This article by Miles Mathis argues that the life and death of John Dillinger were fabricated. Mathis bases this claim primarily on his analysis of a purported death mask of Dillinger, which he asserts is a poorly made sculpture rather than a genuine cast from a deceased body. He points to details like sculpted eyebrows, fake eyelashes, and tool marks suggesting artificial creation. Mathis further suggests that if the death mask is fake, it implies Dillinger’s death was faked to support a fictional narrative, and by extension, his entire life story was also fabricated.

To support this theory, Mathis delves into the alleged genealogy and associates of Dillinger and his gang, presenting them as members of a connected, often noble or influential, network. He highlights connections to historical families like the Lancasters, Yorks, Plantagenets, Habsburgs, and individuals linked to British peerage, the CIA, and various banking dynasties. Members of the Dillinger gang, including Harry Pierpont, John Hamilton, Russell Lee Clark, John Paul Chase, Charles Fisher, Tommy Carroll, Harry Copeland, Edna Murray (real name Martha Edna Stanley), and Babyface Nelson (real name Lester Gillis), are scrutinised for their supposed aristocratic or influential connections. Mathis also examines the alleged relationships of Babyface Nelson’s wife to Napoleon and Admiral Nelson, and connects Harry Pierpont’s family to the Chews and subsequently to Lee Harvey Oswald. The article also mentions John Paul Chase’s contradictory biographical details and Tommy Carroll’s alleged Habsburg jaw. The alleged marriage of Dillinger to Beryl Hovious, his father’s petition for early release, and the timeline of his alleged crimes and capture are questioned for their implausibility. Evelyn Frechette, Dillinger’s girlfriend, is also presented as potentially being from a wealthy family rather than a “gangster’s moll.” The article then introduces Rita “Polly” Hamilton and Ana Ivanovna Akalieva (also known as Anna Sage), questioning Hamilton’s supposed profession and highlighting her alleged peerage connections.

Mathis further criticises the abundance of photos and film footage of Dillinger, questioning their origin given his alleged fugitive status. He also questions the narrative of Dillinger’s death at the Biograph theatre, noting inconsistencies and the film being used to promote the Dillinger event. The article connects the film to Jewish stereotypes and the politician Henry Horner (real name Henry Levy) and current governor J. B. Pritzker. Mathis concludes by suggesting Dillinger was likely an actor for the ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence) and that the entire Dillinger saga was a fabricated event designed to create fear, bolster law enforcement budgets, and distract from governmental and financial malfeasance.

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