25-05-2025
Museum discusses Dillinger Gang
May 24—LIMA — There were just a few empty seats during Allen County Museum docent Karlyn Lauer's presentation about Lima's brush with the gangster era Saturday at the Allen County Museum.
The Great Depression brought about tough times around the nation and in Lima. Amidst those trying times, the rising tide of crime and desperation swept into town in October 1933 because of John Dillinger and his gang, leaving a sheriff dead and a city forever marked by the violence of the gangster era.
Allen County Sheriff Jess Sarber, whom Lauer described as a "well-respected man," was shot and killed the evening of Oct. 12, 1933 during a jailbreak plotted by Dillinger's associates.
The Dillinger Gang had robbed the Bluffton Bank, now known as the Citizens National Bank of Bluffton, of $2,100, on Aug. 14, 1933. Afyer being captured, Dillinger was in the Lima jail awaiting trial.
"They always wanted small banks in small towns," Lauer said.
Prior to the arrest, Dillinger was found at the apartment of his girlfriend, Mary Longnacker, by police and made it known he wanted to be in the Allen County Jail so his plan could come to fruition.
Two days before Sarber was killed, members of the gang were seen walking around the jail, trying to draw up a plan to get Dillinger out.
"Two gang members come back to town [the next day] and visit an attorney telling him John's sister is upset and wants to see John," Lauer said.
Feeling uneasy, Sarber decided to cancel the jail's church service that night.
Around 6:20 p.m. Oct. 12, Charles Makely, Harry Pierpont and Russell Clark entered the jail while Sarber and his wife Lucy Sarber were joined by Deputy Wilbur Sharp for dinner and casual conversation.
"They (gangsters) say they're officials from Indiana and want to interview John," Lauer said.
When Sheriff Sarber asked the men for credentials, he was quickly shot. Lucy Sarber and Sharp were then locked in the basement for several hours, leading to an unimpeded escape for Dillinger and the men.
The men then arrived in Hamilton with their girlfriends who had food, shelter and medical supplies on the ready before relocating to Chicago where business continued, continuing to rob small banks in small towns around Chicago.
"They are successful businessmen, they dress in the best clothes, they have the best apartments, they have the fastest new cars," Lauer said.
In January 1934, Dillinger killed a police officer, Patrick O'Malley, in eastern Chicago.
A short time later in Tucson, Arizona, the gang was caught and extradited to Indiana and Ohio, Dillinger to Crown Point, Indiana, and Pierpont, Makely and Clark to Lima for the death of Sarber. Pierpont and Makley were sentenced to death; Clark received life in prison.
After breaking out of a jail in Crown Point on March 3, 1934, Dillinger continued his criminal spree until he was betrayed in Chicago by a woman facing deportation.
On July 22, 1934, FBI agents shot and killed Dillinger outside the Biograph Theatre in Chicago.
Makley and Pierpont attempted a last-minute prison break with wooden guns carved in their cells. Makley was killed in the attempt. Pierpont, badly wounded, survived long enough to be executed in October 1934.
Lauer has was pleased to present the topic during the afternoon hours Saturday.
"It makes you feel good you know? It's a topic people are interested in," Lauer said.
The Dillinger exhibit is on the bottom floor of the Allen County Musuem, 620 W. Market St., Lima.
Lauer had two books on Dillinger present for attendees to flip through after the presentation.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351.
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