Vanessa Richardson

She was often disguised as a man and armed just in case of any emergencies. According to the FBI, she was an expert shot. We don't know how or when she learned, but between growing up in Texas and years of dating gangsters, she was bound to pick up a thing or two. For his part, George wasn't all that interested in firearms.

She was often disguised as a man and armed just in case of any emergencies. According to the FBI, she was an expert shot. We don't know how or when she learned, but between growing up in Texas and years of dating gangsters, she was bound to pick up a thing or two. For his part, George wasn't all that interested in firearms.

He carried them for the power they conveyed, but he used them only sparingly. Unlike his wife, and unlike many other bank robbers of the day, George had never killed anyone, and he never intended to. But guns were part of the gangster ethos. Even now, the image of the 1930s gangster in a suit and fedora wielding a Thompson machine gun, or Tommy Gun for short, is iconic.

He carried them for the power they conveyed, but he used them only sparingly. Unlike his wife, and unlike many other bank robbers of the day, George had never killed anyone, and he never intended to. But guns were part of the gangster ethos. Even now, the image of the 1930s gangster in a suit and fedora wielding a Thompson machine gun, or Tommy Gun for short, is iconic.

That's thanks in no small part to Catherine. Though it's true gangsters already favored the machine gun for its sheer power, she was the one who put it in the hands of her husband, George Machine Gun Kelly. Purchased secondhand from a pawn shop in Fort Worth, Catherine gave George his first Tommy gun and urged him to practice it at her family's farm.

That's thanks in no small part to Catherine. Though it's true gangsters already favored the machine gun for its sheer power, she was the one who put it in the hands of her husband, George Machine Gun Kelly. Purchased secondhand from a pawn shop in Fort Worth, Catherine gave George his first Tommy gun and urged him to practice it at her family's farm.

She then used her love of gossip to build up George's reputation as a fearsome gangster with deadly aim. Catherine boasted about her man every chance she got. She talked him up at all the speakeasies, telling tales of his expert marksmanship. According to Catherine, her husband could shoot walnuts off fence posts at 30 feet.

She then used her love of gossip to build up George's reputation as a fearsome gangster with deadly aim. Catherine boasted about her man every chance she got. She talked him up at all the speakeasies, telling tales of his expert marksmanship. According to Catherine, her husband could shoot walnuts off fence posts at 30 feet.

One of her favorite stories was that George was such a good shot, he could write his name with his gun, which he called the little stenog, short for stenographer. This detail quickly worked its way into the growing legend of machine gun Kelly. And that legend spread quickly. Soon there were rumors around the entire country about a bank robber who signed all his heists in bullets.

One of her favorite stories was that George was such a good shot, he could write his name with his gun, which he called the little stenog, short for stenographer. This detail quickly worked its way into the growing legend of machine gun Kelly. And that legend spread quickly. Soon there were rumors around the entire country about a bank robber who signed all his heists in bullets.

And these alarming tall tales piqued the interest of the relatively new Federal Bureau of Investigations. At the time, the FBI's reputation was badly sullied from years of corruption. When J. Edgar Hoover was made director in the early 1930s, he did his best to weed out the bad apples, but the stain was hard to remove. Despite the U.S.

And these alarming tall tales piqued the interest of the relatively new Federal Bureau of Investigations. At the time, the FBI's reputation was badly sullied from years of corruption. When J. Edgar Hoover was made director in the early 1930s, he did his best to weed out the bad apples, but the stain was hard to remove. Despite the U.S.

government's less than stellar reputation for law enforcement, some officials promised to clean house. During his presidential campaign, Franklin D. Roosevelt swore he'd declare war on the forces tearing the country apart. Once he took office, he was ready to make good. FDR wasn't just talking about the economic powers causing the Great Depression.

government's less than stellar reputation for law enforcement, some officials promised to clean house. During his presidential campaign, Franklin D. Roosevelt swore he'd declare war on the forces tearing the country apart. Once he took office, he was ready to make good. FDR wasn't just talking about the economic powers causing the Great Depression.

He also meant to take on widespread corruption and the lawless gangland in the country's West, which meant Hoover needed to prepare his FBI agents for battle. However, public opinion just wasn't on their side. A series of poorly handled cases meant no one had confidence in the Bureau's abilities to solve cases. The most highly publicized of these bungles was the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby.

He also meant to take on widespread corruption and the lawless gangland in the country's West, which meant Hoover needed to prepare his FBI agents for battle. However, public opinion just wasn't on their side. A series of poorly handled cases meant no one had confidence in the Bureau's abilities to solve cases. The most highly publicized of these bungles was the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby.

In 1932, aviator Charles Lindbergh's 20-month-old son was taken from his home and held for ransom. Though the president himself put the FBI on the case, New Jersey law enforcement refused their help. It made Hoover and his men seem like laughable, ineffectual buffoons. And it happened at exactly the wrong time, because crime was on the rise in the U.S., and no one knew what was coming next.

In 1932, aviator Charles Lindbergh's 20-month-old son was taken from his home and held for ransom. Though the president himself put the FBI on the case, New Jersey law enforcement refused their help. It made Hoover and his men seem like laughable, ineffectual buffoons. And it happened at exactly the wrong time, because crime was on the rise in the U.S., and no one knew what was coming next.

As the Depression wore on, robbing banks became less of a sure thing. By the early 30s, even they were running low on cash. At the same time, support for Prohibition was dropping dramatically, and a repeal seemed imminent. That meant both of the Kellys' major income streams were on the verge of drying up. But they noticed the kidnapping racket was booming. It was the new, easy way to make money.

As the Depression wore on, robbing banks became less of a sure thing. By the early 30s, even they were running low on cash. At the same time, support for Prohibition was dropping dramatically, and a repeal seemed imminent. That meant both of the Kellys' major income streams were on the verge of drying up. But they noticed the kidnapping racket was booming. It was the new, easy way to make money.