Special Agent Stops One-Man Crime Wave

Hot Off the January 1935 Press
“Special Agent Stops One-Man Crime Wave in 30 Minutes”

01/12/05

You know all those grim faces of special agents in television and movie dramas? Did you ever wonder if they had a sense of humor when they returned to headquarters? Here’s an “inside story” written 70 years ago about a Chicago agent “pursuing his official duties in the vicinity of Magnolia and Leland Avenues.”

The action.

“During the early morning hours of October 17, 1934, Special Agent Robert T. Ross, then attached to the Chicago office, was pursuing his official duties in the vicinity of Magnolia and Leland Avenues, Chicago, Ill. Ross was intently engaged with his work and some hours passed without event, when at approximately 4:45 A.M., he was approached by an unknown individual who, with his right hand thrust into his suit coat pocket, came directly in front of Ross and, making a threatening gesture with his right hand in his pocket to indicate that he held a gun, stated, ‘This is a stick up. What have you got?’”

The reaction.

“Confronted with this surprising announcement, Ross pretended that he had not heard what the potential robber had said and requested that it be repeated. This the unknown person did, all the while covering Ross with his hand in his coat pocket. Thereupon Ross, without conversation, reached with his right hand into his coat, conveying to the assailant the impression that he was attempting to reach for his wallet. At this moment the agent knocked aside, with this left hand, the robber’s supposed gun, and with his right hand drew his own pistol, forcing the would be ‘thug’ to surrender.”

Crime doesn’t pay.

“Special Agent Ross then commandeered a taxicab and proceeded with his prisoner to a nearby police precinct station. There the unknown person was turned over to the custody of the Chicago Police Department and was soon identified by two other persons as the individual who had a short time before held them up and taken money from them. On each of these two previous occasions the robber used the same tactics as he attempted to use on Ross. Upon being questioned he stated that his name was Glenn E. Reilly, and, when searched, it was found that he did not have a gun but was merely using his hand in his coat pocket in an endeavor to convey to his victims the impression that they were covered by a pistol. After some questioning Reilly confessed to having held up and obtained money from his first two victims.”

All in a day’s work.

“At approximately 5:15 A.M., half an hour after his unexpected interruption Ross returned to his official duties.”

Link: FBI History

Photograph of Chicago courtesy of the Library of Congress.