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 A BYTE OUT OF FBI HISTORY:
“Machine
Gun” Kelly and the Legend of the G-Men
Before 1934,
“G-Man” was underworld slang for any and all government agents. In
fact, the detectives in J. Edgar Hoover’s Bureau of Investigation
were so little known that they were often confused with Secret
Service or Prohibition Bureau agents. By 1935, though, only one kind
of Government employee was known by that name, the Special Agents of
the FBI.
How this change came about is not entirely clear,
but today’s date, September 26, plays a central role in the
apocryphal origins of this change.
Seventy years
ago today, Bureau of Investigation Agents and Tennessee police
officers arrested gangster George “Machine Gun” Kelly. He was a
“wanted fugitive” for good reason. Two months earlier Kelly had
kidnapped oil magnate Charles Urschel and held him for $200,000 in
ransom. After Urschel was released, the Bureau coordinated a
multi-state investigation, drawing investigative information from
its own field offices as well as from other police sources, as it
identified and tracked the notorious gangster across the
country.
On September 26th, “Machine Gun” Kelly was found in
a decrepit Memphis residence. Some early press reports said that a
tired, perhaps hung-over Kelly stumbled out of his bed mumbling
something like “I was expecting you.” Another version of the event
held that Kelly emerged from his room, hands-up, crying “Don’t Shoot
G-Men, Don’t Shoot.” Either way, Kelly was arrested without
violence.
The rest is
history. The more colorful version sparked the popular imagination
and “G-Man” became synonymous with the Special Agents of J. Edgar
Hoover’s Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Related link:
Machine
Gun Kelly and the Urschel Kidnapping
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Announcements |
Rare antique
flintlock restored to Springfield Armory Museum. Details
and photos in 9/26 press release. |
| On 9/24, Assistant
Director John Pistole testifies on how FBI is helping to
stop terrorist financing. |
| On 9/23, EAD
Larry Mefford testified on Information Sharing regarding
antiterrorism and border protection. |
| FBI Director
Mueller Names Charles
S. Phalen, Jr., Assistant Director, Security
Division. |
| On 09/17/03,
Assistant Director Grant
D. Ashley Testified Before the House Judiciary
Committee. |
| FBI Director
Mueller Names John
S. Pistole Assistant Director for
Counterterrorism |
| FBI "Be On The
Look Out" issued on 4 men, wanted for questioning on
terrorists matters. Click to
see pictures and information. |
| On 9/8/03,
Director Mueller addressed a "Border
Terrorism Conference" in San Antonio, Texas, on the
international fight against terrorism. |
| Director Mueller
addresses employees at 9/11
memorial service. |
| On 9/9/03,
Director Mueller discusses FBI
efforts on global issues at Dallas Office Building
Dedication. |
| FBI discusses the
findings of the Inspector
General's Report on Robert Hanssen |
Issue: Can The FBI Look
at Your Library Records Any Time It Wants?
The Bureau
responds to your concerns. |
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Corporate Fraud!
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FBI. |
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