[cookiedough]

Dillinger didn't escape with a Thompson. He carved a bar of soap into the shape of a gun, painted it black, and used that in the escape. One of the guards probably helped Dillinger escape. There is no evidence that the Thompson in question was stolen by or ever possessed by Dillinger. Lake County purchased it with taxpayer funds.

cookiedough

[FreedomCalls]

Dillinger didn't escape with a Thompson. He carved a bar of soap into the shape of a gun, painted it black, and used that in the escape.

The story says he acquired the Tompson after he escaped, not that he used it to escape.

Dillinger made off with two Tommy guns after he broke out of Lake County Jail on March 3, 1934.

[FreedomCalls]

He carved a bar of soap into the shape of a gun, painted it black, and used that in the escape.

Here is a photo of him posing with the fake pistol he used to escape with in one hand and a Tommy Gun in the other (is it the same one the sheriff has?).