Pretty Boy Floyd Death Location

History

History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.

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American bank robber Charles Arthur Floyd, better known by his nickname Pretty Boy Floyd, was born on February 3, 1904, and died on October 22, 1934. In the 1930s, the press across the United States widely reported his crimes, making him a notorious criminal. Many people were able to get out of their mortgage debts since he destroyed the paperwork during his thefts, which contributed to his positive public perception. Agents under the command of Melvin Purvis from the Bureau of Investigation (BOI, subsequently renamed the FBI) chased him and ultimately assassinated him. History buffs have speculated about the cops, but records show that locals George Curran and Robert "Pete" Pyle killed and embalmed the man. From his portrayal of an infamous criminal to that of a tragic victim of the Great Depression, Floyd has remained a recognized face in American popular culture. Many see Floyd as the archetypal antihero from real life.

It was at this location on October 22, 1934, that Floyd was found and shot while running across the field trying to make yet another escape from the law.

In severe fog at 3 am the following morning, Floyd and Richetti's truck crashed into a telephone pole. They had departed from Buffalo, New York, on October 18. Floyd and Richetti sent two women to get a tow truck, despite the automobile's disability and the absence of any injuries. The men intended to send the women with the tow truck driver into town so they could get the car fixed while they waited.

Joe Fryman, a motorist, and David O'Hanlon, his son-in-law, were passing by just after sunrise on October 19 when they noticed two men in suits lying by the side of the road. They reported it to Wellsville, Ohio's police chief, John H. Fultz, since they found it odd. Along with William Erwin and Grover Potts, Fultz conducted the investigation. Upon spotting the police, Richetti fled into the woods, pursued by two officers, while Fultz moved towards Floyd. Floyd pulled his weapon and shot without delay. Fultz sustained a foot injury and Potts a right shoulder injury in the subsequent gunfight. Floyd dove headfirst into the woods. The soldiers in blue resumed their pursuit and caught Richetti; however, Floyd evaded capture. They sought assistance from Chester C. Smith, a fellow officer and a former sharpshooter in World War I. News of the search quickly spread. The local police in the area rallied and swiftly dispatched a group of BOI agents. Agents combed the dense underbrush, their eyes scanning for any sign of Floyd's escape route. As night fell, the tension in the air thickened; every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs heightened their senses, knowing that one wrong move could lead to further chaos.

Added by: sdonley on 02/09/2025 DB#:680
Source(s):

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Floyd evaded detection for approximately 48 hours. On Monday, October 22, at around mid-afternoon, he came out of the woods close to a place called Sprucevale, which is eight miles southeast of where he was last seen. He then went to the farmhouse of Mrs. Ellen Conkle, who is a widow. Floyd, who looked untidy, told her that he had gotten lost while hunting and had spent the night before wandering around in the woods. Pretty Boy was starving, so Mrs. Conkle made him a feast of spareribs, potatoes, rice pudding, and pumpkin pie. He gobbled it all up in no time and said it was "fit for a king." He gave Mrs. Conkle a dollar for her trouble and asked her to peruse any recently published newspapers.

Floyd was unaware that a farmer had seen him walking in the vicinity. The farmer called township Constable Clyde Birch, who then passed the information on to the East Liverpool City Police. East Liverpool Police Chief High J. McDermott gathered Patrolmen Chester C. Smith, Glenn Montgomery, and Herman Roth and set out in response to the tip, which was one of several that had already been received. Purvis and four agents were in a second vehicle that followed behind.

Floyd had finished looking over the papers, which described the capture of Richetti and the ongoing pursuit. He then requested Mrs. Conkle for help traveling to Youngstown. She suggested that Floyd should hold off until her brother, Stewart Dyke, had finished his work in the fields. Floyd waited in the front seat of Dyke's Modal A till Dyke came back. Pretty Boy told Dyke that he wanted to go to Youngstown or the closest bus line. Dyke said he would accompany him part of the way, and they began to leave the farmyard. At that critical moment, two automobiles came racing down Sprucevale Road in the direction of the Conkle property. Floyd, who was aware of the threat, commanded Dyke to drive the automobile behind a nearby corncrib. He then noticed a set of legs wearing blue trousers exit the vehicle. Floyd ran into the woods with a Colt automatic in his right hand when the police and federal officials came near the corncrib.

Floyd zigzagged across the field while nine officers, each with a pistol, rifle, and shotgun, blazed away. The criminal took ninety-three rounds, but for once he did not return the fire. Floyd fell to his knees after the strike, but he got back up and resumed his race for survival. A second bullet knocked him down, ensuring his survival.

It should come as no surprise that the participants' accounts vary greatly. Purvis subsequently asserted that an agent carrying a Tommy gun struck Floyd. Patrolman Chester Smith claimed that the federal officers carrying only handguns "couldn't have hit anything at that distance with their handguns" and that Floyd had been shot down by his .32-20 Winchester rounds.

When the police arrived at Floyd's location, he was still alive. A wound incapacitated his right hand, and they removed the Colt from it. There was a backup gun in his pants waistline.

"I'm Floyd" was the brusque reply that Purvis got when he questioned the felon whether he was Pretty Boy Floyd. "Where's Etti?" he then asked the police, probably referring to his apprehended associate. In response to Purvis's question concerning the Kansas City Massacre, Floyd said, "I won't tell you anything, you son-of-a-bitch." These might have been Floyd's final words, depending on whose story is more authentic. The three Liverpool patrolmen took Public Enemy No. 1 to the cover of a big apple tree, where he died.

Added by: sdonley on 02/09/2025 DB#:681
Source(s):
http://www.eastliverpoolhistoricalsociety.org/pbfl...

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