New book about willie sutton

Case files in unsolved murder of man who fingered willie sutton. A novel retells the true story of the bank robber willie suttons final release from prison, on christmas eve, 1969, when he toured the new york. Sutton remained free until 1952, when he was recognized and seized by police in brooklyn. This club now features a special sutton dinner served with willie sutton amber lager. Born in the squalid irish slums of brooklyn, in the first year of the twentieth century, willie sutton came of age at a time when banks were out of control. I, willie sutton the amazing story of americas most daring bank robber by reynolds, quentin and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The gentleman in question and by all accounts he was indeed a gentleman was willie sutton 19011980, a brooklynborn desperado who preyed upon the banks of the eastern united states for some 40 years, and who, despite his three escapes, spent more than half his adult life in prison. In 1953 he had written his first book, i, willie sutton, with quentin reynolds. During three decades sutton became so good at breaking into banks, the fbi put him on its first.

Wherever possible, his story has been checked against the newspapers, city, country and state records, the. If they werent taking brazen risks, causing millions to lose their jobs and homes, they were shamelessly seeking bailouts. Moehringers novel sutton brings to live the misadventures of infamous bank robber willie sutton. Moehringer, combines willies life story with fictional events cleverly told in flashbacks, as willie cruises new york city with a news reporter and photographer. His heists and crimes are set against the backdrop of the great depression in the heart of a gritty 1930s new york.

So began the career of americas most successful bank robber. See more ideas about bank robber, new york and great depression. Willie sutton jr, of dudley, nc, passed away on april 19, 2019. He denies ever answering why he robbed banks by saying, because thats where the.

I never saw bessie again, he confided in one book, but i dreamed about. Within the annals of 20thcentury crime, willie sutton was everywhere and no one, at once a top 10 most wanted fugitives celebrity, eventually sought after as a talkshow guest by dick. Sutton saw only one way out and only one way to win the girl of his dreams. Moehringer is a work of fiction but the protagonist, willie sutton actually existed. Willie mae sutton, 83, will be held saturday, december 3, 2011 at 1. Deacon willie sutton loved his church, saint rest holiness. A law named for willie sutton assists physicial the new. Moehringers first book, the memoir the tender bar, was a new. Known as willie the actor for his clever and disarming impersonations, his career. Join facebook to connect with willie sutton and others you may know. William sutton first appears at barnstable on cape cod, where on 651666, he was haled to court and fined for purloining the bible from the meeting house, one pound, and for telling a lye about the same, ten shillings. Instead, pulitzerwinning journalist jr moehringer has put together is a dramatic account of suttons life that by the book s own admission drifts somewhere between fact and fiction. Willie sutton biography childhood, life achievements. When willie sutton walked from attica prison on christmas, 1969, the irish, brooklynborn bank robber reemerged as a.

The memoirs of a bank robber by willie sutton, edward linn and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. New book release on willie sutton sutton, authored by pulitzer prizewinning journalist j. While in prison he coauthored the book, i, willie sutton with quentin reynolds which was published in 1953. Schuster 1927 march 8, 1952 was a brooklyn clothing salesman and amateur detective known for his involvement in the capture of bank robber willie the actor sutton and for schusters subsequent murder by either the gambino crime family, friends of willie sutton, or any one of the many suspects police questioned about his death. If youre looking for a crime thriller, this isnt it. Infamous for his flair for disguise, willie the actor and his crew shook down 100 banks between the 1920s and his final arrest in 1952. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Willie sutton, celebrated american bank robber and prison escapee who earned his nickname the actor because of his talent for disguises, posing as guard, messenger, policeman, diplomat, or window cleaner to fool authorities. The broadway books library of larceny luc sante, general editor for more than fifty years, willie sutton devoted his boundless energy and undoubted genius exclusively to two activities at which he became better than any man in history. Sutton would study the layout of a bank, the number of employees, where the doors were located along with any other factors that needed to be known prior to robbing the bank. Americas 1920s, bankrobbing robin hood in his first novel, j. A biographical novel of the notorious bank robber willie sutton.

Moehringer writes from the point of view of willie sutton, whom he calls. Help us improve our author pages by updating your bibliography and submitting a new or current image and biography. The top city of residence is birmingham, followed by enterprise. When willie sutton walked from attica prison on christmas, 1969, the irish, brooklynborn bank robber reemerged as a folk hero for american everymen fed up with a financial system that favored the rich. The criminal career of bank robber willie the actor sutton ended in brooklyn on feb. I, willie sutton 1953 and where the money was 1976, the latter a play on the catchphrase hed. Willie sutton was a notorious american bank robber who was known for carrying out robberies in various disguises. Even if youve never heard of the bank robber willie sutton, youve probably heard his famous response to the question why do you rob banks, willie. Suttons aversion to banks, as moehringer interprets it. Although willie suttons book may have inaccuracies about eastern state, its a fantastic read. The new england historical and genealogical register, 1937.

Robbed because i loved it in where the money was, mr. The daring escape from the eastern state penitentiary. Sent to attica state prison in new york, he remained there until paroled in 1969. Willie finds exciting ways for the reader to identify with a criminal. This book was on the bookshelf at eastern state penitentiary, so i got to read this book as a work resource. The memoirs of a bank robber willie sutton, edward linn on. Upon his release from prison on christmas eve 1969, willie leads the duo on a tour. The story of willie sutton is one of the most astonishing in the annals of crime. Herb breuer new york daily news originally published by the daily news on feb. Yet willie sutton was cleanthroughout his life of crime he never.

Willie sutton attended school only until the eighth grade. Willie sutton came of age at a time when banks were out of control. Raised in a tough irishamerican district in brooklyn, he was a veteran. A somewhat apocryphal axiom that stresses the need for an individual to focus on activities that generate high returns, rather than on actions that might be frivolous or yield. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. In 1950, willie sutton earned himself a place on the fbis brandnew ten most wanted list, becoming the 11th man listed on that compilation. Sutton was a bank robber extraordinaire and he relates his experiences in his various heists. Willie sutton devoted his boundless energy and undoubted genius exclusively to two activities at which he became better than any man in history. Known as willie the actor for his clever and disarming impersonations, his career was an amazingly successful one of fabulous bank robberies, daring prison breaks, and front page headlines, all of which captured the imagination of america.

The novel is particularly good in this regard in its climax, when willie finally gets where he most longs to get on the day of his release. Willie sutton was a noted bank robber who gained his apprenticeship under doc tate. Willie sutton students britannica kids homework help. Willie sutton was one of the most notorious bank robbers of the 20th century in new york. On the other hand, if sutton has a saving grace, it is its convincing portrait of the legendarily cipherous neerdowell. In suttons 1976 book where the money was, sutton denies having said this. Born on june 30, 1901 in brooklyn, new york, willie sutton was the fourth of five children. In his book i, willie sutton 1953, written with quentin. Sutton was captured numerous times, and he broke out of prison numerous times.

For his talent at executing robberies in disguises, he gained two nicknames, willie the actor and slick willie. The last time sutton got measured for a release suit, calvin coolidge was president. Although willie sutton s book may have inaccuracies about eastern state, its a fantastic read. He said because thats where the money is, at least according to legend. Willie sutton was born in the squalid irish slums of brooklyn, in the fir. He was born to the late willie and florence sutton on july 14, 1932. I have author ed linns books on bill veeck and leo durocher in my library so when i saw he assisted in authoring willie suttons book i knew it would be a good one. He attended school through eighth grade, then left home to secure a job. June 30, 1901 november 2, 1980 was an american bank robber.

On christmas eve, 1969, willie sutton is released from the new york state prison, attica. This is an old book 1953 and it held my interest throughout. Every man released from a new york state prison gets a release suit, a tradition that goes back at least a century. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Find out more about his heists, multiple escapes from prison and original award winning documentary here. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Booklist starredwillie sutton was born in the irish slums of brooklyn in 1901, and he came of age at a time when banks were out of control. Quentin james reynolds this is william suttons life story as he sees it and as he told it to quentin reynolds. Also in his postprison life, sutton coauthored a book with edward linn, where the money wasthe memoirs of a bank robber. The story of willie sutton is one of the most astonishing in the an.