OLD SHERIFF'S HOUSE FOUNDATION
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John Dillinger

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The Crown Point jail was considered to be one of the finest in Indiana and
thought to be escape-proof. However, on March 3, 1934, a young gangster named
John Dillinger proved it to be otherwise when he made his daring escape.

Dillinger was arrested in Tucson, Arizona in January of that year for a bank robbery in East Chicago that resulted in the death of Detective William Patrick O'Malley.  He was extradited to Indiana on January 28th  and placed in the Lake County Jail in Crown Point.

Legend has it that Dillinger carved a gun from a piece of  wooden washboard others say he acquired
a real gun (the story varies) and forced  a trustee and others to lock up 14  jailers including the Warden and a fingerprint expert. With a fellow prisoner and two hostages, he made his escape over the state line into Illinois in the sheriff’s car that was being serviced in a garage north of the jail. The hostages were released unharmed. On July 22nd  of that same year, Dillinger was shot and killed by FBI agents outside the Biograph Theatre in Chicago.

James "Fur" Sammons

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James "Fur" Sammons (alleged to be a notorious hit man for Al Capone) was known throughout gangland circles as a psychopath.  He was a career criminal from the age of 16 until he was arrested for the last time on November 6th 1933 while intoxicated in Cedar Lake Indiana.  He became a 'resident' of the Old Lake County Jail on November 6th 1933 until his conviction on November 31st of that same year.

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Board Members
  • Educate
    • Preservation, Restoration, and Renovation
    • Timeline
    • Architecture
    • Sheriffs
    • Infamous Inmates
  • Visit
    • Historic House and Jail Tours
    • Night Tours
    • Site Rental
    • Gift Shop
    • Related Properties
  • Events
    • Jail Break 5K Run 2021
    • Private Events
  • Support
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Membership
    • Annual Appeal
    • Completed Projects
    • Funders and Donors
  • Media
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Contact >
        • Careers
  • The Paranormal
  • Calendar of events