The rest of the story ...
Perkins and his tradmark cigar.
So, you've read the story about the Merchants National Bank robbery in South Bend, Ind., on June 30, 1934. Good story, huh? Just like the movies. Lots of shooting and excitement. But there are a few things different in the true story than what you just read. Not a lot, but a few.
First and most important, just who were those six men in on the robbery?
Well to start with, there were never six. There were just five. Nelson, Van Meter, Dillinger, Floyd and Perkins. Chase and Richetti weren't there. Chase was believed to be in New York at the time, or maybe Chicago, but he certainly wasn't at the Merchants National Bank. Richetti, it's believed, was outside of town and sometime during the getaway Floyd was dropped off where Richetti was waiting for him.
As to Perkins, well that's a bit more interesting story. Yes, he was eventually arrested and charged with the robbery, but was acquitted. He always maintained he was not there, but shortly before his death he admitted to his son that he was one of the robbers. Remember the smiling bandit in the bank with the cigar? That was Perkins. The cigar was somewhat of a trademark. He smoked about a dozen a day. He was never without one in his mouth.
As to the fifth robber arriving in a separate car, it didn't happen. The fifth guy was Perkins, and the others simply dropped him off up the street. It was his job to watch for the postal employee. As soon as the employee entered the bank, Perkins was to nod to the others and the robbery would begin. Why Perkins? Because he was the one lease likely to be recognized by anyone. The others had their pictures in the papers almost daily, and it wouldn't be wise to stand on a busy street corner.
As Perkins stood outside the bank happily puffing on his cigar, the others simply kept driving around the block. They drew little attention. It was a busy day and it appeared that they were shoppers simply looking for a parking place.
If all those police were shooting, how come only Van Meter was hit?
Well, that's a bit more complicated. Yes, there were a lot of police, but most of them weren't shooting. They were hiding. That's not a criticism of the police. The bandits were heavily armed with high-powered weapons and the police, for the most part, had small handguns. Additionally, there were people everywhere on the street. Although many citizens ran for cover when the shooting started, just as many stood their ground and watched the show. It was exciting. It was better than a 15-cent western movie. The police feared hitting a bystander. Besides, when the bandits came out, they came out with hostages, and so they had no clear shot at them.
If Van Meter and Nelson were open in the street, how come no one shot Nelson or Van Meter?
Well, some people did take shots at them. But the storeowner shooting Nelson in the back; Van Meter's killing of Patrolman Wagner; the accidental shooting of two hostages and the fire-fight outside the bank during the escape all took place in a very short span of time. There wasn't a lot of time for people to react.
What about Slaby?
Finally, there's Slaby, that hero who stared down Nelson and attempted to foil the robbery by taking the keys out of the getaway car. Well, it didn't quite happen that way.
Slaby was there, that's been confirmed. But his role in the events of the day became more prominent with each of his retellings.
He was certainly parked on the street and he did see the robbers pass in front of him. Did one of the robbers tell him to get out? Well, that's questionable. If they believed Slaby saw the guns, did they think by telling him to leave he'd simply drive off and not alert anyone? Unlikely. They probably didn't realized he saw anything - and maybe he didn't. But he did think he knew one of the robbers and that's why he was looking at them. (He had probably seen a picture in a newspaper or magazine, and that's why one of them looked familiar.)
The more likely chain of events is that one of the bandits saw Slaby looking at them. The bandit probably turned and said something like "What are you looking at friend?" When Slaby no doubt quickly looked away, the four simply continued on to the corner.
As to his attempt to take the keys, it never happened. Yes, the engine was running and yes, the radio was playing. Slaby could possibly have figured out what was going on, but in his favor, the bandits didn't realize it. What most likely happened is that he got out of his car, walked quickly across the street and telephoned the police from the furniture store. That's why the sound of sirens could be heard so soon after the bandits entered the bank.
Most likely, if the bandits had realized Slaby knew what was going on, they probably would have forced him to remain in his car - or even theirs - until they left. They wouldn't have shot him. That would have been an overreaction, and certainly would have brought unwanted attention. But they certainly wouldn't have let him simply walk away.
No matter, Slaby had the rare opportunity of seeing a bank robbery unfold, and saw close-up four of the most wanted men in America. He had a great story to tell for the rest of his life.
First and most important, just who were those six men in on the robbery?
Well to start with, there were never six. There were just five. Nelson, Van Meter, Dillinger, Floyd and Perkins. Chase and Richetti weren't there. Chase was believed to be in New York at the time, or maybe Chicago, but he certainly wasn't at the Merchants National Bank. Richetti, it's believed, was outside of town and sometime during the getaway Floyd was dropped off where Richetti was waiting for him.
As to Perkins, well that's a bit more interesting story. Yes, he was eventually arrested and charged with the robbery, but was acquitted. He always maintained he was not there, but shortly before his death he admitted to his son that he was one of the robbers. Remember the smiling bandit in the bank with the cigar? That was Perkins. The cigar was somewhat of a trademark. He smoked about a dozen a day. He was never without one in his mouth.
As to the fifth robber arriving in a separate car, it didn't happen. The fifth guy was Perkins, and the others simply dropped him off up the street. It was his job to watch for the postal employee. As soon as the employee entered the bank, Perkins was to nod to the others and the robbery would begin. Why Perkins? Because he was the one lease likely to be recognized by anyone. The others had their pictures in the papers almost daily, and it wouldn't be wise to stand on a busy street corner.
As Perkins stood outside the bank happily puffing on his cigar, the others simply kept driving around the block. They drew little attention. It was a busy day and it appeared that they were shoppers simply looking for a parking place.
If all those police were shooting, how come only Van Meter was hit?
Well, that's a bit more complicated. Yes, there were a lot of police, but most of them weren't shooting. They were hiding. That's not a criticism of the police. The bandits were heavily armed with high-powered weapons and the police, for the most part, had small handguns. Additionally, there were people everywhere on the street. Although many citizens ran for cover when the shooting started, just as many stood their ground and watched the show. It was exciting. It was better than a 15-cent western movie. The police feared hitting a bystander. Besides, when the bandits came out, they came out with hostages, and so they had no clear shot at them.
If Van Meter and Nelson were open in the street, how come no one shot Nelson or Van Meter?
Well, some people did take shots at them. But the storeowner shooting Nelson in the back; Van Meter's killing of Patrolman Wagner; the accidental shooting of two hostages and the fire-fight outside the bank during the escape all took place in a very short span of time. There wasn't a lot of time for people to react.
What about Slaby?
Finally, there's Slaby, that hero who stared down Nelson and attempted to foil the robbery by taking the keys out of the getaway car. Well, it didn't quite happen that way.
Slaby was there, that's been confirmed. But his role in the events of the day became more prominent with each of his retellings.
He was certainly parked on the street and he did see the robbers pass in front of him. Did one of the robbers tell him to get out? Well, that's questionable. If they believed Slaby saw the guns, did they think by telling him to leave he'd simply drive off and not alert anyone? Unlikely. They probably didn't realized he saw anything - and maybe he didn't. But he did think he knew one of the robbers and that's why he was looking at them. (He had probably seen a picture in a newspaper or magazine, and that's why one of them looked familiar.)
The more likely chain of events is that one of the bandits saw Slaby looking at them. The bandit probably turned and said something like "What are you looking at friend?" When Slaby no doubt quickly looked away, the four simply continued on to the corner.
As to his attempt to take the keys, it never happened. Yes, the engine was running and yes, the radio was playing. Slaby could possibly have figured out what was going on, but in his favor, the bandits didn't realize it. What most likely happened is that he got out of his car, walked quickly across the street and telephoned the police from the furniture store. That's why the sound of sirens could be heard so soon after the bandits entered the bank.
Most likely, if the bandits had realized Slaby knew what was going on, they probably would have forced him to remain in his car - or even theirs - until they left. They wouldn't have shot him. That would have been an overreaction, and certainly would have brought unwanted attention. But they certainly wouldn't have let him simply walk away.
No matter, Slaby had the rare opportunity of seeing a bank robbery unfold, and saw close-up four of the most wanted men in America. He had a great story to tell for the rest of his life.
