Public Enemies: The Rise of the Gangsters (Part 1)

Episode 11: "Ohio v. Crime" (Part One): The Rise of the Gangsters. In Part 1 of the Season 8 finale, Alex goes to back to the 1930s and the War on Crime. At the height of the Depression, a new breed of violent criminal roams the country. Armed with Tommy Guns and fast getaway cars, criminals like John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, etc. shoot and rob their way across the Midwest and Ohio, in particular. Alex is joined by author John Oller, himself a graduate of The Ohio State University, to discuss his new excellent book Gangster Hunters, out today. Buy Gangster Hunters here. https://www.amazon.com/Gangster-Hunters-Vanquished-Americas-Deadliest/dp/0593471369 John takes us through the birth of the FBI and its hard-charging Director, J. Edgar Hoover. But the sleepy Bureau faces the threat of a violent crime wave the likes of which the nation had never scene. With tragic events like the Kansas City Massacre, Dillinger's numerous escapes and the blunder of Melvin Purvis and his agents at Little Bohemia, it appears that the criminals have the upper hand over the G-Men. We're also joined by Paula Schleis, long time Ohio journalist and host of the popular podcast Ohio Mysteries. Paula shares the stories of Pretty Boy Floyd and John Dillinger as both got their start in bank robbing in the Buckeye State. From rum running along the Ohio River to their first robberies taking place in Ohio, Floyd and Dillinger would become two of the most infamous criminals in US history. Paula's great show Ohio Mysteries is also on the Evergreen Podcast Network, listen to her 600+ episodes here or anywhere you get your podcasts. https://ohiomysteries.com/ We will be back next Tuesday with Part 2 of the Season 8 finale, thank you so much for listening this year and Go Bucks! Contact Alex and the show at [e-mail] or on the podcasts' Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page. Check out the Evergreen Podcast Network for Ohio v. the World and hundreds of other great podcasts www.evergreenpodcasts.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices