How a hotel fire and overtipping got notorious robber John Dillinger captured in Arizona

Nearly everyone knows the name John Dillinger, an infamous gangster synonymous with the crime-ridden era of the 1930s.

But did you know that the notorious bank robber was once captured when he stayed at an Arizona hotel?

Dillinger, whom the FBI labeled "Public Enemy Number One," was a mastermind of heists that left a trail of chaos across the Midwest. With his knack for prison escapes, Dillinger's criminal exploits became legend.

What many may not realize is that amid his notorious escapades, Dillinger and his gang met an unexpected fate in Tucson. The Old Pueblo was an unlikely backdrop for the arrest of this notorious figure, unraveling a tale of crime, daring escapes and the relentless pursuit of justice in the dusty streets of early Arizona.

Here's how John Dillinger was captured at the Hotel Congress in Tucson, Arizona.

Was John Dillinger in Arizona?

Although Dillinger was not known to have any significant criminal activities in Arizona, he did flee to Tucson to hide from his criminal exploits that mainly took place in the Midwest, particularly Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.

“Tucson truly was rough around the edges and well off the beaten path in those days. That’s why Dillinger chose to hide out here,” said Trent Valladares, executive director at the Hotel Congress.

Hmm: What do 1930s gangsters and reporters have in common? More than you think

Why was John Dillinger in Tucson?

After several run-ins with the law, Dillinger formed a gang of skilled bank robbers in 1933. By January 1934, Dillinger and three gang members arrived in Tucson at the Hotel Congress. The histories of Dillinger and the hotel are forever linked as Dillinger's notorious gang, wanted for multiple deadly bank robberies, stayed at the Congress.

“Dillinger’s gang was hiding out in Tucson and was staying at the Hotel Congress. They just happened to be there when the third floor of the hotel was burned down by a huge fire in 1934. As the guests were evacuated, some firemen noticed the unusually heavy weight of some guests' baggage,” Valladares said.

The fire broke out on Jan. 23. After being safely evacuated from the hotel during the fire, members of John Dillinger's gang tipped two Tucson firefighters $12 to retrieve their heavy luggage, according to the Pima County Public Library.

The firefighters recognized the gangsters from an issue of the "True Detective Mysteries" magazine that detailed the Dillinger gang's crimes. The firefighters reported their sighting to the Tucson Police Department.

Where did John Dillinger get captured in Tucson, Arizona?

Two days after the Hotel Congress fire, the Tucson Police Department arrested Dillinger gang members at different locations throughout the city. Dillinger was the last to be captured. He was picked up at 927 N. Second Ave. Police seized weapons, bulletproof vests and cash from a previous robbery.

Dillinger was transferred to the county jail in Crown Point, Indiana, to await trial for the murder of an East Chicago police officer.

Despite authorities claiming the jail was escape-proof, Dillinger managed to break out using a whittled wooden gun to intimidate guards. He took machine guns, locked up guards and trustees and fled, according to the FBI.

Dillinger Days at Hotel Congress in Tucson

Hotel Congress marks the historic Tucson arrest of John Dillinger by presenting Dillinger Days annually to commemorate the capture of one of America's most notorious gangsters and celebrate the Tucson police and fire departments for their role in nabbing the bank robber and saving the hotel.

This year's Dillinger Days are Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 20-21, and 2024 marks the 90th anniversary of Dillinger's arrest.

On Saturday, the hotel's Club Congress will host the Dillinger Speakeasy, with live music, whiskey tastings, cigars and a best-dressed contest. Hours are 7-10 p.m.; admission is $15. The hotel is at 311 E. Congress St.

Dillinger Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday outside the hotel, is a family-friendly event that includes reenactments at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., plus a vintage car show, walking tours of downtown, live music and more. Admission is free.

“The Dillinger story represents the Wild West. Hotel Congress has been at the center of all things Tucson for over 100 years,” Valladares said.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The true story of how John Dillinger was captured in Arizona