"Handsome" Harry Pierpont
Harry Pierpont had played a major role in the Dillinger Gang. But he is largely forgotten today. His dislike for publicity allowed him to take a back seat to John Dillinger and caused Harry to loose his place in history. But as a relative of his had told me, “That's the way Harry wanted it.” Timid of cameras, Harry was a quite, soft spoken man. Not the typical psychopath he has been made out to be. He was stubborn and quick to react in situations that called for it. Prison examinations state he was bright and a natural leader. His parents, Gilbert and Lena (Orcutt) Pierpont moved around a great deal, trying to etch out of living. Articles have claimed Lena was a hard woman that drove Harry to crime. Family relatives say otherwise. They were hard working, honest people, and the only thing Lena did was try to get her son to be good. When she saw this wasn't going to happen, she tried to protect him. She loved Harry very much. Harry had been born in Muncie, Indiana on October 13, 1902. He had been like most children his age, no better or worst. He had a peculiar deformity. His second and third toes on both his feet were grown together at the first joint. His first brush with the law came in 1921 at Indianapolis, where the Pierpont's were living then on 116 Traube Avenue. Harry had been arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. His mother had him sent to the Central Insane Hospital in Indianapolis fearing he was crazy. After he was released , Harry was promptly rearrested in 1922 for vehicle taking. Sentenced to one year, the sentenced was never carried out for some reason. Harry had no more then turned around and was arrested for assault and battery with intent to kill. This time he was shipped off to the South Indiana Reformatory on March 17. Harry earned a parole on March 6, 1923, mainly from his mother's pleading with the parole board. Then promptly violated parole. In 1924, Indiana authorities were starting to seek the young Pierpont out. He had been connected with numerous bank robberies in the state. Harry had been apprehended in Detroit, Michigan and returned to Howard County to stand trial for the March, 27, 1925 Kokomo, Indiana bank robbery of $10,000. He, with Thaddeus Skeer, Earl Northern and Everett Bridgewater and pulled it off. Skeer had turned state evidence against Pierpont. While awaiting trial, Harry had tried to saw through the bars in his cell. His brother Fred had been accused of aiding Harry but was later acquitted. Sent to Pendleton on May 6, he received a violation report for lying and refusing to make a statement against Northern and Bridgewater in the Kokomo bank robbery. But this was the type of man Pierpont was. He never squealed on his friends. At about this time Harry and John Dillinger met. John had begun his sentenced in the fall of 1924. It is doubtful that Harry and John built a great friendship at this time. John grew to admire the more experienced Pierpont. Harry had tried to drill the bars out of his cell and was transferred to the Indiana State Reformatory in Michigan City on July 30th. Pierpont just didn't like being locked up. He found the Michigan City prison little to his liking. More harsh and severe, he and his mother tried to secure a transfer back to Pendleton without success. Pendleton didn't want him. Harry attempted more escapes over the next several years. Sawing the bars off his cell and releasing nine other prisoners. Trying to kite out notes to have guns smuggled into him. Possession of a cell key and handcuff key. When the transfers failed, Lena resorted to letters to the parole board. In 1929, John Dillinger requested a transfer to the Michigan City prison to rejoin Harry. Not long after, Pierpont started to formulate his plan of having guns smuggled into the prison. John Dillinger was included in this plan. Harry and his gang on the inside taught John the trade and when he was paroled he would help Harry and nine other prisoners escape.
After his arrest in Tucson on Jan. 25, 1934,
Harry was sent back to the Michigan City prison along with Makley and Clark. On Feb. 10th all
three men signed waivers to stand trial in Lima for the murder of
Sheriff Jess Sarber. Set in an atmosphere of machine guns and barricades the three were found guilty of murder.
With Clark receiving life and the other two sentenced to death. But they still had one more trick up their sleeves. While awaiting their execution in the Columbus, Ohio death house,
Pierpont and Makley fashioned two highly realistic guns
out of soap and tried to cheat the hangman.Makley was shot and killed when guards open fired on them. Pierpont was wounded in the head and spine.They kept him alive long enough
to walk him to the electric chair. Contrary to written,
Harry said no last words. He stared at the witnesses
with half-open eyes as he was brought into the room, the large
electrodes were strapped to his head and leg. After 2000 volts passed through his body for two minutes, he was pronounced dead.
Pierpont had paid his debt to society. Once the death mask was removed, a Columbus Star reporter stated that Harry's eyes were open and fixed on the ceiling with an icy stare.
His mouth open as though he were about to scream. Harry is buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.He made this statement during his trial. "You aren't the type of man like me. You don't have the nerve."
Pierpont Being Brought Back To Indiana In Chains
Another View Of Grave
Just Found Guilty Of Murder
{Courtesy:Sandy Jones}
Harry Being Taken To Lima Court
Pierpont Resisting His Photograph
{Courtesy:Sandy Jones}
{Courtesy: Estella Cox}
Penitentiary After It's Demolish
The Pierpont Farm In Leipsic, Ohio
Electric Chair Pierpont Died In
