This 1934 V-8 Ford originally owned by Lake County Sheriff Lillian Holley and stolen by John Dillinger when he escaped from the Crown Point Jail will be on display during the Dillinger Raid in downtown Warsaw. Photo provided.

Press Release

WARSAW — Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer will deliver opening remarks at the John Dillinger Raid festival at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Old Jail Museum in downtown Warsaw.

Following the arrival to the jail museum by parade escort of the 1933 Ford that Dillinger stole from Crown Point, Thallemer will deliver his remarks to officially open the festival.

The festival will include tours of downtown Warsaw highlighting Dillinger’s presence in the city, tours of the Old Jail Museum, craft vendors, food, children’s games and more.

The daring raid of John Dillinger and his gang on the local police station in 1934, will be relived and commemorated in downtown Warsaw on Sept. 11 and 12, during the Dillinger Raid.

The 1934 car that Dillinger stole when he escaped from jail in Crown Point will be on display. The car was originally owned by Lake County Sheriff Lillian Holley. It was stolen and hostages (who were later released) were taken when the daring escape from Crown Point occurred. The car was recently featured on the television program “Destination Truth” on the Discovery Channel. This showing of the car in Warsaw will be the second time in 87 years that the car has been on display to the public.

John Dillinger and his gangs robbed numerous banks in the area during their crime spree and their crimes netted Dillinger the title of “public enemy number one.” Lore surrounding Dillinger’s brush with Warsaw, as well as stories and artifacts relating to his life, will be featured.

The Dillinger Raid will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, and from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12. For more information, call the Old Jail Museum at (574) 269-1078 or check out the Kosciusko County Historical Society’s Facebook page.