Did you know that crime shows outnumber every other drama subgenre, including family dramas, medical shows, and others, and are even among the most-watched series on television? Some find the genre graphic and disturbing, while others find it exciting and suspenseful. Shows with true-crime stories, especially the most grisly type, appeal more to women than men. And now we even have channels like Court TV where we can follow actual trials in real-time, some of which capture the attention of more than others, a more recent example being the Alex Murdaugh trial in South Carolina. Had Court TV been around in the 1930s, it likely would have featured the case that was cracked by one of the most famous people from South Carolina, Melvin Purvis.

In 1934, John Dillinger escaped from jail. He was the leader of the Dillinger Gang, which was accused of robbing 24 banks and four police stations.
John Parrot/Stocktrek Images/GettyImages
Melvin Purvis, who had excelled as a field agent in the Justice Department and was placed in charge of the Chicago office, was tasked with capturing Dillinger.
FBI/Wikimedia Commons
Dillinger's girlfriend was arrested and interrogated at this building in Chicago, which was Melvin Purvis's headquarters at the time. Now it's known as the Clark Adams Building.
Stephen Hogan/Flickr
After a failed attempt to capture Dillinger, leaving a special agent dead and two others injured, Melvin Purvis offered to resign, but his boss, J. Edgar Hoover, refused to accept the offer.
South_agency/GettyImages

Related Stories

The Remnants Of This Abandoned Theme Park In South Carolina Are Hauntingly Beautiful

The Remnants Of This Abandoned Theme Park In South Carolina Are Hauntingly Beautiful

 The Fascinating Archaeological Discovery That Put This South Carolina College On The Map

The Fascinating Archaeological Discovery That Put This South Carolina College On The Map

 Most People Don't Know About The Incredible Piece Of WWII History Hiding At A Tiny South Carolina Museum

Most People Don't Know About The Incredible Piece Of WWII History Hiding At A Tiny South Carolina Museum
Almost three months later, Dillinger was apprehended by Purvis and his men along with a few East Chicago Police Department officers outside a theater where Dillinger had invited some women to go to the movies. One of them tipped off the feds.
joshblake/GettyImages
Afterward, Purvis said the operation was like a military operation, a team effort with all special agents contributing to its success and, therefore, equally heroic. Still, he became famous as "The Man Who Got Dillinger," and was named the #2 most famous person in America, with Franklin D. Roosevelt #1, in The Literary Digest's poll in 1934.
Melvin Purvis was born in 1903 in the small town in South Carolina of Timmonsville. He had six sisters and two brothers and played both football and baseball.
Famous People from South Carolina
Evanoco/Wikimedia Commons
Today, Timmonsville has a population of 2,094 as of 2021. It's located just off I-95 just outside of Florence.
Town of Timmonsville/Facebook
You'll want to stop by George's Drive-Thru when you visit, which is along Highway 76 that goes straight through Timmonsville. Order the fried chicken ... crispy and not too greasy!
Google Maps [streetview]
Brittany Renee Zanders/Google Reviews

Who are some of your favorite famous people from South Carolina? We’ve got quite a list of fascinating stories like this one of people from our state who’ve made a big difference in society!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore South Carolina

Featured Addresses
Timmonsville, SC 29161, USA