Frederick Grant Dunn
Encyclopedia
Frederick Grant Dunn was an American criminal, burglar and bank robber whose career spanned over four decades from 1919 until his mysterious death in 1959. He led a small gang during the 1940s and '50s, Dunn becoming referred to by the press as "the modern John Dillinger", and whose activities eventually resulted in his being listed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted
in 1958.
and larceny
at the age of 14. He was sent to the Iowa Training School for Boys at Eldora, Iowa
and remained there for five years, being paroled in 1921, and eventually discharged in 1924. Two months after leaving the school, he was arrested with two others for attempting to burglarize a general store in Gayville, South Dakota
. The owner confronted Dunn and his two partners, firing at them with a gun and hitting one of the would-be robbers in the eye, with Dunn and his wounded friend being arrested by police. The two were convicted of burglary in November of that year and sentenced to five years in South Dakota state prison. Dunn was released on parole in 1927 but was returned to prison a year later following his arrest in Omaha
for a parole violation.
after only a few weeks. In Sioux City three weeks later, he and a masked accomplice robbed a store on the outskirts of town. Upon entering the store, Dunn fired a shot into the ceiling and escaped with $67. Early the following year, he and another man robbed a suburban bank also near Sioux City. In February 1930, Dunn was picked up in Chicago and returned to Iowa for trial. Ten days after his arrival in Sioux City, Dunn managed to obtain a smuggled pistol and escaped with another inmate. One of the guards was shot in the thigh when he attempted to stop Dunn.
Managing to elude authorities for a few hours, Dunn was confronted by police later that day. He was surprised by sheriff's deputies in a nearby alley and surrendered after a brief shootout. Dunn was eventually given a 40 year prison sentence for bank robbery as well as an additional 30 years for "assault with intent to kill" as a result of his escape attempt. He was sent to the Iowa state prison in Fort Madison in March 1930 where he remained until his parole in June 1940.
. Although they locked everyone in the vault, one of the bank tellers managed to get free and grabbed a rifle which he used to wound one of the robbers as they made their getaway. They later lost the car outside town when the driver suddenly swerved and sent the car rolling over several times. A second getaway car was nearby allowing Dunn and the others to escape.
Less than three weeks later, Dunn and his partners were arrested by federal agents in Denver, Colorado
on July 21, 1942. He and the rest of his gang were convicted on federal charges and received 15 years. Two women associated with the gang were also charged as accessories and sentenced to six years each. Prior to sentencing, hacksaw blades were found in Dunn's cell and he later confessed to planning a jail break.
He was accused of burglarizing a store in Westphalia, Iowa
but no charges were brought against him. He was, however, arrested in Russell, Kansas
on November 21 in connection with another burglary in nearby Palco
. He was indicted on that charge six days later and transferred to the county lockup in Lincoln
. Awaiting trial for the burglary of a grocery store in Sylvan Grove
, he escaped from custody on January 11, 1958.
The FBI put out an arrest warrant charging him with "unlawful flight to escape prosecution" five days later and, on July 29, officially added him to the FBI Top Most Wanted. Their investigation soon ran cold however, Dunn seemingly having disappeared, and it was presumed by authorities that he had fled the state after his escape.
On September 7, 1959, his skeletal remains were found near Ellsworth and conformed by a post-mortum examination two weeks later. With Dunn never having left Kansas after all, there was some speculation that he had committed suicide but the cause of death was ultimately ruled as murder.
FBI's Ten Most Wanted
FBI's Ten Most Wanted is a book by Dary Matera. It was released in 2003, just as the FBI's top ten list turned fifty years old. The book was produced by Harper Touch ....
in 1958.
Early life and criminal career
Born in 1905, Frederick Dunn's criminal career began when he was convicted of breaking and enteringBurglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
and larceny
Larceny
Larceny is a crime involving the wrongful acquisition of the personal property of another person. It was an offence under the common law of England and became an offence in jurisdictions which incorporated the common law of England into their own law. It has been abolished in England and Wales,...
at the age of 14. He was sent to the Iowa Training School for Boys at Eldora, Iowa
Eldora, Iowa
Eldora is a city in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,035 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hardin County. Eldora is located adjacent to the Iowa River and Pine Lake State Park. The city is most famous for the filming of the 1996 movie Twister on location. The...
and remained there for five years, being paroled in 1921, and eventually discharged in 1924. Two months after leaving the school, he was arrested with two others for attempting to burglarize a general store in Gayville, South Dakota
Gayville, South Dakota
Gayville is a town in Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 407 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Gayville is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land....
. The owner confronted Dunn and his two partners, firing at them with a gun and hitting one of the would-be robbers in the eye, with Dunn and his wounded friend being arrested by police. The two were convicted of burglary in November of that year and sentenced to five years in South Dakota state prison. Dunn was released on parole in 1927 but was returned to prison a year later following his arrest in Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
for a parole violation.
Robbery in Sioux City
He was released in August 1929 and linked to a bank robbery in Salix, IowaSalix, Iowa
Salix is a city in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 370 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Salix is located at ....
after only a few weeks. In Sioux City three weeks later, he and a masked accomplice robbed a store on the outskirts of town. Upon entering the store, Dunn fired a shot into the ceiling and escaped with $67. Early the following year, he and another man robbed a suburban bank also near Sioux City. In February 1930, Dunn was picked up in Chicago and returned to Iowa for trial. Ten days after his arrival in Sioux City, Dunn managed to obtain a smuggled pistol and escaped with another inmate. One of the guards was shot in the thigh when he attempted to stop Dunn.
Managing to elude authorities for a few hours, Dunn was confronted by police later that day. He was surprised by sheriff's deputies in a nearby alley and surrendered after a brief shootout. Dunn was eventually given a 40 year prison sentence for bank robbery as well as an additional 30 years for "assault with intent to kill" as a result of his escape attempt. He was sent to the Iowa state prison in Fort Madison in March 1930 where he remained until his parole in June 1940.
Crime spree in Kansas
Dunn quickly returned to crime and, within two years, was being referred to a "modern-day [John] Dillinger" for his skill in using nitroglycerine in blowing open safes. On July 2, 1942, he and two others robbed $2,861 from a bank in Portis, KansasPortis, Kansas
Portis is a city in Osborne County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 103.-19th century:Portis is located on the north fork of the Solomon River. Since 1871 it has been an ideal trading point because of its location. When it first became a town in May 1879 it...
. Although they locked everyone in the vault, one of the bank tellers managed to get free and grabbed a rifle which he used to wound one of the robbers as they made their getaway. They later lost the car outside town when the driver suddenly swerved and sent the car rolling over several times. A second getaway car was nearby allowing Dunn and the others to escape.
Less than three weeks later, Dunn and his partners were arrested by federal agents in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
on July 21, 1942. He and the rest of his gang were convicted on federal charges and received 15 years. Two women associated with the gang were also charged as accessories and sentenced to six years each. Prior to sentencing, hacksaw blades were found in Dunn's cell and he later confessed to planning a jail break.
The "Modern Dillinger" and the FBI
Dunn was imprisoned in Leavenworth federal penitentiary in Atlanta and spent a decade there until his parole in November 1952. Within seven months, an arrest warrant was issued for parole violation. He was found living in Kansas City in January 1954 and, arrested on a weapons charge, he was brought back to Leavenworth to complete his sentence. Dunn was finally released on August 16, 1957.He was accused of burglarizing a store in Westphalia, Iowa
Westphalia, Iowa
Westphalia is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 160 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Westphalia is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
but no charges were brought against him. He was, however, arrested in Russell, Kansas
Russell, Kansas
Russell is the most populous city in and county seat of Russell County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,506.-History:...
on November 21 in connection with another burglary in nearby Palco
Palco, Kansas
Palco is a city in Rooks County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 277.-Geography:Palco is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. He was indicted on that charge six days later and transferred to the county lockup in Lincoln
Lincoln Center, Kansas
Lincoln Center, also known as just Lincoln, is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,297.-Name:...
. Awaiting trial for the burglary of a grocery store in Sylvan Grove
Sylvan Grove, Kansas
Sylvan Grove is a city in Lincoln County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 279.-Geography:Sylvan Grove is located at...
, he escaped from custody on January 11, 1958.
The FBI put out an arrest warrant charging him with "unlawful flight to escape prosecution" five days later and, on July 29, officially added him to the FBI Top Most Wanted. Their investigation soon ran cold however, Dunn seemingly having disappeared, and it was presumed by authorities that he had fled the state after his escape.
On September 7, 1959, his skeletal remains were found near Ellsworth and conformed by a post-mortum examination two weeks later. With Dunn never having left Kansas after all, there was some speculation that he had committed suicide but the cause of death was ultimately ruled as murder.