George Nelson (Baby Face)

Why we have to study about him, George Nelson or Baby Face? The answer is he is a famous character of the criminal at the Great Depression period. Therefore, in the class, we heard about his name again on the “O Brother, Where Art thou?” remember?

It was the real story about him on the bad character since The Great Depression time (economic slump) which made people suffered from unemployed and staving.

Baby face (look at on his face), actually he has many names such as Alex Gillis, Lester Giles, “Big” George Nelson, etc.

He was born in the year 1908 and died in 1934.He was very most wanted by the FBI as he killed many FBI agent at that time.

Let’s talk about him; he was born by the name Lester Joseph Gills on December 6, 1980 in Chicago. He was one of seven children in his family. His father left him but he had two rules to teach their kids which are no one touch the family car and no guns of any kind.

At the age of 12, he did the first car thief and was arrest at the age of 13.However, he did it again but this time he was sentenced 18 months in the jail. Then, his father was a drunker and upset with his son so, he committed suicide.

Anyway, He married with Helen Wawzynak and has one son and one daughter. She always helped him even though he did many crimes (murderer, robbery and gangster).

He was arrest and sentenced for life for bank robbery in 1931 and he could escape in 1932 while transfer the prisoner, he use a hand gun which believed that his wife made for him. Then, they moved to California at long beach and met John Paul Chase.

However, they went to robed the bank in Indiana where they met with Dillinger and friends of Barker/Karpis gang.

In 1933, One of the gangster killed H.C.Perrow , the detective of Texas. Therefore, the end of this gangster has come; in 1934 the FBI surprised them in the lodge after they knew that the entire member is in the Chicago. At that time they had a fight, Nelson killed W. Carter Baum, FBI agent and he could escape but on July 22, 1934, Dillinger was shot and killed in Chicago.
All the members were most wanted by the FBI and FBI; Samuel P. Cowley knew that Nelson is still in Barrington, Chicago. They went to that area where they had gun battle.
Instantly, Agent Herman Edward were shot and died and also Inspector Samuel p. Cowley wounded and died in the next day.

Although, the FBI agents were killed but this time, the last day of George Nelson has come, he also critical wounded with 17 wounds and died. What about his wife and Chase? Helen was arrest and Chase also, he died in jail by the cancer.

My opinion, I think at that time there would be many crimes but the famous and most wanted criminal was George Nelson (Baby face) because he killed many FBI agency and he could succeed on robed the bank and his life was beginning with bad luck the same as many people in the time of the Great Depression that was reflect people’s life.