Oct 22, 2009 - Sale 2191

Sale 2191 - Lot 133

Unsold
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
(PHILADELPHIA POISON RING MURDERERS)
Bank robber Willie Sutton * Mug shot of Alvin "Creepy" Karpis. Together, 2 photographs. Silver prints, 6 3/4x3 1/2 inches (17.1x8.8 cm.) and 3x5 inches (7.6x12.7 cm.), Sutton's with the handwritten notations "William Sutton, B57892," in ink, on verso and Karpis' with a Bureau of Police Philadelphia, Pa. hand stamp and notations on verso. 1930; circa 1935
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Additional Details

From the collection of Philadelphia police officer James "Jimmy" Ryan. One of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives," Sutton was known for his dapper style of dress and gabby personality. He robbed over 100 banks, executing a Broadway jewelry store robbery in broad daylight. After his release from prison, in an ironic display of chutzpah, he made a television commercial for New Britain Bank and Trust Co. for their picture ID credit card. His lines were, "They call it the 'face card.' Now when I say I'm Willie Sutton, people believe me."


"Creepy" Karpis was known for his sinister smile and alliance with the Barker gang. He was the last "public enemy" to be captured, a feat that elevated J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI to national prominence.

with--Selection of 22 mug shots of members of the Philadelphia Poison Ring, including Herman Petrillo, a spaghetti and olive oil salesman, who was was responsible for 21 of the more than 100 deaths by arsenic poisoning. Silver prints, overall size 3 1/4x4 1/2 inches (8.3x11.4 cm.). 1938.