Here's a bit about Purvis, who was, I believe about 29 when hired:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dillinger/peo...s/p_purvis.html
People & Events: Melvin Purvis, 1903-1960


FBIpic (Purvis on Left, Hoover on right)

Like his boss J. Edgar Hoover, Melvin Purvis was a middle-class Southerner. He also had a law degree and, like many young lawyers, accountants and military veterans who answered Hoover's call for new professional standards at the Bureau of Investigation, lacked any law enforcement experience when he joined the Bureau of Investigation in 1927.

After graduation, Purvis worked for a law firm in his native South Carolina. He decided to become a diplomat, but because the State Department was not hiring, Purvis became a special agent with the Justice Department.

Purvis excelled as a field agent, and quickly rose through the ranks. Although his abilities as an administrator seem to have been mixed, he was one of a few agents that Hoover chose for special attention, and he received many opportunities to earn promotions. After heading the Division of Investigation offices in Birmingham, Oklahoma City, and Cincinnati, he was placed in charge of the Chicago office in 1932.

On March 6, 1934, Hoover ordered Purvis to develop a network of informants "in the event of an emergency arising," and to "put forth every effort" to capture Dillinger. After his escape from jail at Crown Point, Indiana on March 3, 1934, Dillinger committed a federal crime by driving a stolen vehicle across state lines. Hoover had avoided the pursuit of Dillinger because he wasn't sure it could be done. Now that he was forced by political pressure to go ahead with it, he covered himself by upbraiding Purvis for not having taken action in the past.

What are your thoughts about Purvis?

thoughts

He was too young, maybe not enough training?

Did these guys-- the agents know what they were getting in to?

I think it was interesting how Dillinger had so many near misses, and Purvis was unable to catch him for any number of reasons, mostly due to unorganization of the police force at the time.

Purvis would have probably enjoyed being a good accountant. Very detailed, and seemingly organized, but not within the police force. Unfortunately no one had much money then, so I suppose he chose the next best responsible profession.

I think he admired Dillinger. But I'm biased. B)

Good question! I really don't think they did. This was unchartered territory for the agents and I think Bryan really did give us a feeling for what they were up against.

I think they were young, inexperienced and out gunned. These guys were lawyers, not police officers. I think Purvis did the best that he could.

I think that Pruvis was ambitious and due to his promotions in the Justice Dept. and he accepted the challenges provided by Hoover. Admittedly Purvis was a novice as an law enforcement officer and made many mistakes while chasing Dillinger but he demonstrated shrewdness when he struck the deal with Anna Sage. Purivs's Achilles heel was that he basked in all the publicity (as most people would) following Dillinger's death which enraged Hoover. Brroughs relates that Purvis became a "person non grata" (pp. 518-519) when his book was published in 1936 which made no mention of Hoover. After his resignation from the FBI Purvis became the object of Hoover's famous "files" just like the criminals he used to hunt. I can't help but wonder how far Purvis would have advanced in the FBI if he was not subjected to Hoover's paranoia. Anne r

Good point! As I just posted, these agents were lawyers, not law enforcement or police officers. I think they pretty much "shot from the hip" a lot of the time and I have to wonder if they'd had policemen instead of, or maybe in addition to these guys if the FBI would have run more efficiently?

Good points everyone. I agree that he was very young and inexperienced in working in the field actually chasing criminals. However, as Anne said, in spite of some huge errors in going after Dillinger, he basically "learned on the job." I still think he had a little bit of luck in striking the deal with Anne S., but luck doesn't hurt. He definitely grew into his position, but maybe didn't recognize the reach of Hoover and the consequences of upstaging him. I found it so interesting, compared to the FBI we know today, that most of the early "agents" were lawyer types and not "lawmen." Amazing how far we've come to the FBI. I wonder if that was part of the "thrill" Dillinger received in all his crimes. How far ahead of Purvis(and the law) could Dillinger go? I think it's sad the way Purvis' career ended.

-Donna

Really good points NurseAnne. I'd very much like to read the book that Purvis' son has written about his father. I wonder if his deal making shrewness came from his legal background? If that was where his strength was? He was certainly no match for Hoover.

The Vendetta: FBI Hero Melvin Purvis's War Against Crime, And J. Edgar Hoover's War Against Him
http://www.amazon.com/Vendetta-Melvin-Purv...04854930&sr=8-1

I think it almost had to be some sort of pride, that these gangsters were outsmarting the college guys.

Like Donna said I think Purvis "learned on the job" and his legal education most certainly helped to develop critical thinking skills and possibly some skills in personality profiling. I think Hoover was an absolute dictator and used his "files" to intimidate anyone who he felt was a threat to his power. Purvis unfortunately was seen as a threat to Hoover and was the subject of Hoover's wrath. The book by Purvis's son does look like a great read. Anne r

Maybe Hoover was jealous of Purvis? Afraid some one would make him look bad?

Can I say that I like that the book discussions here are easy to join in with. :thanks Not clicky.

HeidiG so glad you're joining in the discussion. :) I think you're right---Hoover wanted the glory for himself and wanted the credit for the success of the FBI to fall on him. When Purvis started getting so much press after Dillinger's death---well, Hoover began his dirty work. I think there was a footnote in PE where Hoover even put out a memo after one of the "mess ups" with Dillinger covering up so he didn't look bad. I'll have to track that down.......

-Donna

Glad that you feel comfortable posting here Heidi, we are glad to have you.

Donna I think you are right, there is SOMEWHERE in there, a bit about him doing a typical *cover your tracks* memo.

There is and that was and the the reference to his famous files-the one on Purvis was supposedly as large as the criminals Hoover was worried about-it is a shame that Hoover never wrote a book in which he detailed his tactics-because no one stopped him from running the FBI the way he did and I wonder why he had all that power so long? Maybe a question for BB? Anne r

Poor Melvin. Hoover loved him, Hoover hated him, Purvis killed himself. I was really sad when I read that. How cowardly that Hoover didn't acknowledge MP's death. Seems that was a blessing to Mrs. Purvis, though, when she wrote to JEH "We are honored that you ignored Melvin's death. Your jealousy hurt him very much but until the end I think he loved you." I think all Purvis wanted to do was please Hoover. In the end, I wonder if that's what his suicide accomplished.

Thanks Ellen, I forgot that part about Purvis' wife, how sad. I think it just goes to show the ego of Hoover and if you were on the wrong side of him---watch out!

-Donna

I am way behind on this book. STILL not done. :blink:
Without reading any replies, I would have to say that Purvis seemed to have no clue about crime investigation, and at that point Hoover did not give very good guidance or direction. The FBI really did learn by trial and error, emphasis on error.
Jacques Clouseau leaps to mind. They had a lot in common. :lol:
In Purvis' defense, he was not trained at all. Were any of those college boys properly equipped to combat criminals?

Hoover was initially far too concerned with appearances and not enough of real crime-fighting skill.

Okay, like I said, I hadn't finished. This is really a downright dirty shame! :(

Yes it is, Purvis really took the heat for things that he really wasn't trained to deal with or handle.

Adding in the link so you can read what Bryan told us about Purvis when we visited about his book. http://johnnydeppreads.com/index.php?showtopic=4991