Hyman Saul Lebman is written about very little in the crime history books. Based on the investigation there however, one can only wonder how many more guns from Lebman ended up in the hands of the gangsters of the 30's.
One of the few references found regarding Lebman in books is that from writer, historian and friend, Bill Helmer. On page 304 of Helmer's book, "Dillinger: The Untold Story," Helmer does point out that the dealers Wolf & Klar of Fort Worth apparently also ended up the providers of "Machine Gun Kelly's" Thompson. As you'll see, Lebman secured many of his own items from Wolf and Klar.
Retired FBI Agent, Jay Grodin spent his first office of assignment in San Antonio in 1970. Grodin and others met Lebman and his sons numerous times and law enforcement was known to buy holsters from Lebman. Grodin tells me in 2007, that " The store had not changed in decades. There were pictures in the store that were taken in the 1930's. Mr. Lebman told some of us about his selling Thompsons and other automatic weapons to all sorts of characters but I don't recall him mentioning the Nelson/Williams or Carroll names. He was a colorful figure and when I met him, had to be in his late 60's or early 70's. I did learn from some old time San Antonio residents that Lebman was quite wealthy, having over the years acquired thousands of acres of land that he leased as feedlots to cattle ranchers."
According to Grodin, Lebman had two sons working with him at the store, Marvin and one other whose name could not be recalled.
The San Antonio investigation clearly showed the link to Lebman. It was determined he was visited by Baby Face Nelson, aka Jimmy Williams and other Dillinger associates including the notorious Tommy Carroll. We do know that "Baby Face" Nelson, his wife and others had Thanksgiving dinner with the Lebman's in the Fall of 1933.
Carroll, using an alias, was involved in the fatal shooting of a San Antonio Detective, H. C. Perrow. In that case, Lebman let Carroll use his shop to change clothes after the shooting. With Lebman's help, Carroll escaped San Antonio. (Carroll would be killed by police in June, 1934)
Lebman had obtained some of his guns from other gun dealers in the Texas area including Fort Worth and El Paso and was subsequently arrested by the legendary SAC, Gus Jones, and other personnel. Lebman was later tried under the Texas Machine Gun Statute and convicted but his conviction was overturned. The jury couldn't render a verdict in the second trial and eventually the indictment was dismissed.
The initial tracing of the Bohemia weapon to Lebman's place can be seen here.
Jones' questioning of Lebman led to admissions of selling guns to one Jimmy Williams whom later Lebman identified from photos as "Baby Face" Nelson, the killer of SA Carter Baum at the Little Bohemia shootout in Wisconsin.
Lebman's 7 page confession to Jones begins here
Lebman was subsequently arrested in San Antonio and a news account is here
Another article with photo of Lebman at the time is here
The Jones followup call from interview of Lebman is here
The 1950 San Antonio FBI summary is here