John Dillinger's Wife: The Untold Story
Beryl Hovious, the Woman Behind the Infamous Outlaw
WEB Beryl Hovious was an ordinary girl apart from her marriage to one of America's most infamous criminals. John Dillinger, the notorious bank robber and gangster, met and married Hovious in 1924, while he was on parole from prison.
Hovious was just 16 years old at the time of their marriage, and Dillinger was 25. Despite their age difference and Dillinger's criminal past, Hovious was smitten with him. She believed he could turn his life around and become a law-abiding citizen.
Unfortunately, Dillinger's criminal ways proved too strong. He continued to rob banks and evade the police, making Hovious an unwilling accomplice in his crimes. She was often questioned by the police and even spent time in jail on suspicion of aiding her husband.
In 1934, Dillinger was killed by FBI agents in a shootout outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. Hovious was devastated by his death and never remarried. She lived a quiet life until her death in 1992.
Hovious's story is a reminder of the human cost of crime. She was a young woman who made the wrong choice in marrying Dillinger, and she paid the price for his actions with a life of heartache and regret.
The Longing Letter Dillinger Wrote His Wife After Almost Four Years in Prison
In 1929, Dillinger wrote a heart-wrenching letter to Hovious while he was serving time in prison. The letter reveals Dillinger's deep love for his wife and his longing to be with her again.
"My darling little girl," Dillinger wrote. "I can't tell you how much I miss you. I think of you every minute of every day. I can't wait to hold you in my arms again."
Dillinger also expressed his frustration with his imprisonment and his determination to escape.
"I'm going to get out of here," he wrote. "I don't know how, but I will. And when I do, we're going to run away together and start a new life."
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