Harry Brunette
Encyclopedia
Harry Brunette was an American bank robber and Depression-era outlaw. He was declared a national "public enemy
" by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
when he and partner Merle Vandenbush robbed a series of banks in the New York City
-era and kidnapped New Jersey
state trooper William A. Turnbull during 1936. The New York City Police Department
managed to find Brunette and Vandenbush hiding out in an apartment on West 102nd Street on December 14, 1936. Upon locating Brunette, the NYPD contacted the FBI letting them know his whereabouts. Although this was done as a matter of professional courtesy
, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
personally led a group of federal agents to take charge of the area.
At the time, the FBI was under heavy criticism from the press due to its overly-aggressive and strong handed tactics resulting in the shooting deaths of unarmed suspects and innocent bystanders. It was hoped by Hoover that he could use the situation to set up a "personal arrest" by his second-in-command Clyde Tolson
for propaganda purposes, such as Hoover's own staged arrest of Alvin Karpis
in 1934.
Almost from the start, there were problems between the NYPD and the FBI. It was agreed that raid would take place that afternoon at 2:00 pm, when it was believed that Brunette would be asleep. However, federal agents moved ahead with the raid and stormed the apartment building at midnight. Confused police detectives, still on stakeout, watched as the raid began 14 hours ahead of schedule. When police officers at the scene questioned Hoover, according to the New York Times, the director "merely shrugged his shoulders".
Within a few minutes, Brunette was alerted when a federal agent unsuccessfully attempted to shoot the lock off his door and immediately returned fire. Gas grenades were tossed into his room, inadvertently starting a fire, and the New York City Fire Department
was called. The arrival of firefighters added to the confused scene illustrated by a reporter from Newsweek
who described an incident between a firefighter and a federal agent,
Brunette eventually surrendered and Tolsen was photographed leading him away in his first arrest of his career. In their haste to arrest Brunette however, federal agents missed Vandenbush who was easily able to escape amid the chaos. The following morning, NYPD Commissioner Lewis Valentine and New Jersey Police Commissioner issued public statements criticizing the FBI's behavior by breaking its agreement with police and putting lives at risk while allowing Vandenbush to escape. Hoover dismissed these objections which he referred to as "unjustified and petty criticism". When Vandenbush was captured by New York authorities two months later, the fugitive claimed he had been on his way to meet with Brunette but was warned off by the obvious presence of the FBI. He also said that at one point during the raid he was close enough to "tap J. Edgar Hoover on the shoulder".
Public Enemy
Public Enemy is an American hip hop group consisting of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and his S1W group, DJ Lord , and Music Director Khari Wynn...
" by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
when he and partner Merle Vandenbush robbed a series of banks in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-era and kidnapped New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
state trooper William A. Turnbull during 1936. The New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
managed to find Brunette and Vandenbush hiding out in an apartment on West 102nd Street on December 14, 1936. Upon locating Brunette, the NYPD contacted the FBI letting them know his whereabouts. Although this was done as a matter of professional courtesy
Professional courtesy
Professional courtesy is the tradition among physicians not to charge for treatment of each other's family. The purpose was to discourage physicians from having members of their own family as patients, as well as to foster bonds among physicians...
, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover
J. Edgar Hoover
John Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972...
personally led a group of federal agents to take charge of the area.
At the time, the FBI was under heavy criticism from the press due to its overly-aggressive and strong handed tactics resulting in the shooting deaths of unarmed suspects and innocent bystanders. It was hoped by Hoover that he could use the situation to set up a "personal arrest" by his second-in-command Clyde Tolson
Clyde Tolson
Clyde Anderson Tolson was Associate Director of the FBI, primarily responsible for personnel and discipline. He is best known as the protégé of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.-Early career:...
for propaganda purposes, such as Hoover's own staged arrest of Alvin Karpis
Alvin Karpis
Alvin Francis Karpis , nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile, was an American criminal known for his alliance with the Barker gang in the 1930s. He was the last "public enemy" to be taken.-Early life:Karpis was born to Lithuanian immigrants in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and was raised in Topeka,...
in 1934.
Almost from the start, there were problems between the NYPD and the FBI. It was agreed that raid would take place that afternoon at 2:00 pm, when it was believed that Brunette would be asleep. However, federal agents moved ahead with the raid and stormed the apartment building at midnight. Confused police detectives, still on stakeout, watched as the raid began 14 hours ahead of schedule. When police officers at the scene questioned Hoover, according to the New York Times, the director "merely shrugged his shoulders".
Within a few minutes, Brunette was alerted when a federal agent unsuccessfully attempted to shoot the lock off his door and immediately returned fire. Gas grenades were tossed into his room, inadvertently starting a fire, and the New York City Fire Department
New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
was called. The arrival of firefighters added to the confused scene illustrated by a reporter from Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
who described an incident between a firefighter and a federal agent,
Brunette eventually surrendered and Tolsen was photographed leading him away in his first arrest of his career. In their haste to arrest Brunette however, federal agents missed Vandenbush who was easily able to escape amid the chaos. The following morning, NYPD Commissioner Lewis Valentine and New Jersey Police Commissioner issued public statements criticizing the FBI's behavior by breaking its agreement with police and putting lives at risk while allowing Vandenbush to escape. Hoover dismissed these objections which he referred to as "unjustified and petty criticism". When Vandenbush was captured by New York authorities two months later, the fugitive claimed he had been on his way to meet with Brunette but was warned off by the obvious presence of the FBI. He also said that at one point during the raid he was close enough to "tap J. Edgar Hoover on the shoulder".
Further reading
- DeToledano, Ralph. J. Edgar Hoover: The Man In His Time. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1973. ISBN 0-87000-188-4
- Gentry, Curt. J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and The Secrets. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2001. ISBN 0-393-32128-2
- Hack, Richard. Puppetmaster: The Secret Life of J. Edgar Hoover. Beverly Hills, California: New Millennium Press, 2004. ISBN 1-893224-87-2
- Herzberg, Bob. The FBI and the Movies: A History of the Bureau on Screen and Behind the Scenes in Hollywood. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2006. ISBN 0-7864-2755-8
- Powers, Richard Gid. Secrecy and Power: The Life of J. Edgar Hoover. New York: Free Press, 1987. ISBN 0-02-925060-9
- Downey, Patrick. "Bad Seeds in the Big Apple: Bandits, Killers and Chaos in New York City 1920-1940". Cumberland House, 2008. ISBN 10:1-58182-646-X