Lester Joseph Gillis (December 6, 1908 – November 27, 1934), also known as George Nelson but better known as Baby Face Nelson due to his youthful appearanceBorn in Chicago, Illinois, Nelson worked for a time as an enforcer for Chicago gangster Al Capone. Nelson came to greater prominence in 1934, when he joined the Dillinger gang. In contrast to the dashing John Dillinger, Nelson is the antithesis of popular, Robin Hood-like gangsters of the Depression era. Having a psychopathic bent, Nelson did not hesitate to kill innocent bystanders. Paradoxically, though, Nelson was a devoted husband and father who often had his wife and children with him while running from the law. After Dillinger's death in July 1934, Nelson became Public Enemy Number One. Nelson was said to have boasted of robbing one bank a day for a month, in order to out do Dillinger. This never happened.[edit] The Battle of BarringtonA running gun battle between FBI agents and Nelson took place on November 27, 1934 outside of Chicago, in the town of Barrington resulting in the deaths of Agent Herman Hollis and Inspector Samuel P. Cowley. Nelson, though shot 17 times, was still able to steal Hollis's car and race away with his wife, Helen Gillis, in tow. Nelson succumbed from his wounds at approximately 8pm that evening and was unceremoniously dumped near a Niles, Illinois cemetery. Nelson is buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery in River Grove, Illinois. Baby Face Nelson holds the dubious distinction of being the single individual responsible for the killing of more federal agents than any other criminal. Besides the aforementioned agents he was also responsible for the murder of Special Agent W. Carter Baum at the Little Bohemia shoot-out. guys layout @ HOT FreeLayouts.com
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