Bohemia Lodge owner, Emil Wanatka, admittedly superimposed his photo with Dillinger

Bohemia Lodge owner, Emil Wanatka, admittedly superimposed his photo with Dillinger

For Bohemia lodge owner, Emil Wanatka, it really didn't matter how many men were dead or wounded, nor who they were or what their families may endure. He saw the incident as a means to make money during a depression ridden time in America.

It wasn't long after the shootout that he turned the lodge into a "museum" of sorts with news clippings and other remnants of some of the Dillinger gang's belongings not taken by the FBI that day.  Wanatka later produced, for tourists at the lodge, a bullet proof vest and a .38 caliber handgun that he claimed were the property of slain FBI Agent, Carter Baum.  Upon hearing about this, Wanatka was interviewed by the FBI about these items.  He clearly admitted that he had concocted the story of these items belonging to Baum, and during the interview even admitted that his photo in the lodge, standing with Dillinger, was a fake and that he superimposed Dillinger's photo. 

Wanatka agreed he'd cease his advertising campaign that he had some personal and professional items belonging to deceased Agent, Carter Baum. Fact is, the FBI had Baum's vest and handgun in their possession; Wanatka's items shown were a fraud, as was his photo with Dillinger he sold. 

You can read the resulting interview with Wanatka here - page 1

Page 2 

From the advertising of current owners, its written today that "Little Bohemia still bears the scars of that fateful night. The walls are riddled with bullet holes, shattered windows are preserved for posterity. Vintage newspaper headlines cover the vestibule walls."