- Bennie and Stella Dickson
Bennie (birthdate unk -died
April 6 ,1939 ) and (Estelle?) Stella Dickson (August 25 ,1922 – 1995 in Missouri) were Depression-era outlaws and bank robbers in theUnited States . They successfully stole over US $50,000 in an eight-month period from August 1938 to April 1939.A husband and wife team in the style of
Bonnie and Clyde , Bennie Dickson and his newlywed wife "Sure Shot" Stella began their criminal career on Stella's 16th birthday by robbing a bank inElkton, South Dakota of $2,174 onAugust 25 ,1938 . Two months later, they stole $47,233 in cash and bonds from a bank inBrookings, South Dakota onOctober 31 .Although tracked by police to a tourist campground in
Topeka, Kansas , the Dicksons were able to escape after a brief gunfight when officers attempted to arrest them onNovember 24 . Separated during the escape, Bennie drove his car toSouth Clinton, Iowa , and after stealing another car, doubled back to Topeka to meet Stella at a rendezvous onNovember 25 . Traveling to Michigan, several attempts over the next few days were made by authorities to capture them, including one incident in which Stella shot the tires out on a pursuing patrol car (earning her the moniker "Sure Shot" Stella). After taking three men hostage, Bennie and Stella were able to steal getaway cars in Michigan and Indiana, later eluding police on the countryside backroads.Shortly after arriving in St. Louis, Bennie was shot and killed by arresting FBI agents while at a hamburger stand on
April 6 ,1939 , with Stella being arrested in Kansas City the following day. Taken back to South Dakota to stand trial, Stella was convicted of two federal counts of bank robbery and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.Stella Dickson remained behind bars until she was 26. She later lived in Raytown, Missouri., where she worked as a grocery store clerk and was married several times. She died of emphysema at age 72, in 1995.
References
*Newton, Michael. "Encyclopedia of Robbers, Heists, and Capers". New York: Facts On File Inc., 2002.
*Tim Hrenchir, The Topeka Capitol-Journal.
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