John Dillinger Raid To Feature 1934 Stolen Car

This 1934 V-8 Ford, originally owned by Lake County Sheriff Lillian Holley and stolen by John Dillinger when he escaped from the Crown Point Jail, will be on display during the Dillinger Raid in downtown Warsaw Sept. 11-12. Photo provided.

TIMES UNION REPORTS – The raid of John Dillinger and his gang on the local police station in 1934 will be relived and commemorated in downtown Warsaw on Sept. 11-12 during the Dillinger Raid.

The two-day event will feature tours of the Old Jail Museum, craft vendors, a classic car show, children’s games and tours of downtown Warsaw depicting how John Dillinger impacted the town, according to a news release from the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

The 1934 car that Dillinger stole when he escaped from jail in Crown Point will tentatively be on display. The car was originally owned by Lake County Sheriff Lillian Holley. It was stolen and hostages were taken (who were later released) when the escape from Crown Point occurred. The car was recently featured on the television program “Destination Truth” on the Discovery Channel.

This showing of the car in Warsaw will be the second time in 87 years that the car has been on display to the public.

Dillinger and his gangs robbed numerous banks in the area during their crime spree and their crimes netted Dillinger the title of “public enemy number one.” Lore surrounding Dillinger’s brush with Warsaw, as well as stories and artifacts relating to his life, will be featured.

The Dillinger Raid will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 11 and 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 12.

For more information, call the Old Jail Museum at 574-269-1078 or check out the Facebook page of the Kosciusko County Historical Society who is sponsoring the event.