HOT
OFF THE JANUARY 1935 PRESS
"Special Agent Stops One-Man Crime Wave in Thirty Minutes"
01/12/05
You know all those
grim faces of Special Agents in television and movie dramas? Did you
ever wonder if they had a sense of humor when they returned to headquarters?
Here's an "inside story" written 70 years ago, tongue firmly
in cheek, about a Chicago agent "pursuing his official duties in
the vicinity of Magnolia and Leland Avenues."
The action.
"During the early
morning hours of October 17, 1934, Special Agent Robert T. Ross, then
attached to the Chicago office, was pursuing his official duties in the
vicinity of Magnolia and Leland Avenues, Chicago, Ill. Ross was intently
engaged with his work and some hours passed without event, when at approximately
4:45 A.M., he was approached by an unknown individual who, with his right
hand thrust into his suit coat pocket, came directly in front of Ross
and, making a threatening gesture with his right hand in his pocket to
indicate that he held a gun, stated, 'This is a stick up. What have you
got?'"
The reaction.
"Confronted with
this surprising announcement, Ross pretended that he had not heard what
the potential robber had said, and requested that it be repeated. This
the unknown person did, all the while covering Ross with his hand in
his coat pocket. Thereupon Ross, without conversation, reached with his
right hand into his coat, conveying to the assailant the impression that
he was attempting to reach for his wallet. At this moment the Agent knocked
aside, with this left hand, the robber's supposed gun, and with his right
hand drew his own pistol, forcing the would be 'thug' to surrender."
Crime doesn't
pay.
"Special Agent
Ross then commandeered a taxicab and proceeded with his prisoner to a
nearby police precinct station. There the unknown person was turned over
to the custody of the Chicago Police Department and was soon identified
by two other persons as the individual who had a short time before held
them up and taken money from them. On each of these two previous occasions
the robber used the same tactics as he attempted to use on Ross. Upon
being questioned he stated that his name was Glenn E. Reilly, and, when
searched, it was found that he did not have a gun but was merely using
his hand in his coat pocket in an endeavor to convey to his victims the
impression that they were covered by a pistol. After some questioning
Reilly confessed to having held up and obtained money from his first
two victims."
All in a day's
work.
"At approximately
5:15 A.M., half an hour after his unexpected interruption Ross returned
to his official duties."
Link: FBI
History
Photograph
of Chicago courtesy of the Library of Congress.