Rare ALS signed “Johnnie,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 9.75, October 1, 1933. Handwritten letter to Mary Longnaker, written from Allen County Jail in Lima, Ohio, where he was held after being arrested following a string of bank robberies. In full: "I just read in the paper of Jimmy's death and I know you must be heartbroken. I feel for you dear for I know how much you cared for each other, and I can understand your grief because Jimmy was the only real friend and pal I had outside of my family and I loved him like a brother. Honey this old world has dealt you some heavy blows. I wish I were free so I could take you away and make you happy but the least I can expect is ten years. Sweetheart if I had known two months ago that you would ever care enough about me to marry me I would have gotten a job, somehow for I could enjoy working for a girl like you and having a home. Do you think I have injoyed myself allways on the go, no place I could call home. I expect you were surprised to hear I was sent to Lima weren't you? I wish you would send me the pictures we had taken at the worlds fair. I will allways keep them in remembrance of you. Darling I won't write you any more, I want you to forget me for ten years or more is to long for any girl to wait, and as sweet as you are you will find the right man someday to make you happy. Dear I am heartbroken too about Jimmy for he was a wonderfull fellow. Goodbye and the best of luck to you allways." Handsomely double-matted and framed with the original mailing envelope (addressed in Dillinger's hand), a color copy of the front of the letter, a portrait, and a nameplate to an overall size of 27.5 x 20.75; the display has glass on both sides so that the full letter can be seen. In fine condition, with some mild creasing, and opening tears to the envelope.
Mary Longnaker was the unhappily married sister of Jim Jenkins, a convicted murderer and 1929 prison mate of Dillinger while at the Indiana State Penitentiary. Dillinger learned of Mary through her brother, and resolved to meet her once he got out; after his parole in May 1933, Dillinger made his way to Ohio to introduce himself, and their affair swiftly developed. He took Mary on a ten-day trip to the 1933 'Century of Progress' World's Fair in Chicago, and visited off and on throughout the summer. Intending to marry her, Dillinger even offered to pay for her divorce. Meanwhile, he began robbing banks—the Dillinger Gang hit five banks in Ohio and Indiana between June 21 and September 6, 1933. Dillinger was arrested at Longnaker's home in Dayton, Ohio, on September 22nd, where he gave himself up peacefully. On September 26th, Jim Jenkins escaped from prison with nine fellow convicts under a plan Dillinger helped to devise, but was shot and killed in Beanblossom, Indiana, on September 30th. Writing the next day, Dillinger grieves the loss of his close friend and expresses regret for his actions—now separated from the love of his life, he wishes he had obtained honest employment rather than robbing banks. Eleven days after he wrote this letter—and facing at least ten years in prison—three of the recent escapees arrived in Lima to bust Dillinger out of jail. Gaining access by impersonating Indiana State Police officers asking for Dillinger's extradition, they shot the sheriff dead and released Dillinger from his cell. Back on the lam, Dillinger returned to his old ways and continued his spree. An extraordinary, romantic letter from the golden age of the American gangster.
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