Posted 20 February 2005 - 12:17 PM
Ron,
I not only owned an authentic Mask, but I also owned a Dillinger Wooden Gun that Joe believed could have been the original, or one made up by John, or a German Craftsman hired by the Dillinger Family in the 1930's. According to Joe in reference to my Wooden Pistol, it would have been impossible to have duplicated it, without having the other one present at the same time. Joe had taken at least a dozen photo's of my Gun next with his, and also made several diagrams of my pistol. He believed in may have been the authentic Pistol that John was holding along side his Thompson outside of his Fathers Home. (Joe also provided several hand written letters stating all of this)
I had corresponded with Joe quite often. He was a good hearted Soul, and his sudden, mysteries death, was a shock. The lady from the Museum had called me a day after Joe died to give me the news. Of course a lot of strange things had happened there following Joe's death..