Summary execution of 1930's gangsters?

[Lumpy]

Dillinger, Bonnie & Clyde, and several others were all killed by lawman in apparent “ambush” executions. Not even “died resisting arrest”- they were just gunned down without warning. Wasn’t this illegal? Or did no one care? I tried but couldn’t find the article on “outlawry”.

[RealityChuck]

Dillinger’s killing was technically illegal (IIRC, he wasn’t even wanted for murder at the time) and it would have gotten the cops in a lot of trouble nowadays.

But in the 30s, the cops were respected and the current idea of rights of a defendant were not a concept at the time. With Dillinger, they took a criminal off the street, and suffered no consequences. It probably could have led to a suit against the cops, but no one was willing to pursue it, and it was unliked a judge or jury would convict.

[kniz]

At, Little Bohemia*, Dillinger and his gang had killed an FBI agent. However, the police had killed an innocent person and seriously injured another, when they mistook them for members of the gang trying to get away. Dillinger was also wanted for escaping from prison, not to mention bank-robberies.

Dillinger met his end in this manner:

from Court TV’s Crime Library
**Purvis recalls that as he gave a signal to close in, the officers were slow to react and his heart began to pound, but then Dillinger was surrounded. He states, “I was about three feet to the left and a little to the rear of him. I was very nervous; it must have been a squeaky voice that called out, ‘Stick ‘em up, Johnnie, we have you surrounded.’” Purvis recalls that he ripped every button off his jacket drawing his own weapon, which he didn’t get a chance to fire.

Dillinger began to take off, allegedly reaching into his pants pocket to draw a weapon. Lawmen with drawn guns were on top of him and fired.
He dropped halfway into an alley. He was turned over, but he couldn’t speak, he was dead.**

The FBI agents were nervous and there is confusion as to whether the Chicago Police were present. However, Dillinger was not ambushed, but possibly was a victum of jittery agents being too quick on the trigger.
*[sup]Little Bohemia was a resort in Wisconsin where the Dillinger gang went to get some R&R.[/sup]

[sup]The Crime Library also has the story of Bonnie and Clyde, if someone wants to research that one.[/sup]

[David_Simmons]

I don’t know whether or not the killing of Bonnie and Clyde was illegal. However, it was an ambush with the law officers firing without warning when the car they were in got close.

It sure is a good thing it was them and not some poor guy and gal out for a little fun.

[Sam_Stone]

There was a case a few years ago where some police officers thought they were at the apartment door of a man who was extremely dangerous. They fired through the door without warning, killing an insurance salesman in his bed. I believe there were lawsuits involved over that.