A Thompson for Tommy (and his friends)

 It was just around 1AM on this date back in 1932 when St. Louis gang leader Tommy Hayes was returning from a trip to Chicago with two of his top aides, Harry "Pretty Boy" Lechler, and William "Willie G." Wilbert. Hayes was in his armored Lincoln and Lechler and Wilbert followed in a brand new Plymouth roadster purchased the previous day in Chicago.

Hayes was a former member of St. Louis's infamous Cuckoo gang. He had been involved in robberies and numerous murders, As of late, he was credited with a couple of bombings in an attempt to shake down a racing wire service and bookmaking operation ran by other Cuckoo members. It was also stated the Shelton Brothers, had warned Hayes to turn down the violence because he was bringing down heat on everyone. In short Hayes was a big headache for the St. Louis underworld.

Whether it was the Sheltons or the Cuckoos, or possibly members of his own gang, the end came for the the top tier of the Hayes gang as they approached home. Just prior to 1 AM, the Plymouth, driven by Wilbert, pulled over on a road near Granite City, Illinois. Why they pulled over is unknown. Was it a police car? Associates? Whatever the reason, that Wilbert and Lechler were apprehensive about stopping was apparent because Wilbert grabbed a Thompson and held it between his legs while Lechler armed himself with a pistol and a "whippet" gun (A sawed off shotgun with a reduced stock.) Before they had chance to use them however their car was raked with gunfire from he right side. Wilbert was killed outright and slumped over the wheel. Lechler was mortally wounded. The car was seen at around 1 o'clock and when the same person saw it a few hours later he called the cops. Lechler was still alive but died en-route to the hospital.

At about the same time Lechler and Wilbert were getting it, a few miles a head in the town of Madison, Illinois, Hayes pulled his Lincoln over to the curb. A watchman working nearby saw the car stop, "As I watched it," he told a reporter, "I heard a lot of shots. They sounded like they were from a machine gun." After the shooting Hayes car drove across the sidewalk, through a fence and came to a stop in a vacant lot. The witness saw two men get out and walk away.

The watchman approached the Lincoln and found Hayes lying on the ground with his hands up and his legs tucked under him. He had been shot numerous times in the back, right side, face and hands.  The dashboard also had a number of bullet holes.

Judging by reports, it sounds like Hayes was at the wheel and shot from someone in the rear passenger side seat. Apparently Hayes didn't put his machine in park before he got shot and that's how they ended up in the vacant lot.

 

Tommy Hayes

 Pretty Boy Lechler           Wille G Wilbert