As most know, the "Lady In Red" who was Anna Sage was no doubt directly responsible for assisting the FBI in the location and eventual capture/shooting of gangster, John Dillinger.  Through her contact with Sgt. Martin Zarkovich and Capt. Tim O'Neil of the East Chicago, Indiana police department, Sage was introduced to both SAC Melvin Purvis and Inspector Samuel Cowley of the FBI.  This is well documented in the Dillinger case file.

 

Director Hoover wanted the East Chicago Police to receive the credit for Dillinger's capture.  That is clearly depicted here in a memorandum made relative to his call to Inspector Cowley after the shooting.  

See the memo here.  

 

It's clear from the file, and on record, that Cowley and Hoover decided that Zarkovich and O'Neil deserved $2,500 each for their role in the Dillinger capture.  They were both paid and received letters of commendation from Hoover.  But it's also clear in a way that Purvis was not agreeable to these rewards. 

Purvis' comment to Headquarters about the rewards for the officers is here.  It's clear in another memorandum on file that Purvis complained that officers Sopsic and Stretch had "missed" the cigar lighting signal.  (As Fate would have it, Dillinger didn't walk in their direction coming out of the theater anyhow.)  In memos in the file, Purvis would later succumb to the wishes of Cowley and Hoover regarding the rewards, and finally agree. 

While I do believe that Purvis' comment about the police "assistance" directly pertains to the police role at the scene of the Biograph that night, I also believe that Purvis lost sight of the fact that had the police not brought Sage to the FBI, Purvis' role in the Dillinger capture could very well have been non-existent.  Purvis' attitude toward the reward for the police exhibits perhaps a man of a very egotistical nature.  And I hate to say that about a fellow Agent.  Forgetting for a moment what they did or did not do at the scene of the Biograph, he should have agreed to the rewards just based on their original cooperation. 

From my year long review of the 30,000 or so page Dillinger FBI file, Sage and others would later make allegations that Purvis had basically promised her that the FBI would intercede in her deportation in addition to paying reward money.  Purvis acknowledged he told Sage that he'd basically see what he could do but never made any explicit "promise" to stop her deportation.

 

While the exact details of Purvis' comments to Anna Sage might be subject to interpretation, at this juncture, it should be understood that neither Purvis or even Director Hoover could make a "promise or guarantee" of this nature for one simple reason:  It wasn't binding since the FBI had no jurisdiction over deportation.  Neither of them could make any GUARANTEE of immunity from deportation.  Clearly Purvis, Hoover and everyone else in the FBI knew this then and current Agents still know it today.  

 

Personally, I think it logical, based on procedures then and even now, to believe that what actually happened was that Purvis "promised to do what he could" with his own recommendations regarding Sage's deportation.  That's a far cry from any "guarantees."   Even in the FBI today, it's not uncommon for Agents to tell informers and others that they will "promise" to bring the cooperation to the attention of the Judge, prosecutor and others involved.  However, it's clearly known that the final decision does NOT rest with the Agent.

 

Purvis' intial letter to Hoover can be seen here and is pretty clear that he fully understands her assistance in the Dillinger case may not carry any weight in her deportation.

  

Fact is, Anna Sage was a cunning young lady well used to a life of crime and corruption.  You can tell from Sage's July 28, 1934 statement that she was already trying to manipulate Polly Hamilton's information.  It's clear from the observation of the interviewing Agents that she didn't want Polly alone with them if possible.  Sage herself was the same informer we're all used to:  she gives something direct (Dillinger's attendance at the theater) to assist her in her deportation efforts, but like many tries to control what law enforcement find out of her OTHER activities. 

 

You can examine Sage's July 28th statement here. 

 

After the Dillinger shootout, Anna Sage was sent to the Detroit and Los Angeles area for her protection.  It was at the Los Angeles FBI Field Office that she met with Inspector Samuel Cowley, SAC Joseph Dunn and SA B. E. Sackett.  In the presence of all she was provided the $5,000 reward money she had been promised.  

 

Receipts were obtained from Sage, which she signed and are clearly on record.  However, later on the press revealed again that Cowley at the meeting had continued the "promise" made earlier by Purvis to secure her release from upcoming deportation.  

 

But Sage's story to the press about the continuing "promises" from Cowley and others is a far cry from documents of what transpired.  According to FBI personnel present, what was and wasn't said is quite different than what Sage contended later.  You're free to believe whomever you want. 

SAC Dunn's memo of the incident is here.

SA Sackett's input is here. 

 

In September, 1935, Purvis had resigned from the FBI and made a public first time statement as to what transpired between him and Anna Sage.  His comments are in line with FBI policy even today but let's face it, Purvis was not happy with the deportation decision.   As an Agent assigned to any case, you're free to make your own recommendations but needless to say, they may or may not carry any weight.  

You can see Purvis statement of 1935 to the press here.

 

 
In September, 1935 another unknown scenario regarding Sage had come to the Bureau's attention.  That same month a felony court Judge in Chicago had advised the Bureau that a warrant had been issued for Sage due to her involvement in swindling $45,000 in gold from a visiting resident of Denmark.  In addition to her other activities, surely this incident and the warrant didn't help her with the deportation issue before the court.

 

Allegations of informers, suspects and others are nothing new and we all experienced them.   They do what's best for them, not what's best for you.  They provide information that is CONVENIENT for them.  Everything they say must be documented, witnessed, corroborated and rechecked.  It's very evident that even early FBI Agents understood the nature of those they were dealing with.   Anna  Sage was no different than other criminals dealt with at the time.

 

From Judas to current day informers, it is imperative to keep the "motive" of the informer always in mind.  And to believe that just because he/she said one true thing on one particular day, means that all things said on other days is true also, is a fatal mistake for the law enforcement officer .  It takes an extensive amount of time and investigation in establishing an informant to be "reliable."  Even then, they don't always tell the truth.

 

SAC Melvin Purvis resigned from the FBI in August, 1935.  As for Anna Sage, she died in Bulgaria in 1947, about ten years or so after her deportation.  At the time of her death, an article revealing her thoughts about Government treatment earlier may, in fact, just say it all.............read it here. 

 

If you'd like to read more about Sage and the women surrounding the Dillinger gang, I recommend Ellen Poulsen's book, "Don't Call Us Molls - Women Of The John Dillinger Gang."  Ellen does a great job in the book and you can find her website through a search of Google.