DILLINGER’S DOWNFALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1935, Page 2

DILLINGER’S DOWNFALL

ENGLISH GIRL’S REVELATION. When John Dilinger, Public Enemy No. 1 of the United States, the ruthless, merciless outlaw, who eluded the forces of the law for so long. fell riddled with the avenging bullets of the Federal police outside a Chicago cinema last year. it was known that tlie end had been encompassed by a woman. Who that woman was who rendered such a signal service to the community has remained a secret up to now.

It is now revealed that she is of English birth —a blue-eyed, petite blond named Marcia Marsh, who airived in London and stayed at Brixton. Few would suspect that this quietmannered girl had risked her life for years among the desperadoes of the

American underworld, acting as an “under-cover” girl, or secret agent, and waiting her chance to trap the notorious Dillinger. There was a romantic and tragic reason for her amazing pluck and grim tenacity of purpose. Miss Marsh told the “News of the World’’ the story of her gamble of death.

“James Brennan was the man I meant to marry," she stated.. “He was a Federal agent. He was shot dead by gangsters. From that moment 1

swore I would aveng? his death. “1 knew Gordon Fellowes, one of America’s foremost insurance detectives. He gave me a job. He was fighting the racketeers. “ID asked if I would become his ‘under-cover’ and gret into the racketeers’ headquarters, saying 1 would earn not only a good living hut rondor the State a service. "1 readily agreed. Foremost in my mind was avenging my sweetheart s death. James Brennan fought tlie racketeers, but lie was unarmed. He hud been tracing one gang for weeks, and was shot in cold blood as he tried to arrest one of them. “My misery and heartbreak were terrible, and I had no thought for anyone other tha.it his memory when I joined up with th' insurance detective force. This was six years ago.

"Later, 1 joined lite Federal Service, ami when. IS months ago, the Government declared open war on the gangslots, I thought my moment hud < onto. 1 posed as a 'gun moll.’ or ■.-angst ,-r’s sweetheart. I had no coinpallet ton about it nt all. "For months 1 lay low and never had any communication with any of the Federal men. They were known as '<;■ men, or gunmen, because it was only recently that tin y had been allowed to carry piths. “Time and time again I fisired for my life. [ thought 1 had been found out. but my great chance came last yea:. Then 1 heard from a friend In the Chicago und- rworld that Dillinger, who had been hunted for weeks. wn« going to a gangster film in the Bjo.SCopc* theatre. “1 immediately te'ephom-d to Mr M- Ivin I‘iirvis. t hief of the Chicago Justice Division. I told him that Dil linger was with a woman in r«-d. For two ami a half hours Mr Purvis ami his tie ti waited outside the Biosc ope th .it: • . am! when Dillinger c ame out they Mint b.lin dead There- were three builets in his body when they pieke* him up. ilc- had not a chance. 1 am gl.cd -aa-. ktlTd 11,. d. ail It - co! lb- was a rat am! the scum cl tlm Chicago underworld."