintely was the end of the road for the man that had dreamed of the one last super bank robbery gang.
He was on his way back to Ohio, via Indiana.
If Pierpont had evaded escape in Tuscon, he may have soon became a Public Enemy.
But that is something we will never know...
Dillinger's Tucson Mugshot
Makley's Tucson Mugshot
Russell Clark In Younger Days
{Courtesy: Dillinger Historical Society}
The Gang In Tucson Court
Harry In Tucson Jail
Proud Arresting Officers
North Second Street Hideout
MARY KINDER JOHN DILLINGER TUCSON ARRESTS DEATH OF HARRY
KOKOMO BANK LEIPSIC AWARDS CRIME LINKS LAWMEN LINKS
ALLEN COUNTY MUSEUM
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