Edwin’s Roadhouse a.k.a. Capone’s MIAMI GARDENS
© 2023 Edwins, Inc
John Herbert Dillinger
pronounced “DILL-IN-GUR” (6/2/1903 - 7/22/1934)
PEOTONE POSSE SEARCHES FOR DILLINGER
On March 3, 1934, a reporter for United Press covering the story on Dillinger's escape from Crown Point jail, conducted interviews in Peotone, Illinois, with hostages Deputy Ernest Blunk and mechanic Edward Saager. Using a wooden gun smuggled into the jail, Dillinger had miraculously escaped jail using a stolen getaway car owned by Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff Lillian Holley. In our booklet, Miami Gardens, The Secret Roadhouse of Al Capone, author Bill Helmer explains the complete story of how Dillinger obtained the wooden gun he used to ruse the guards. His tell all account will provide the trail of what happened to the gun afterward, how it got lost and eventually recovered. The gun is currently up for auction at AnnexAuctions by Witherell’s. To avoid detection, Dillinger had Youngblood remove the police light mounted on the center grille, and ordered Blunk to drive at a reduced speed. Per these first-hand accounts, Dillinger directed their travel from Crown Point, West to Route 41, South to 151st Avenue and West again into Illinois traveling through Beecher. As they drove West toward Peotone, the sheriff’s car unexpectedly veered off the road becoming stuck in the mud. Dillinger ordered fellow escapee Youngblood to keep the two hostages covered with a Thompson Submachine gun, while he installed snow-chains on the tires for traction. Somewhere just outside of town the two hostages were released. Deputy Blunk had been tossed from the slow-moving car, suffering no serious injuries and was luckily picked up by a farmer, Ed Rust. Rust immediately took Blunk and Saager into town to notify the Sheriff. Due to Blunk’s reports, the News of Dillinger's whereabouts were rapidly broadcast using short-wave radios, telling law enforcement that Dillinger was cornered. Blunk knew that Dillinger headed South on Route 49 (today Route 50) and said to pursue him in the areas from Peotone, South to Kankakee but North of Champaign. Sheriff Haley and 4 deputies quickly arrived from Crown Point to provide support to a law enforcement posse made up of Peotone's sheriff and a few quickly-deputized citizens. What happened next is based on old newspaper accounts from The Hammond Times, and several stories that have been handed down from generation to generation. As word spread about Dillinger’s escape, reports of his sightings came in from as far away as Morris and Harvey. Chicago Police dispatched police cars, armed with detectives, to the South in search of the escaped outlaw. Several roadblocks were set up in Morris, Monee, Harvey and including Manteno, Kankakee and Peotone. Law Enforcement thought they had Dillinger cornered. But the only official and verifiable sighting had been the one from Peotone, Illinois, by the two freed hostages. Dillinger, traveling South from Peotone on Route 49, disappearing out of sight, never to be found by the massive army of Illinois and Indiana state police, Chicago PD, multiple county sheriffs and local constables. In our booklet, Miami Gardens, The Secret Roadhouse of Al Capone, we reveal why we believe that John Dillinger came to Miami Gardens on the day of his escape.
The Peotone Posse
Per Tom Adamsick, author of “Greetings from Peotone,
Illinois; Pictorial History of Early Peotone, Illinois,” The posse
gathered at Dan Knolton’s drug store on Second Street. Pictured
(left to right) are Paul Conrad, Dan V. Knolton, Jack Cowing,
Emil “The Count” Mausehund and Ted Cowing. Peotone was
filled with police, politicians and newspaper reporters following
this event.
Sheriff Holley’s Car
The sheriff’s stolen 1933 Ford Model 40 V-8 Tudor was found out of gas and abandoned on the North side of Chicago on March 6th, 1934.
Hammond Times March 3, 1934 (AP) Crown Point Jail March 3, 1934
Edwin’s Roadhouse aka
Capone’s MIAMI GARDENS
John Herbert Dillinger
pronounced “DILL-IN-GUR” (6/2/1903 - 7/22/1934)
PEOTONE POSSE SEARCHES FOR DILLINGER
On March 3, 1934, a reporter for United Press covering the story on Dillinger's escape from Crown Point jail, conducted interviews in Peotone, Illinois, with hostages Deputy Ernest Blunk and mechanic Edward Saager. Using a wooden gun smuggled into the jail, Dillinger had miraculously escaped jail using a stolen getaway car owned by Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff Lillian Holley. In our booklet, Miami Gardens, The Secret Roadhouse of Al Capone, author Bill Helmer explains the complete story of how Dillinger obtained the wooden gun he used to ruse the guards. His tell all account will provide the trail of what happened to the gun afterward, how it got lost and eventually recovered. The gun is currently up for auction at AnnexAuctions by Witherell’s. To avoid detection, Dillinger had Youngblood remove the police light mounted on the center grille, and ordered Blunk to drive at a reduced speed. Per these first-hand accounts, Dillinger directed their travel from Crown Point, West to Route 41, South to 151st Avenue and West again into Illinois traveling through Beecher. As they drove West toward Peotone, the sheriff’s car unexpectedly veered off the road becoming stuck in the mud. Dillinger ordered fellow escapee Youngblood to keep the two hostages covered with a Thompson Submachine gun, while he installed snow- chains on the tires for traction. Somewhere just outside of town the two hostages were released. Deputy Blunk had been tossed from the slow-moving car, suffering no serious injuries and was luckily picked up by a farmer, Ed Rust. Rust immediately took Blunk and Saager into town to notify the Sheriff. Due to Blunk’s reports, the News of Dillinger's whereabouts were rapidly broadcast using short-wave radios, telling law enforcement that Dillinger was cornered. Blunk knew that Dillinger headed South on Route 49 (today Route 50) and said to pursue him in the areas from Peotone, South to Kankakee but North of Champaign. Sheriff Haley and 4 deputies quickly arrived from Crown Point to provide support to a law enforcement posse made up of Peotone's sheriff and a few quickly-deputized citizens. What happened next is based on old newspaper accounts from The Hammond Times, and several stories that have been handed down from generation to generation. As word spread about Dillinger’s escape, reports of his sightings came in from as far away as Morris and Harvey. Chicago Police dispatched police cars, armed with detectives, to the South in search of the escaped outlaw. Several roadblocks were set up in Morris, Monee, Harvey and including Manteno, Kankakee and Peotone. Law Enforcement thought they had Dillinger cornered. But the only official and verifiable sighting had been the one from Peotone, Illinois, by the two freed hostages. Dillinger, traveling South from Peotone on Route 49, disappearing out of sight, never to be found by the massive army of Illinois and Indiana state police, Chicago PD, multiple county sheriffs and local constables. In our booklet, Miami Gardens, The Secret Roadhouse of Al Capone, we reveal why we believe that John Dillinger came to Miami Gardens on the day of his escape. The Peotone Posse Per Tom Adamsick, author of “Greetings from Peotone, Illinois; Pictorial History of Early Peotone, Illinois,” The posse gathered at Dan Knolton’s drug store on Second Street. Pictured (left to right) are Paul Conrad, Dan V. Knolton, Jack Cowing, Emil “The Count” Mausehund and Ted Cowing. Peotone was filled with police, politicians and newspaper reporters following this event.
© 2023 Edwins, Inc.
