In Love with Outlaws

Thirty-four. A number carved in history’s stone.

This story isn’t what you think. Thirty-four’s the year John Dillinger died in a shootout in Chicago after, legend has it, his escort betrayed the gangster by wearing a red dress to tip off federal agents to Dillinger’s identity and whereabouts.

Romanian-born Ana Cumpănaș, known around town as Anna Sage, was actually wearing an orange skirt and white blouse the night Dillinger was killed. A blood-red dress made a better story, though, and Anna Sage became known forevermore as the Woman in Red.

In my childhood, my dad regaled me with stories of Dillinger’s exploits. He told of Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd, too. Machine Gun Kelly. Bonnie and Clyde. Al Capone. Dad was hardworking and law-abiding, a decorated World War II veteran who made an honest living as a dairy farmer. Still, it was obvious he had a fascination with those Depression-era outlaws.

Dad was hardly alone. These were no common criminals, they were household names, media…