The G-Men Of The '30s

(Note: Do a "site search" to find all references. Please be aware that documenting these men of the '30s is a massive project and as of the Spring of 2009, continuous additions are slowly being made. I may have information available on Agents, but not yet added so if you don't see the name here, send an email inquiry to me.)

A NOTE ABOUT SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

The biography information about these Agents comes from multiple sources and in the interest of brevity we are not listing the source(s) after each biography although there are some exceptions.

• Source material includes decade old articles from "The Grapevine," a regular magazine for members of the Society of Former FBI Agents.
• Genealogy information provided through the assistance of several researchers.
• Accumulated facts as a result of our own review of FOIA FBI files.
• Information from the FBI's historians.
• Information from obituaries and cemeteries.
  
• Information from relatives and/or
• A combination of various areas of the above

Please NOTE: In MOST cases we have not verified dates through actual birth certificates and/or death certificates and for purposes here, do not intend to pursue these documents for each and every Agent here.

Many thanks to former FBI Agent, and Retired Hennepin County Sheriff, Don Omodt for his contributions on these men. In many instances we may only be able to capture a name on a photo we find since finding personal data about these men is becoming more difficult as time goes by.

FBI Special Agent, Travis W. Bain (1935-37)

SA Bain was executive vice president of the First State Bank of Houston, Texas after his short FBI career. Bain, along with SA's Ray Tollett, Tom Neal, John E. Lunsford and others participated in the arrest of Alvin Karpis. A comical note about SA Bain and Lunsford is in the navigation area under "Dinner with Alvin Karpis....."

FBI Special Agent, Almon P. Barber (1934-1944) (See Section On Brady Gang)

FBI Special Agent, W. Carter Baum (1930-1934 - Killed In The Line Of Duty)

FBI Special Agent, Thomas "Frank" Baughman (1919-1949)

"Frank" Baughman @ early 30's"Frank" Baughman entered on duty with the Department of Justice in October, 1919. At the age of 22 he was assigned to the General Intelligence Division and worked closely with J. Edgar Hoover whom he knew in law school. Baughman was a graduate of the George Washington University in Washington, DC and enlisted in the Army in 1917. He was discharged after World War I as a captain to accept his position with the Intelligence Division.

Baughman remained a close personal friend of J. Edgar Hoover and Hoover was Baughman's best man at his wedding. After Hoover became director he appointed Baughman a supervisor and rated him in a number three position in the Bureau. When Clyde Tolson became assistant Director, Baughman was assigned to Tolson as an assistant which was a short-lived arrangement. He was subsequently appointed in the mid-19 30s as a firearms instructor at the FBI Academy and remained there until 1949 when he retired. Baughman died in Florida in 1971. Baughman regularly appears in many 1930s firearms photographs at Quantico and is sometimes described in photos as a "US Marine instructor" which obviously is in error. In many photos, he wears what many would describe as a "Trooper's hat."

FBI Special Agent R. D. Brown (1930 - 1939)

Ralph D. Brown served as a Special Agent from 1930 until 1939 and was a past president of the Agent's Society. He was born at Swanton, Vermont on a farm on February 25, 1904. He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps as a flying cadet in the 20's.

During his nine years of service, Brown figured prominently in some of the major cases of the time and is well known for his appearance at the Dillinger shootout in Chicago. Brown drove Purvis to the Biograph that night, and positioned himself in the vehicle, parking just feet away from the fatal shooting. Brown, along with others, was assigned to the "Dillinger Squad." Brown also participated in other major cases such as the Barker-Karpis gang case and the Hamm, Bremmer, Stoll, Weyerhauser and Ross Kidnappings. When he resigned in 1939, Brown was already the SAC of the Denver Field Office.

Subsequent to his service, Brown was an executive with J. C. Penny Stores and later was vice president in charge of public relations of Safeway Stores. In his retirement years he resided in Palo Alto, California and died on March 7, 1973 at the age of 69. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife, Christine, and two sons, James and Peter.

FBI Special Agent, Delf A. "Jelly" Bryce (1934-1958)

Retired SA Bryce & second wife, circa early 50's - Donated by G. Franklin, NM"Jelly" Bryce, also mentioned in our intro here, served as a Speical Agent with the FBI from 1934 until 1958. No doubt he was one of the legendary marksmen of the FBI's '30s era, having come from the Oklahoma City Police Department. Legend has it that Bryce arrived at the FBI with 6-8 "notches" already in his gun. (additional photos of Bryce and other legends are in our "photo gallery."

By all accounts, Bryce was not formally educated upon arrival at the FBI in the company of Clarence Hurt and others. Bryce did think "the sun rose and set on J. Edgar Hoover" and even imitated the late Director's dress style of snap brimmed hats and double breasted suits. Although it's not clear where he was at the time, some have Bryce participating in the Dillinger shootout in Chicago. There's no evidence he was there. Bryce did participate in other high profile cases however.

In 1941, Bryce was appointed as a Special Agent In Charge and served in this capacity in El Paso, San Antonio, Albuquerque and finally Oklahoma City from where he retired in 1958. Upon retirement, Bryce ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Oklahoma as an independent. He then returned to his birthplace, Mountainview, Oklahoma where he ran a ranch.

Former SA Weldon Gentry (1941-61) who was assigned to the Oklahoma City FBI Office when Bryce was SAC there said, "all the time he was Agent in Charge we didn't have an unsolved bank robbery in the State." Former Oklahoma City Police Chief, L. Hilbert said at one time that Bryce "had personal knowledge about everything going on in the U. S. in the way of law violations. He had a knack of knowing how to figure out who would pull what and that's what made him a good law officer. No doubt about it, he was the best." Bryce's speed and accuracy with firearms, his ready wit, and flair for showmanship made him much in demand for firearms demonstrations. There is no doubt he just may have been the fastest lawman in the country at the time.

The abilities of Bryce's shooting is further exemplified in a book written by Ron Owens. Bryce died in May, 1974 while attending a re-union of of Oklahoma X-Agents at the age of 67. At that time he was survived by 2 sons, William of Dallas, Tx. and John Fel Bryce of Mountain View.

FBI Special Agent William L. "Buck" Buchanan - (1934 - 1946)

SA Buchanan was the Agent at the arrest of gangster, Alvin Karpis, who "donated" his tie at the scene so Karpis could be restrained since the Agents present had forgotten handcuffs. Letters about this between Hoover and Buchanan are on this site to read and see also his son's note in the section containing relatives comments. In 1940, SA Buchanan sent the Karpis tie to Hoover as a momento and to this day, the tie has never been found again.

FBI Special Agent, Raymond J. Caffrey ( ?-1933 - Killed In The Line Of Duty)

FBI Special Agent, G. Christopher Callan (1934-1960) See Section On Brady Gang

FBI Special Agent, Charles G. (Jerry) Campbell (1934-1965)

Campbell, a native of Oklahoma, was previously with the Oklahoma City Police Department and entered the FBI due to his shooting abilities when the FBI needed expert marksmen to train Agents in the use of firearms. The FBI had just obtained Congressional authority to carry weapons. Campbell was hired along with marksmen, Clarence Hurt and “Jelly” Bryce from the same Department.

Campbell was best remembered for his role in the Dillinger investigation and being part of Chicago FBI’s “flying squad” consisting of Agents who best knew all the various gangsters. Campbell was at the Biograph Theater with others the night Dillinger was killed and also participated in the gun battle at Ocala, Fla. With Ma Barker and her son. As a police officer, he had pursued Bonnie and Clyde. In October, 1932, Campbell encountered bandit Elbert Oglesby in Oklahoma and during the confrontation, Campbell shot and killed Oglesby who was wanted for bank robbery and murder.

Campbell was known as a down to earth, low key investigator, although he specialized in dangerous crimes and assignments requiring the use of force.

In 1946, Campbell opened the FBI’s Palo Alto Office and resided there.

A 1952 San Francisco Chronicle story described a trick-shooting exhibition that Campbell and others gave to FBI personnel in San Francisco. The Agents fired machine guns, rifles, pistols and shotguns backward, between their legs, and behind their backs, according to the story.

Campbell retired in 1965 at Palo Alto and his good friend and neighbor, SA George Hartley took his place. After retiring in 1965, he continued to work for a local firearms company and lent his experience to the range masters of many local police departments. During retirement enjoyed hunting, fishing and collecting firearms. SA Hartley would later become Campbell’s executor of his will, and dispersed all of Campbell’s guns.

“Jerry” Campbell died of congestive heart failure on January 1, 1991 at the age of 84. At the time he was survived by his wife, Betty and one sister. The Campbell’s never had any children.

FBI Special Agent, Ralph H. Colvin (1918-1940)

Believed born in 1878, Colvin was a native of Johnson City, Texas and as a young man, he went to Alaska to seek gold during the rush there. He returned in 1908 and joined the U. S. Forestry Service. In 1911 he transferred to the border patrol along the U. S./Mexico border until 1918 when he joined the FBI. (Bureau Of Investigation). By 1919, Colvin had already attained the rank as SAC in Arizona.

Colvin was SAC at Oklahoma, during the 1933-34 time period and played a major role in the case of the Charles Urschel kidnapping and the subsequent arrest of George "Machine Gun" Kelly. In 1933, at Shawnee, Ok., Colvin was present with "Jelly" Bryce and others at the shootout with gangster, Wilbur (Wilber) Underhill. Also during 1933, Colvin was instrumental in the arrest of Frank Nash who escaped from Leavenworth prison.

During his tenure, Colvin served as SAC of the Oklahoma, El Paso, Dallas, and Tucson FBI offices.

Colvin retired in 1940 after about 22 years in the Bureau and became Chief Of Police, at Tulsa, Oklahoma PD. He only served about two years and left to become chief investigator of the Douglas bomber plant in Oklahoma. He left there in 1945 after the War.

According to his obituary, At the age of 73, Colvin died during January, 1951 while living alone at the Trimble Hotel on Boulder Ave., in Tulsa, Ok. He had a surviving daughter in Burbank, Ca. at the time whom obituaries identified as Nancy Colvin.

According to research in 2009, it was determined Colvin had two brothers, now deceased. His former wife, Madeline appears to have remarried a boarder of hers named Frank Wesley Coulter. (No marriage certificate has been located.) Colvin's surviving daughter, Frances (who appears to have used the name Nancy Colvin also) probably took on an adopted name of Frances Rodney Coulter. As seen here, she died in 1996.

California Death Index 1940-1997 
Frances Rodney Coulter 
Born: 20 Set 1915 Arizona
Died: 9 Sept 1996 Santa Barbara, CA
Mother's maiden name: Burt [that's correct]
SS# 557-20-7173

Madelein [sic] R. Coulter
Born: 3 June 1889 "Rest of the World" 
Died: 11 Nov 1962 Los Angeles, CA
Mother's maiden name: Fletcher [that's correct]
No Social Security number given

Frank Wesley Coulter
Born: 19 June 1888 Canada
Died: 5 June 1978 Santa Barbara, CA
No mother's maiden name given
SS# 556-56-1953

My personal thanks for this research effort to: M. R. Solari, researcher,
lynden@goldrush.com

Colvin's photo in 1933 during the Underhill shootout appears on the home page of this website and also the "photo gallery."

FBI Special Agent, Earl J. Connelley (1920 - 1954)

Commonly known as E. J. Connelley, he was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio January, 1892. In 1917, during the War, Connelley joined the Army as a private, served in the Signal Corps, and was discharged as a first lieutenant by war's end.

Connelley studied law and accounting in New York and joined the FBI in January, 1920. In 1927, he was promoted to Special Agent In Charge in St. Louis, and subsequently served in the same capacity in the New York, Chicago, and Cincinnati offices. Throughout his 34 year career, Connelley was involved as an Inspector, and SAC, in many of the most prominent Bureau cases, especially those of the gangster era. Connelley essentially replaced Inspector Sam Cowley in Chicago in late 1934, after Cowley had been killed in action along with SA Herman Hollis.

In addition to the major kidnappings, the Dillinger and other cases, Connelley led the raid in Chicago capturing "Doc" Barker, and subsequently took his men to Florida to capture "Ma" Barker and her son, Fred. As most know, this attempt led to a gunfight at Ocala, Florida wherein both Barkers were killed.

Later in his career, Connelley spent most of his time involved in subversive/spy type investigations. In 1940, Director Hoover appointed him as Assistant Director of Major Investigations in the Field. In 1948 he was involved with the famous Alger Hiss investigation.

Retiring in 1954, Connelley died at his home in Cincinnati in January, 1957.

FBI Special Agent, Rufus C. Coulter (1928-1945) See Section On Brady Gang And The Navigation Area For Name and do a site search for more info on him.

Inspector Samuel P. Cowley (1929 - 1934 - Killed In The Line Of Duty)

Today in Barrington , Ill. a bronze plaque, mounted on a red granite rock, carries the following: “You cannot choose your battlefield. The gods do that for you, but you can plant a standard where a standard never flew.” A flagpole flys the Stars and Stripes; it all sits in the shade of locust tree.

The plaque sits at the location where Inspector Sam Cowley and Herman Hollis died in the shootout with “Baby Face” Nelson, also killed. Present with Nelson was John Paul Chase who would later be convicted of the murder of Cowley; he was never tried for the Hollis killing and died in California in the early 70’s after being paroled.

Historically, Cowley remained out of the limelight of the Dillinger shootout, the Bremer and Lindberg kidnappings, the Kansas City Massacre, and many more of the notorious incidents of the day. Even though he was the appointed Inspector in Charge of it all. With Dillinger, we only hear of Purvis. But in the years to come, Mr. Hoover made if very clear (and even at the time) that it was Cowley who ran the major investigations of the times.

Cowley was born in Idaho in 1899 and was the fifth son to Latter Day Saints parents. He came into a family of 9 sons and 6 daughters, and ironically was the product of a “plural marriage.” Something the Bureau “overlooked” at the time of his hiring. Cowley’s father served as a missionary for the Church, and traveled later as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

“Sam Cowley was baptized into The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on his eighth birthday. At the age of 12, he was duly ordained a deacon and later a teacher at age 15. He fulfilled his priesthood duties, becoming a counselor in the presidencies of both quorums.”

“At age 17, he was ordained as an elder, and left for Hawaii to serve a Church mission. Mastering the language, he baptized converts, blessed children, and administered to the sick and afflicted.”

An honor grad in 1923, he made his way through George Washington U in Washington, D. C. and passed the bar exam in 1928, receiving his LLB degree in the spring of 1929. In April, 1929 he was appointed as a Special Agent; In 1932 he was appointed as Inspector with Mr. Hoover describing Cowley as “the sort of man who never could be found in the limelight, and his excellence was his intelligent persistence and his thoroughness at doing what ought to be done. I never had to check a job done by Cowley.”

Within 5 years of joining the FBI, Inspector Samuel Cowley met his god in the presence of one of the most vicious killers in American gangster history. “A valiant soldier in the Royal Army of God who remained true to his high standards through his final hours,” as described by author Richard Emery. He left behind a wife and two sons. (sources include: “Sam Cowley” by Richard Emery)

FBI Special Agent, Vernon E. Criss (1930-1942) See Section On Brady Gang

FBI Special Agent, Kelly D. Deaderick (1927-1951)

Deaderick was a World War I veteran and was born in Jonesboro, Tenn. Assigned to the Oklahoma FBI Office in the early '30s, Deaderick was present at the shootout with gangster, Wilbur Underhill and participated in the search for "Machine Gun" Kelly and his wife. It is believed he was the case Agent assigned to the Bonnie and Clyde investigation in the Dallas, Tx. area. He was photographed in 1933 in the company of Agents Paul Hansen, Ralph Colvin, and Oklahoma Detectives, "Jelly" Bryce and Clarence Hurt. (This photo is available in the "photos" navigation area here)

Deaderick attended the 1945 "Major Case" training seminar at the FBI Academy and was photographed with his class. This photo was published in the "Grapevine" magazine in a December, 1969 issue.

After leaving the FBI in 1951, Deaderick became a prosecutor in Yakima, Washington and died there in 1970 at the age of 71. Deaderick's momentos recently sold in 2007 on Ebay through his estate.

FBI Special Agent, Walter J. Devereux (1930-1942) See Section On Brady Gang

FBI Special Agent, James S. Egan (1922 - ?)

FBI Special Agent, Carlton J. Endres

Appears to have been assigned to the Tucson, Az. area during January, 1934 and was in that area during the arrest there of John Dillinger et al at Tucson, AZ. SA Endres submitted his report on the Tucson arrest of Dillinger and others and was involved in their attempted interrogation. He reported his results to SAC Dunn of Los Angeles, who in turn, reported them to FBI Headquarters.

FBI Special Agent, Murry C. Falkner (1925-1928 & 1934-1965)

Retired FBI Agent, Murry C. Falkner, according to his own accounts in “The Grapevine” in 1967, was actually the only FBI Agent during the ‘30s who was an "authorized pilot." Falkner became an FBI Agent in 1925.

Falkner was involved in the Dillinger and Bremer investigations and received a raise in salary along with others for their work. He was present at the shootout at Little Bohemia in Wisconsin but the stories he was present specifically at the Biograph Theater that night are not substantiated. He used his raise to learn how to fly. He obtained his pilot's license in 1936 at the Albuquerque Airport while assigned to the El Paso FBI office. Most of his official flying duties were in the West Texas and New Mexico areas.

In 1939, Falkner was on special assignment in Seattle and bought his first plane. Before delivery, he was transferred to San Francisco, FBI and then had to travel to Detroit to arrange delivery. After a short sprint in San Francisco, FBI he was transferred to Alaska but found problems financially in taking the plane with him.

Falkner retired from the FBI in the '60s and maintained a residence in Mobile, Alabama. At the time of his retirement, he had a new career in mind – writing.

In a recently found July, 1965 news interview with Falkner, it’s revealed “Writing is not new in the Falkner family. He (Murry) is a brother of the late William Faulkner and John Faulkner, also a novelist. William Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1949 and the Pulitzer prizes for fiction in 1955 and 1963."

Said Falkner in the same interview, “I’m going to try to do some writing. I have no illusions that I have the talent my brothers had but I am going to try my hand at it.” At the time, Falkner was 66 years old.

Falkner retained the revised spelling of the family name when his brothers, on the other hand, restored the “u” dropped by their great-grandfather. The date of Falkner's death is currently unknown.

FBI Special Agent, Francis X. Fay ( 1922 - 1935)

FBI Special Agent, Percy E. Foxworth ( 1932 - 1943 - Killed In The Line Of Duty)

FBI Special Agent, George H. Franklin

SA Franklin, 1932 - Courtesy of his sonSA Franklin served in the Oklahoma Field Office, among others, and participated in many of the notorious gangster investigations. The below was submitted by his current surviving son, George, who also has furnished some photos which are in the "photo gallery."

Born 1903 on a ranch north of Pecos Texas, died Alb. NM 1978.

Moved to Chicago in 1915 due to poor health of his fatherand became the primary wage-earner to support his widowed mother and two young sisters. Family moved to Albuquerque, NM in 1918 due to health problems of a sister and to be close to some family who also had relocated to New Mexico.

At age 18 (1921) he became a Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriff. During this short experience he began a friendship with Elfego Baca which would last until Elfego's death in the mid 1940s. In 1922 he joined the Albuquerque Police Dept. under ChiefJ. R. Galushaand later the legendaryChiefPat O'Grady. During his years with APD he served as one of the city's first motorcycle officers and became the department's sole expert in the new science of fingerprinting.

In 1931 he graduated from the Institute of Applied Science in Chicago with a certificate in fingerprint identification. During the 1920s & 1930s G.H. Franklin won numerous shooting contests in the Southwest with both rifle and pistol. In the 1920s he was also a member of the NM National Guard, a horse cavalry outfit. I heard stories years ago about a shooting my dad was involved in with a local bootlegger but have been unable to find any more information and my dad only mentioned it on one occasion stating that the subject had first pointed a shotgun at him resulting in the bootlegger being shot. I recall numerous stories of fisticuffs and night stick events in making routine arrests and at least two attempted knifings all of which were considered "routine".

In 1924 officer Franklin married Adelia (Dee) Elder, daughter of James and Mabel Elder who came to New Mexico in 1881. The marriage lasted until their deaths in 1978 (George) and 1979 (Adelia). They had two children, Lila (b.1925) and George E.(b.1938). In the late 1920s and early 1930s the Bureau of Investigation (later, the FBI)under J. Edgar Hoover was in need of experienced officers to deal with the wave of violent bank robbers, kidnappers, extortionists and killers that terrorized the country during the Great Depression. The word went out via the law enforcement grapevine and various federal representatives that the "Bureau" was looking for some old fashioned street-savvy cops who could shoot back when needed. My father was recommended to the Bureau by Senator Sam Bratton and Congressman Dennis Chavez, both friends of my dad and influential figures.

My dad's reputation as a marksman, dedicated peaceofficerand fingerprint expert alsoput him in the running for consideration for appointment as an agent. He was accepted and after trainingbecame an agent inthe summer of 1932. Others of this genre include Charley Winstead, Clarence Hurt, Jerry Campbell, Delf Bryce, Jim Durrett and several more.

G.H. Franklin was assigned to the following Offices during his career: 1932-33 Charlotte, NC 1933-34 Oklahoma City, OK 1934-37 Kansas City, MO 1937-45 El Paso, TX 1945-56 Albuquerque, NM.

Some of the cases in whichSA Franklin was involved: Joe Cannon extortion case (first big case involving textile magnate Joe Cannon) 1932-33 Kidnappings: Urschel (1933 - George "Maginegun" Kelly) Hamm, Weyerhaeuser, Brow, Matson, Leur, Bremer, others Kansas City Massacre: Detailed from OKC office to help escort Frank Nash. Franklin was hospitalized with tonsillitis and was dropped from the detail which was ambushed by Chas. Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd, Adam Richetti and Vern Miller resulting in the deaths of 4 officers and Frank Nash. One of his lucky breaks but he always felt bad about it.

Bank Robbery: SA Franklin was involved in the pursuit of most of the notables of the day inclu- ding the Barrow Gang, Dillinger and many others. I once asked him about Dillinger as I knew several of his old friends were involved (Charley Winstead, Ray Suran, Clarence Hurt) and he related that while in Arkansas by himself he got a tip that Dillinger was inHot Springs. Thinking that Dillinger was about to get away he pursued the tip by himself fearing he was probably about to get himself shot! Pop laughed andstated that "while I was in hot pursuit of John Dillinger in Arkansas he was shot in Chicago!".

George "Irish" O'Malley Gang: Pop was shot through the left upper thigh with a .45 fired by Clarence Sparger in a shootout in Hickman Mills (suburb of KC, MO) in 1936. My dad visited Sparger in Alcatraz manyyears later and was saddened upon learning Sparger was dying of cancer.

Wilbur Underhill: Shootout in Shawnee, OK in 1933 resulting in the death of Underhill and Eva Mae Nichols. My dad was across the street in front of the house armed with a shotgun. He accompanied Nichols to the hospital and always regretted her death as a tragedy. He was the Bureau's contact man with the Underhill family.

Police Schools: Because of his street cop/FBI background, speaking abilities and close contact with western police departments SA Franklin spent most of 1937-40 traveling the Southwest conducting schools for local peace officers. As WWII approached the Bureau became active in developing Civilian Defense Schools to prepare the country for the sort of things England was dealing with such as espionage, sabotage, evacuations and bombings(explosive rod).

My dad received extensive training in 1940 and spent the war years traveling around the country conducting CD classes (normally 6 day events). Some of the cities he instructed in include: Portland OR, Seattle, WA, Pasadena, CA, Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, Yuma, AZ, Phoenix, AZ, Tucson, AZ, Salt Lake City, UT, Denver, CO, El Paso, TX, Harlingen, TX, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX, Lancaster, Co, PA, etc. I now know why we saw little of him during the war! As the war was ending the FBI became more and more involved with Communist activities and a much larger FBI presence was needed in New Mexico (Manhattan Project).

My dad's final FBI years were spent in Albuquerque where his law enforcement career began. Dad's long time friend, Delf Bryce also went to the Alb. office in the 1950s and we all had many memorable hunting trips together. I helped logistically with many of the shooting demos Bryce and my dad conducted for the public.

After retiring from the FBI in 1956 G. H. Franklin became the Director of Public Safety for the city of Alb., NM This directorate coordinated the City Police, Fire and Traffic Engineering Departments. Several of his old APD buddies were still on the force! From 1960-65 he was the NM State Liquor Control Div. Director under his old friend Governor Ed Mechem (ex FBI agent). Pop hired Charley Winstead as one of his inspectors!

FBI Special Agent, R. G. Gillespie

FBI Special Agent, W. R. Glavin ( 1931 - ?)

 

FBI Special Agent, Michael F. Glynn (1930 - 1935)

SA Glynn served in the FBI from 1930 to 1935. Glynn was a native of County Galway, Ireland and graduated from National University in Dublin. He emigrated to the US afterward, worked at the Illinois Central Railroad, and obtained a law degree during evenings at Loyola University Law School in Illinois. He entered the FBI afterward and served in Omaha, New York, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Chicago.

SA Glynn was one of the Agents in the alleyway (with others) the night Dillinger exited the theater. He's best found in the AP press photo at the scene, dressed in a light colored suit, straw boater, and two toned shoes.

In the early years, he was one of 12 who helped found the Society Of Former FBI Agents (1937) devoting many hours of thought and labor to the organization. The high standards which he set for others were never as demanding as those he imposed upon himself.

Mike Glynn left the FBI late in 1935 to join the team of Thomas E. Dewey, then beginning his racket busting campaign in New York County. When Dewey took office, he appointed Glynn as his assistant chief prosecutor. While associated with the Dewey's office in the prosecution of crime in New York, Mike worked all the major cases brought to trial by those prosecutors.

In 1947 Glynn was elected vice president and operating director of the Stores Mutual Protective Association in New York City where he remained until ill health forced him to retire in 1966. Mr. Glynn died on January 25, 1970 and at the time, was survived by his wife, the former Angela Gutilla, and by two brothers and two sisters who reside in Ireland.

FBI Special Agent, Myron E. Gurnea (1934 - 1942) See Section On Brady Gang

FBI Special Agent, Paul W. Hansen (Spelling also seen as "Hanson")

Present at the Wilbur Underhill shootout in Oklahoma in 1933 and was photographed with others. See the photo section of the navigation area. In the Society's magazine of 1954, Hansen's name is spelled with the "e" which comes from Bureau records. Other publications have shown the name with an "o."

Working under the leadership of SAC Ralph Colvin, in Oklahoma, SA Hansen also played a role in the investigation of the Kansas City Massacre and other prominent cases.

As of January, 1954, Hansen was retired and was the director of Security at the Reynolds Metals Company.

FBI Special Agent, J. H. Hanson

Assigned to the Birmingham, Alabama FBI office in 1934 and covered leads and reported on the Kansas City Massacre case.

FBI Special Agent, Herman "Ed" Hollis ( Killed In The Line Of Duty)

FBI Special Agent, Guy Hottel

FBI, Special Agent, George F. Hurley (1933-1935)

While employed with the FBI, records do show Hurley was a participant in the shootout at the Little Bohemia Lodge in Wisconsin in 1934 with the Dillinger gang. He was present there with a long time friend, SA Thomas Dodd, who later became a US Senator.  From info available, it does appear Hurley was on special assignment to the St. Paul, Minn. office at the time.  Hurley participated in many aspects of the Dillinger investigation and other major cases out of the St. Paul Office. 

 According to his daughter, Mary Bresnahan, Hurley became an FBI Agent in 1933 and appears to have served until 1935. Hurley grew up in Dorchester, Mass., graduated from Boston College of 1928 and Georgetown Law School, Wash. D. C. in 1932.

In 1935, Hurley became chief investigator for the Department Of The Interior and in 1937, he was assigned as a special Dies prober of un-American activities in its probe of the activities of Harry Bridges, West Coast union leader. In 1941 Hurley became special assistant to the U. S. Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice. Later he was appointed attorney for the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization. He published "Federal Criminal Procedure for the Bureau Of Immigration."

Hurley died in 1945 in an accidental fall and at the time of death, he was an attorney with the Washington law firm of Feldman, Kittell, Campbell and Ewing.  He was survived by his wife, Emily, and 3 young children. 

FBI Special Agent Clarence O. Hurt (1934-1955)

Clarence O. Hurt, as many know, was one of the true legendary FBI Agents of the times. Hurt served from 1934 to 1955 and along with Delf A. "Jelly" Bryce and Jerry Campbell, came into the FBI from the Oklahoma City Police Department.

You can view photos of Hurt and others at our picture gallery. Much is written about him in the books of author, Ron Morgan, and Bryan Burrough.

Hurt, along with many other legends, was part of the famous Chicago "Flying Squad" in the FBI of which members participated in most of the notorious shootouts and arrests of the 30's. Hurt, along with SA Charles Winstead and SA Herman Hollis, was partially credited with the killing of Dillinger, and according to reports, Dillinger died in his arms at the scene. He was present at the arrest of Alvin Karpis among many other ventures such as "Pretty Boy" Floyd, "Machine Gun" Kelly, Bonnie and Clyde and Matt Kimes.

After retiring from the FBI in 1955, Mr. Hurt entered the ranching business and in 1958 was elected to the first of two terms as Sheriff of Pittsburgh County, OK.

After a bout with cancer, Mr. Hurt died on November 4, 1975 at the McAlester General Hospital East at the age of 78. He was buried in the nearby Oak Hill Cemetery. As of 2006, Hurt's son, Jack O. Hurt, was still alive and living in Oklahoma. Hurt was survived at death by his wife, May, his son (above), a daughter, Mrs. Pat South of McAlester and three grandchildren.

Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Hurt was among numerous police officers and FBI Agents who were involved in a dramatic shootout in 1933 with outlaw, Wilbur Underhill at Shawnee, OK. Underhill was part of the "Tri State Terror Gang" written about today by author Ron Morgan. A photo of Hurt and those involved is at the picture gallery on this site.

FBI Special Agent, Joseph S. Johnson (1929-1950) See Section On Brady Gang

FBI Special Agent, Gus (Buster) T. Jones (1916-1944)

FBI Special Agent, John Keith

FBI Special Agent Joseph Lackey (1927 - 1940)

FBI Special Agent, R. G. LaFrance

FBI Special Agent, Alan Lockerman

FBI Special Agent, Kenneth Logan (1935-1960) See Section On Brady Gang

FBI Special Agent, Thomas McDade

FBI Special Agent, Albert D. Mehegan (1922 - 1975)

FBI Special Agent James J. Metcalfe

Information on Special Agent Metcalfe can be found in the upper navigation area under the title "We Were The G-Men."

FBI Special Agent, Rosser "Rusty" Nalls (1929-1956)

SA Rosser "Rusty" Nalls was born in WDC and joined the Bureau in 1929. He retired in 1956 and died in 1983 at the age of 82.

Both Nalls and SA Rufus C. Coulter (who later played a role in the Brady shootout) were in St. Paul, Minn. on March 31, 1934 assisting in the Dillinger case.

On that day, in checking out a lead from an apartment manager, Nalls and Coulter attempted to resolve the identity of 2 suspicious men, and one woman, reported by the manager.

The resulting shootout is a classic case of how everything seemingly routine can "go to hell" at a moment's notice and how, especially Coulter, both nearly lost their lives running into Dillinger, Homer Van Meter and Evelyn Frechette under aliases.

FBI Special Agent, J. C. Newman

FBI Special Agent, I. E. (Bill) Nitschke (1935-1945) See Section On Brady Gang

FBI Special Agent, James J. Perkins (30's to 40's)

The exact dates of Perkins' service are not readily available but he served during the early 30's until an untimely death claimed him in the mid 1940's from a heart ailment. He was an Agent for about 15 years hailing from Methuen, Mass. and died in Oklahoma where he was serving. A year before he died, he was quite ill, and advised to apply for a leave of absence. Love of duty compelled him to continue with his work but entered the hospital soon with a heart problem and never recovered.

At one time, he had the distinction of being the only Agent from Massachusetts and served in every state in the Union and even in Canada.

Perkins played prominent roles in the Urschel kidnapping case, the investigation of "Machine Gun" Kelly, the Kansas City Massacre case along with the search for "Pretty Boy" Floyd and other noted gangsters. He covered the activities of Al Capone in Florida and played an investigative role in the Dillinger case.

Perkins graduated from Edward F. Searles High in Methuen and before entering Federal service, he was an assistant chief of the Methuen Fire Department. At death, he was survived by his wife, Catherine, a daughter, Esta C. and a son, Joseph. He was also survived by a brother, Rev. Fr. Joseph A. Perkins, professor of philisophy at Loyola College, Chicago.

Perkins grandson, John, has provided a few photos of SA Perkins with some Oklahoma FBI Agents taken in the 30's. These are seen in the photo gallery. He played a role in the "Pretty Boy" Floyd investigation and his grandson has furnished a few photos of Floyd and his women, however it's unknown how SA Perkins came into possession of them.

FBI Special Agent/Supervisor In Chicago, Virgil Peterson

FBI Special Agent, Richard N. Pranke (1934-1961)

FBI Special Agent In Charge, Melvin Purvis

FBI Special Agent, Arthur S. (Tony) Reeder 1935-1958) See Section On Brady Gang

FBI Special Agent, Earl Richmond

FBI Special Agent, William "Bill" Rorer

FBI Special Agent, William "Bill" Ryan (1932-1958)

William C. Ryan (Bill) grew up in Washington, D. C. and joined the FBI as a clerical employee in 1923. He graduated from National University Law School in 1928 and was appointed a Special Agent in 1932. He served first office in Birmingham, and later 2 years in Chicago. After Field Service, he spent 12 years as a supervisor at FBIHQ, Washington, D. C.

"Bill" served as a Special Agent from 1932 to 1958 and was highly involved in the gangster incidents of the time. As you'll note from the Dillinger related material elsewhere, SA Ryan was present outside the Biograph that night.

Ryan was also with SA Tom McDade in November, 1934 when they were involved in spotting "Baby Face" Nelson on a Barrington highway and ended up in a moving gunfight with Nelson and John Chase. Nelson and Chase disabled Ryan and McDade's car with shots to the radiator and subsequently traveled about a mile down the road and ran into Agents Herman Hollis and Sam Cowley. Hollis, Cowley and Nelson were killed in that gun battle. SA Ryan was wounded during the altercation with Nelson and Chase.

In April, 1934, Ryan was present at the shootout at the Little Bohemia Lodge in Wisconsin were SA Carter Baum was killed by Baby Face Nelson and members of the Dillinger gang escaped the FBI net.

Ryan's son as of 1967, William C. Jr., was an FBI Agent in Los Angeles and Ryan's brother, Thomas, was a Special Agent in Baltimore. Another brother, James Ryan of Silver Spring, MD. was also an FBI Agent.

William "Bill" Ryan died at his home in Silver Spring, MD. on January 25, 1967 and at that time was survived by his wife, Lee in addition to two daughters, a second son and numerous grand children.

FBI Special Agent, Edwin C. Shanahan ( 1920-1925 - Killed In The Line Of Duty)

Shanahan was the first Bureau agent to be killed in the line of duty which occurred in October, 1925 when fugitive car thief, Martin James Durkin shot him in the chest.

Shanahan was born in Chicago, Ill. in 1898 and served in the Army during World War I. He entered the Bureau Of Investigation as an Agent in February, 1920 and worked in Chicago. His son, Dennis, became an Agent of the FBI in 1948 and retired in 1976. (The FBI, A Comprehensive Reference Guide)

FBI Special Agent, Frank Smith ( Exact service years unavail)

SA Smith was a former Dallas police officer and was involved in many of the Bureau's high priority cases of the 1930's in the Midwest. He was a survivor of the bloody Kansas City Massacre at Union Station, June, 1933 and later that year in December, participated in the shootout with gangster, Wilbur Underhill, in Oklahoma. Smith served there with Clarence Hurt, "Jelly Bryce," SAC Ralph Colvin and others.

FBI Special Agent, Daniel P. Sullivan (1932 - 1942)

A native of Washington, D. C., Sullivan was a graduate of Georgetown University and upon joining the FBI in 1932, served in San Francisco, New York, El Paso and Chicago. Ten days prior to graduating Georgetown University Law School, Sullivan joined the FBI. That same year he married Mary Ellen Sullivan and subsequently raised seven daughters and six sons.

Known as "Sully" to his friends, in late 1933, Sullivan was transferred to Chicago, and was part of the Chicago based "Dillinger Squad." On the night of July 22, 1934 he was present at the Dillinger shootout in 1934 at the Biograph Theater. During that investigation, Sullivan rode with Dillinger's body, along with other Agents, to the morgue and was the Agent responsible for inventory of Dillinger's body. His reports on the matter are readily seen in the FBI's Dillinger file and a sketch submitted by SAC Melvin Purvis and Inspector Sam Cowley of who was present that night places Sullivan at the side exit next to the theater with other Agents. He later participated in the de-briefing of Anna Sage, the famous "Lady In Red."

As part of the Chicago FBI's "Flying Squad," Sullivan traveled to the swamps of Ocala, Florida with the likes of Agents Jerry Campbell, Charles Winstead and others to capture Ma Barker and her son. During the attempted arrest, a serious gun battle ensued between Agents and the Barkers leading to the death of Ma Barker and her son, Freddie.

While in the Chicago Field Office, Sullivan also participated in the Hamm Kidnapping Investigation, the pursuit of "Baby Face" Nelson and tracking down "Pretty Boy" Floyd.

Upon leaving the FBI in 1942, Sullivan went into the private security business in Miami, Fla. and in 1948, was named Director of the Greater Miami Crime Commission. As a recognized authority on major organized crime figures he began a campaign to wipe out hoodlums, dishonest public officials, and other criminals. Beginning in 1949, nearly every radio station in Miami gave him 15 minutes of air time for 122 straight Saturday night broadcasts of a show called, "The Sinister Blot," in which he identified organized crime members living in the community.

Sullivan presented evidence in Washington about organized crime activities to the U. S. Senate which brought about hearings in Miami by Senator Estes Kefauver. His information helped bring about Federal grand jury indictments against 13 major gambling figures. Sullivan also opened his files to the Senate Rackets Committee of which Robert Kennedy was counsel.

Sullivan retired from the Miami Crime Commission in 1978 and died in July, 1982. Some of Sullivan's exploits during his days in Chicago can be found in the book, "Public Enemies" by Bryan Burrough. A photo of SA Sullivan is found in our Photo Section showing him standing over Dillinger's body at the morgue.

FBI Special Agent, Raymond C. Suran (1930-1955)

Raymond Cade Suran was a Special Agent of the FBI between 1930 through 1955. ( An early photo of Suran can be found among the Dillinger Squad collage in the photo section.)

Suran was born in Marshall, Oklahoma, March 8, 1905. He attended Enid High School and Phillips University both in Enid, Oklahoma. Suran received a law degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC, and was admitted to the DC bar.

Entering the FBI in 1930, Suran was the first Agent to retire from the FBI, San Diego Division in 1955 after 25 years of service. During the 30s, Suran worked on many of the famous early criminal investigations, including the Dillinger investigation, the Hamm and Bremmer kidnappings, and the Barker/Karpis gang. He was one of the agents on duty outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago, July 22, 1934 when Dillinger was killed in a gun battle. Suran’s name is found on extensive documents reporting the results of the Dillinger investigation in the official file.

In 1976, Suran was interviewed in the San Diego Union, and in that article Suran stated “I worked from 1930 to 1938 without ever getting a complete day off.” In the early 1930s, Ray recalls, the FBI budget was so tight his special squad of 30 men assigned to track down gangsters in the mid west didn’t have any automobiles and they had to use vehicles abandoned by the men they were chasing.

Suran served as SAC in Cincinnati, San Antonio, El Paso, Little Rock, and opened the FBI office in Seattle, Washington. Other offices of assignment included Kansas City, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco, and finally San Diego. While assigned to FBI headquarters he was an antitrust supervisor and assistant chief of the identification division. On many occasions, Suran was sent to numerous locations throughout the United States on special assignments during his early career.

Suran’s final years in the FBI were served in the San Diego division where he was transferred because of a heart condition. He resided for many years in and La Jolla, California and subsequent to retirement, work for approximately 10 years as a stockbroker.

By 1988, Suran and his wife, Janet, were residents of a retirement community in Chula Vista, California where Ray Suran died on July 9, 1988. At the time of his death in 1988, Suran was survived by his wife, Janet; two daughters identified as Jeanne Willcut of New Mexico and Cathy Heaton of Chula Vista, California; six grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

FBI Special Agent, William Alexander Temple

FBI Special Agent, W. F. Trainor

Current information only reveals Trainor played a major investigative role in the Kansas City Division with the Kansas City Massacre case during the 1933-34 time period. Trainor's name appears in file on most of the Kansas City reports on this investigation.

FBI Special Agent, Leon Turrou

FBI Special Agent, Walter R. Walsh (1934-1942 and 1946-1947) See Section On Brady Gang

FBI Special Agent, Charles Winstead See Winstead's memoirs in the navigation area and do a site search for more information on him.

FBI Special Agent, Val Zimmer

FBI Special Agent ...........(more additions)