Lena Pierpont: Difference between revisions
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While serving his sentence at the [[Indiana Reformatory]] at [[Pendleton| Pendleton, Indiana]], Lena's son [[Harry| Harry Pierpont]] first met [[John Dillinger]].<ref>King 2005, p. 17.</ref> Harry was the convict Dillinger looked up to the most.<ref>Toland 1963, p. 17.</ref> Harry caused the Pendleton Warden, A.F. Miles, so much trouble that he was transferred to the [[Indiana State Prison]] at Michigan City within two months, after he attempted to drill through the bars of his cell in an escape attempt.<ref>Toland 1963, p. 18.</ref> |
While serving his sentence at the [[Indiana Reformatory]] at [[Pendleton| Pendleton, Indiana]], Lena's son [[Harry| Harry Pierpont]] first met [[John Dillinger]].<ref>King 2005, p. 17.</ref> Harry was the convict Dillinger looked up to the most.<ref>Toland 1963, p. 17.</ref> Harry caused the Pendleton Warden, A.F. Miles, so much trouble that he was transferred to the [[Indiana State Prison]] at Michigan City within two months, after he attempted to drill through the bars of his cell in an escape attempt.<ref>Toland 1963, p. 18.</ref> |
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On September 26, 1933, [[ |
On September 26, 1933, [[Harry Pierpont]], along with nine other prisoners, escaped from the Michigan City, Indiana State Prison,<ref name="Nine Escape">Nine Escape From State Prison article, Kokomo Tribune, Kokomo, Indiana, September 26, 1933, p. 1</ref> using guns smuggled into the prison by [[Dillinger| John Dillinger]]. |
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On October 12, 1933, [[ |
On October 12, 1933, [[Harry Pierpont]], along with [[Charles Makley]], Ed Shouse and [[Russell Clark (criminal)|Russell Clark]] rescued [[John Dillinger]] from the Allen County Jail in [[Lima, Ohio]].<ref>Toland 1963, p. 129</ref> During the rescue, Harry shot and killed Sheriff Jess Sarber. |
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On November 8, 1933, Lena's son, [[Fred Pierpont]] stood trial in [[Wapakoneta, Ohio]] for the robbery of the First National Bank of [[St. Mary's, Ohio]].<ref>Eleven Jurors Seated For Pierpont Trial article, Lima News, Lima, Ohio, November 8, 1933, p. 4.</ref> The defense argued that Fred was mistaken for Ed Shouse, while the prosecution had witnesses that saw Fred behind the wheel of a car occupied by the bandits when it left St. Mary's.<ref>Eleven Jurors Seated For Pierpont Trial article, Lima News, Lima, Ohio, November 8, 1933, p. 4.</ref> Lena and her husband, as well as Fred's wife, Mary, and son, Harry, were in attendance. |
On November 8, 1933, Lena's son, [[Fred Pierpont]] stood trial in [[Wapakoneta, Ohio]] for the robbery of the First National Bank of [[St. Mary's, Ohio]].<ref>Eleven Jurors Seated For Pierpont Trial article, Lima News, Lima, Ohio, November 8, 1933, p. 4.</ref> The defense argued that Fred was mistaken for Ed Shouse, while the prosecution had witnesses that saw Fred behind the wheel of a car occupied by the bandits when it left St. Mary's.<ref>Eleven Jurors Seated For Pierpont Trial article, Lima News, Lima, Ohio, November 8, 1933, p. 4.</ref> Lena and her husband, as well as Fred's wife, Mary, and son, Harry, were in attendance. |
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Revision as of 03:04, 6 December 2011
Lena Pierpont (September 13, 1883-October 21, 1958) was the mother of Prohibition gangster Harry Pierpont. Her fierce loyalty to her son and his compatriots led to her arrest on numerous occasions by police in an attempt to ascertain her son's whereabouts.
Early Life
Lena was born in Jay County, Indiana to James Orcutt and Samantha E. Metzner. Lena was the second of four children. On her seventh birthday, her mother died. Her father later remarried and moved the family to Muncie, Indiana.
Marriage & Family Life
At age 16, on November 27, 1899 in Muncie, Indiana, Lena married Joseph Gilbert Pierpont (June 1881-October 6, 1961). Joseph's father had migrated from Kentucky to the Muncie, Indiana area in the late 1880's.
In the 1900 census, Lena L. Pierpont was enumerated in Center Township, Delaware County, Indiana, married within the year.[1]
Lena was the mother of three children: Fern (b. September 21, 1900)[2]; Harry (b. October 13, 1902)[3]; and Fred (b. July 5, 1906)[4] all born in Muncie.
By the 1910 census, the family was residing at 1145 McLain Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, where her husband's occupation was listed as a woodworker in a carriage factory.[5] In the 1911[6] and 1912[7] directories of the city of Indianapolis, the family was living at 1234 Lee Avenue.
Lena's oldest child, Fern, died of tuberculosis in Indianapolis in 1919.
By the 1920 census, the family was residing at 2113 Morris Street in Indianapolis, Indiana.[8]
Family's Trouble With Law
In 1921 in Indianapolis, Lena's son Harry Pierpont was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. He was held for ten days and then dismissed.[9] Concurrent with his arrest, Harry was committed to the state hospital.
In the Record of Inquest for Harry Pierpont held on September 19, 1921, she stated that he had become sullen, suspicious and prone to outbursts after a severe head injury.[10] Harry was committed to the state hospital for the mentally ill Central Indiana Hospital on September 21st.[11] Harry was diagnosed with dementia praecox of the hebephrenic type.
On March 12, 1922, Harry Pierpont was sentenced to the Indiana reformatory at Jeffersonville for a two to fourteen year sentence for assault and battery with intent to murder.[12]
Lena often visited the superintendent and told him about Harry's mental illness.[13] She tirelessly campaigned for his release from prison, claiming he was insane. The parole board granted him parole on March 6, 1924.[14]
After his release from prison, Harry worked in his father's sand and gravel business in Brazil, Indiana for several months.[15] Harry continued to associate with several known bank robbers, and may have robbed the Southwine Theater in Brazil, Indiana.[16]
Harry was arrested in Detroit, Michigan on April 2, 1925 and jailed in Kokomo, Indiana.[17] Pierpont was alleged to be the leader in the robbing of the South Marion, Upland and South Kokomo Banks in Indiana.[18]
Lena and her husband came to Kokomo, Indiana on Saturday, April 4, 1925 and arranged with the firm of Overman & Healy and Carl Bree to look after the interests of Harry when arraigned and to defend him in his upcoming trial.[19]
While Harry Pierpont was awaiting trial in Howard County, Indiana, Lena's other son, Fred Pierpont was arrested for aiding his brother in an escape attempt, but was later acquitted of the charges.[20]
Convicted of bank robbery, Harry was sentenced to serve a sentence of ten to twenty-one years, and fined $1000.00.[21]
Association with Dillinger Gang
While serving his sentence at the Indiana Reformatory at Pendleton, Indiana, Lena's son Harry Pierpont first met John Dillinger.[22] Harry was the convict Dillinger looked up to the most.[23] Harry caused the Pendleton Warden, A.F. Miles, so much trouble that he was transferred to the Indiana State Prison at Michigan City within two months, after he attempted to drill through the bars of his cell in an escape attempt.[24]
On September 26, 1933, Harry Pierpont, along with nine other prisoners, escaped from the Michigan City, Indiana State Prison,[25] using guns smuggled into the prison by John Dillinger.
On October 12, 1933, Harry Pierpont, along with Charles Makley, Ed Shouse and Russell Clark rescued John Dillinger from the Allen County Jail in Lima, Ohio.[26] During the rescue, Harry shot and killed Sheriff Jess Sarber.
On November 8, 1933, Lena's son, Fred Pierpont stood trial in Wapakoneta, Ohio for the robbery of the First National Bank of St. Mary's, Ohio.[27] The defense argued that Fred was mistaken for Ed Shouse, while the prosecution had witnesses that saw Fred behind the wheel of a car occupied by the bandits when it left St. Mary's.[28] Lena and her husband, as well as Fred's wife, Mary, and son, Harry, were in attendance.
On November 28, 1933, Lena posted $ 2500 bond and Fred Pierpont was released from the Allen County, Ohio jail.[29] Fred had been held as a material witness for the first degree murder trial of Harry Copeland for the killing of Sheriff Sarber.[30]
Death
Lena died October 21, 1958 in Lakeville, Indiana.
Burial
Lena is buried in the Pierpont family plot in Holy Cross Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana.[31] Her grave is in Section 3-G, Lot 252 grave 2.
References
- King, Jeffery S. (2005). The Rise and Fall of the Dillinger Gang, Cumberland House Publishing.
- Toland, John (1963). The Dillinger Days, Random House.
Notes
- ^ Gilbert J. Pierpont household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Center Township, Delaware County, Indiana, USA, ED 38, SD 67, sheet 3A, dwelling 40, family 41; National Archives micropublication, T623, roll 368.
- ^ Delaware County, Indiana Births (http://www.ingenweb.org/indelaware/Births/b_p.htm) Book CH-6, page 49
- ^ Delaware County, Indiana Births (http://www.ingenweb.org/indelaware/Births/b_p.htm) Book CH-7, page 38
- ^ Delaware County, Indiana Births (http://www.ingenweb.org/indelaware/Births/b_p.htm) Book CH-9, page 10
- ^ 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.
- ^ R.L. Polk & Co's Indianapolis City Directory (1911). Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: R.L. Polk & Co., 1911, p. 1201
- ^ R.L. Polk & Co's Indianapolis City Directory (1912). Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: R.L. Polk & Co., 1912, p. 1240
- ^ 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.
- ^ King 2005, p. 19.
- ^ King 2005, p. 18.
- ^ King 2005, p. 19.
- ^ King 2005, p. 19.
- ^ King 2005, p. 19.
- ^ King 2005, p.k 19.
- ^ King 2005, p. 20.
- ^ King 2005, p. 20.
- ^ Men Held In Detroit For Kokomo Theft article, Logansport Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Indiana, April 2, 1925, p. 10.
- ^ Alleged Bank Bandit Leader Held article, Marion Leader-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, April 3, 1925, p.1.
- ^ Prisoners To Stay In City Says Sheriff article, Kokomo Daily Tribune, Kokomo, Indiana, April 5, 1925, p. 1
- ^ Kokomo Bandit Suspect Released article, Logansport Pharos Tribune, Logansport, Indiana, May 2, 1925, p. 1
- ^ Kokomo Bandit In Prison Break article, Kokomo Tribune, Kokomo, Indiana, December 29, 1930, p.1
- ^ King 2005, p. 17.
- ^ Toland 1963, p. 17.
- ^ Toland 1963, p. 18.
- ^ Nine Escape From State Prison article, Kokomo Tribune, Kokomo, Indiana, September 26, 1933, p. 1
- ^ Toland 1963, p. 129
- ^ Eleven Jurors Seated For Pierpont Trial article, Lima News, Lima, Ohio, November 8, 1933, p. 4.
- ^ Eleven Jurors Seated For Pierpont Trial article, Lima News, Lima, Ohio, November 8, 1933, p. 4.
- ^ Fred Pierpont Freed On Bond article, Lima News, Lima, Ohio, November 28, 1933, p. 1.
- ^ Fred Pierpont Freed On Bond article, Lima News, Lima, Ohio, November 28, 1933, p. 1.
- ^ [1] Lena Pierpont Memorial Page at www.findagrave.com
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