University Archives News

Daily on Dillinger

After infamous criminal John Dillinger was killed while resisting arrest on July 22, 1934, the Daily Northwestern published a commentary by Paul Ziffren in its "News Review" column. Ziffren objects to the graphic nature of other newspapers' coverage, particuarly the photographs of Dillinger's corpse, but finds Dillinger's end befitting of his actions.

One of the most flagrant violations of decency and good taste in journalism was afforded by the Chicago newspapers [sic] handling of John Dillinger's capture and death.

True, Dillinger was a notorious character, and the way he died substantiates the old maxim—"crime never pays." But the morbid accounts of his life and death and the sickening pictures plastered throughout the papers constitute a striking indictment of Chicago newspaper tactics.

It is not a matter of justice to the dead gangster that is objectionable, because he deserved no consideration. It is, however, a direct affront to the newspaper public of Chicago to print pictures of anyone's body on a funeral slab or anyone's body mutilated by shots being carried in the patrol wagon. Perhaps this can't be labeled "yellow journalism," but the difference is infinitesimal.