Harry "Pete" Pierpont (October 13, 1902 – October 17, 1934) was a Prohibition era gangster, convicted murderer and bank robber. He was a friend and mentor to John Dillinger.
Described as handsome and soft-spoken, Pierpont was a bright, natural-born leader. Fiercely loyal, he had a reputation for taking care of those around him and not squealing on his friends. He disliked publicity, and was content to let others, especially Dillinger, take credit for the bold bank robberies committed after the Michigan City prison break.
Pierpont was executed in the electric chair on October 17, 1934.
Early life Pierpont was born in Muncie, Indiana, to Joseph Gilbert and Lena (Orcutt) Pierpont.Delaware County, Indiana Births (http://www.ingenweb.org/indelaware/Births/b_p.htm) Book CH-7, page 38 Harry Pierpont was the middle child with an older sister Fern (b. September 21, 1900),Delaware County, Indiana Births (http://www.ingenweb.org/indelaware/Births/b_p.htm) Book CH-6, page 49 who died of tuberculosis when he was a teenager, and a younger brother Fred (b. July 5, 1906).Delaware County, Indiana Births (http://www.ingenweb.org/indelaware/Births/b_p.htm) Book CH-9, page 10 His father was from Kentucky, and his mother, from Jay County, Indiana, was of German ancestry.
By the 1910 census, the family was residing at 1145 McLain Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Harry's father's occupation was listed as a woodworker at a carriage factory.Gilbert Pierpont household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Ward 14, Center Township, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA, ED 245, SD 7, sheet 5A, dwelling 114, family 115; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 367. In the 1911R.L. Polk & Co's Indianapolis City Directory (1911). Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: R.L. Polk & Co., 1911, p. 1201 and 1912R.L. Polk & Co's Indianapolis City Directory (1912). Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: R.L. Polk & Co., 1912, p. 1240 directories of the city of Indianapolis, the family was living at 1234 Lee Avenue.
Pierpont graduated from the eighth grade at Assumption School in Indianapolis.King 2005, p. 18. He had above-average intelligence and did well in school.
By the 1920 census, the family was residing at 2113 Morris Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Harry's occupation was listed as a bench worker at an automobile plant.Gilbert Pierpont household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Ward 14, Wayne Township, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA, ED 250, SD 7, sheet 1A, dwelling 6, family 6; National Archives micropublication roll T625, roll 455.
Pierpont's troubles with the police began after an accident in the summer of 1921, in which he received a severe head injury. His demeanor was changed after the accident, and Pierpont complained of eye problems, dizziness, and headaches. Pierpont displayed bouts of sleeplessness and mania for firearms. He stood over tall, with light brown hair and blue eyes.Toland 1963, p. 17. The second and third toes of his feet were grown together.
At his May 1925 trial in Kokomo, his place of residence was never clearly established. He was said to have lived in Fort Wayne, Toledo, and Indianapolis, and was known to have hung around Kokomo for some time before the bank robbery was framed."Kokomo Bandit In Prison Break", Kokomo (IN) Tribune, December 29, 1930, p.1
Criminal career
Carrying concealed weapon, 1921 In 1921 at Indianapolis, Pierpont was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. He was held for ten days and then dismissed.King 2005, p. 19. Concurrently with his first arrest, Pierpont was committed to the state hospital.
In the record of Inquest held on September 19, 1921, his mother stated that he became sullen, suspicious, and prone to outbursts after his injury and, two days later, he was committed to the state hospital for the mentally ill, Central Indiana Hospital. Pierpont was diagnosed with dementia praecox of the hebephrenic type.
Robbery of Cook Hardware Store, Greencastle, Indiana, January 1922 On January 2, 1922, Pierpont stole an automobile in Indianapolis and drove to Greencastle, where he robbed the Cook Hardware store, stealing nine handguns.
Five days later, Pierpont was arrested in Indianapolis for attempted auto theft and battery with intent to kill. The owners of the automobile, Mr. and Mrs. Devine, caught him in the act. Struggling with Mr. Devine, Pierpont fired a gun, slightly wounding him. Mrs. Devine was holding a roast, and hit Pierpont over the head with it."Many See Man Shot By Bandit", Indianapolis (IN) Sunday Star, January 8, 1922, p. 1
While being held in jail at Terre Haute, Pierpont failed in an escape attempt, sawing through the bars of his cell.
Sentenced to Indiana State Reformatory On March 12, 1922, Pierpont entered the Indiana reformatory for a two to fourteen-year sentence for assault and battery with intent to murder. On November 17, 1923, Pierpont was transferred to the newly built reformatory at Pendleton, Indiana.
On May 1, 1923, Indiana Governor Warren T. McCray denied Pierpont's request for clemency."19 Clemency Pleas From State Wards Granted By M'Cray", Indianapolis (IN) Star, May 2, 1923, p. 12 The superintendent of the prison wrote that Harry was "as wild as a March Hare".Toland 1963, p. 18.
Parole granted, 1924 Pierpont's mother Lena often visited the superintendent and told him about Pierpont's mental illness. Pierpont's mother campaigned for his release, claiming that he was insane. The parole board granted him parole on March 6, 1924.King 2005, p.k 19.
After his release, Pierpont worked in Brazil, Indiana, where, during his first stint in prison, his family had moved; his father operated a sand and gravel business for several months.King 2005, p. 20. He continued to associate with several known bank robbers, and may have robbed the Sourwine Theater in Brazil.
Pierpont-Bridgewater-Northern gang, 1924–1925 By November 1924, Pierpont was living in Kokomo, Indiana, staying at a boarding house run by Pearl Elliott. He continued to associate with a group of Jeffersonville ex-cons.
In April, 1925, Pierpont was implicated as ringleader of a gang that struck several Indiana banks. Newspaper reports indicated there were seven members of the gang, and all identified Pierpont as their leader."Robbery Suspects Arrested", Wabash (IN) Plain-Dealer, April 2, 1925, p. 1.
Most members of the gang were arrested and convicted before Pierpont was arrested in Detroit in the spring. Mrs. Everett Bridgewater was arrested at her home in Indianapolis and sentenced to two to fourteen years; James Robbins arrested at Lebanon, Indiana; Marion "Red" Smith arrested at Indianapolis; George Frazer arrested at Marion; and Robert Morse arrested at Indianapolis were all given sentences of between ten and twenty years; and Mrs. Emily Morse pleaded guilty and was given a sentence from two to fourteen years."Alleged Bank Bandit Leader Held", Marion (IN) Leader-Tribune, April 3, 1925, p.1. Their arrests were reported as one of the biggest roundups of any gang of robbers in the state."Bandit Trio Leave Today For Prison", Marion (IN) Leader-Tribune, January 4, 1925, p. 2.
South Marion State Bank, Marion, Indiana, November 26, 1924 At 2:45 in the afternoon of November 26, 1924, seven men led by Pierpont held up the South Marion State Bank at Thirty-first and Washington streets in Marion, Indiana, robbing the bank of approximately $4,000 in cash."Police Keep On Trail Of The Bandits", Marion (IN) Leader-Tribune, November 27, 1924, p. 1. No one was injured and not a shot was fired. Five men went inside, two stayed outside.
The leader of the gang walked in ahead of the others and ordered "hands up", forcing the cashier and bookkeeper into the vault. According to newspaper accounts, the gang had evidently studied the situation, knew the surroundings, and carried out their job with clockwork precision and uncanny accuracy.
After the robbery, the men jumped into a Nash motor car and sped off going south. Sixteen towns in a radius of Marion were notified of the robbery and told to be on the lookout for a Nash car with yellow license plates. One report had them heading west on State Route 35; another report had them travelling east through Bluffton, Indiana, at high speed. A couple from Fairmount, Indiana, reported seeing a car matching that of the robbers at three o'clock, traveling west through Hackelman, Indiana, in the direction of Elwood, Indiana."No New Clue Of Value On The Robbery", Marion (IN) Leader-Tribune, November 28, 1924, p. 1 Grant County Sheriff Bert Renbarger and his deputies stopped a Nash car matching the description at Sweetser, Indiana, but the occupants were found to be out of town businessmen.
Initial reports indicated that based on the description of the bandits, they were believed to be the same gang who had robbed the Farmers National Bank at Converse, Indiana, the week before. Sheriff Renbarger speculated the robbers might be from South Bend, Terre Haute, Chicago, or Logansport.
Citizens State Bank, Noblesville, Indiana, December 16, 1924 Just before closing time on December 16, 1924, the men made an unsuccessful attempt to rob the Citizens State Bank. The bandits' car drove up to the side of the bank, and six men leaped to the sidewalk and ran into the building, brandishing revolvers."Attempt Made To Rob Noblesville Bank Frustrated", Marion (IN) Leader-Tribune, December 17, 1924, p. 1
While three robbers rushed to the rear of the bank to cover officials, the other three ordered several customers and the cashier to hold up their hands. The leader of the bandits repeatedly cautioned his associates to listen for an alarm. With a revolver near his head, bank president Dunn touched a button on the floor, which set off the burglar alarm. The bandits immediately ran out the door and sped away with nothing for their effort. The bandits raced north in a Cadillac bearing Indiana license plate 11829."Bandits Fail In Attempt To Rob Noblesville Bank", Indianapolis (IN) Star, December 17, 1924, p. 1
Shelby Hardware Store, Lebanon, Indiana, December 22, 1924 On December 22, 1924, the John D. Shelby Hardware Store of Lebanon, Indiana, was robbed of two rifles, two double-barreled shotguns, a hammerless double-barreled shot gun, two single-shot rifles, a Marlin repeating rifle, two Remington repeating rifles, eight pocket knives, a six-inch barreled pistol, a German .32 automatic revolver, about fifty boxes of ammunition, four flashlights, several batteries, and other articles."Auto Used By Bank Bandits Is Found", Marion (IN) Leader-Tribune, December 28, 1924, p. 1
Boone County Sheriff Joe C. Cain notified Grant County Sheriff Renbarger of the list of items stolen from the Lebanon store and stated that the robbers were driving a Moon sedan with the license 443-554 that was stolen from Indianapolis the night of the Lebanon robbery. The automobile belonged to George W. Killinger Jr. of 1922 North Pennsylvania street.
Upland State Bank, Upland, Indiana, December 23, 1924 At 3:45 in the afternoon of December 23, 1924, six armed bandits entered the Upland State Bank within fifteen minutes of closing time and robbed the bank of approximately $2,500."Upland State Bank Robbed of $2,500", Marion (IN) Leader-Tribune, December 24, 1924, p. 1
The bandits attempted to lock the cashier and a female employee in the bank vault. Finding that the safe would not work, they began scooping up all of the money in sight, as well as all the money in the safe, consisting of paper and silver. One of the bandits cautioned bank officials against making false moves under pain of having the "hell shot out of them".
After getting all the money in sight, they quickly left the bank and hopped into a waiting automobile, in which the sixth bandit sat, and departed north out of Upland, where it was reported they turned west.