Willie Sutton
Born
on June 30, 1901, in Brooklyn, New York, Willie
Sutton was the fourth of five children. He attended
school through eighth grade, then left home to
secure a job. Sutton's employment included jobs
as a clerk, a driller and a gardener. His longest
continuous employment lasted 18 months. Sutton
was married in 1929, but his wife divorced him
after he was incarcerated. He remarried in 1933.
Before his death, Sutton co-authored "I, Willie
Sutton" and "Where the Money Was."
Willie Sutton acquired two nicknames, "The Actor" and "Slick Willie," for
his ingenuity in executing robberies in various disguises. Fond of expensive
clothes, Sutton was described as being an immaculate dresser. Although he was
a bank robber, Sutton had the reputation of a gentleman; in fact, people present
at his robberies stated he was quite polite. One victim said witnessing one of
Sutton's robberies was like being at the movies, except the usher had a gun.
When asked why he robbed banks, Sutton simply replied, "Because that's where
the money is."
On February 15, 1933, Sutton and a confederate attempted to rob the Corn Exchange
Bank and Trust Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sutton, disguised as a
mailman, entered the bank early in the morning. The curiosity of a passerby caused
the robbery attempt to be abandoned. However, on January 15, 1934 Sutton entered
the same bank with two companions through a skylight. When the watchman arrived,
they forced him to admit the employees as usual. Each employee was handcuffed
and crowded into a small room.
Sutton also executed a Broadway jewelry store robbery in broad daylight, impersonating
a postal telegraph messenger. Sutton's other disguises included a policeman,
messenger and maintenance man. He usually arrived at the banks or stores slightly
before they opened for the day.
Besides being known as an innovative robber, Sutton recommitted in June, 1931,
on charges assault and robbery. Sentenced to 30 years, he escaped on December
11, 1932, by scaling the prison wall on two 9-foot sections of ladder that were
joined together.
Sutton was apprehended on February 5, 1934, and was sentenced to serve 25 to
50 years in Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the machine
gun robbery of the Corn Exchange Bank. On April 3, 1945, Sutton was one of 12
convicts who escaped the institution through a tunnel. Sutton was recaptured
the same day by Philadelphia police officers; this had been his fifth escape
attempt at this prison.
Sentenced to life imprisonment as a fourth time offender, Sutton was transferred
to the Philadelphia County Prison, Homesburg, Pennsylvania. On February 10, 1947,
Sutton and other prisoners dressed as prison guards. The men carried two ladders
across the prison yard to the wall after dark. When the prison's searchlights
hit him, Sutton yelled, "It's okay," and no one stopped him.
On March 20, 1950, Willie "The Actor" Sutton was added to the FBI's
list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. Because of his love for expensive clothes,
Sutton's photograph was given to tailors as well as police departments. A 24-year-old
tailor's son recognized Sutton on the New York subway on February 18, 1952, and
follow him to a local gas station where Sutton purchased a battery for his car.
The man reported the incident to the police who later arrested Sutton.
Sutton did not resist his arrest by New York City Police, but denied any robberies
or other crimes since his 1947 escape from Philadelphia County Prison. At the
time of his arrest, Sutton owed one life sentence plus 105 years. He was further
sentenced to an additional 30 years to life in New York State Prison following
a jury trial in Queens County Court.
Seventeen years later, the New York State penal authorities decided that Sutton
did not have to serve two life sentences and 105 years. Sutton was ill; he had
emphysema and was preparing for a major operation on arteries in his legs. On
Christmas Eve, 1969, 68-year-old Sutton was released from Attica State Prison.
Ironically, in 1970, Sutton did a television commercial to promote the New Britain,
Connecticut, Bank and Trust Company's new photo credit card program.
On November 2, 1980, Willie Sutton died in Spring Hill, Florida, at the age of
79.
TOP OF PAGE