ONE OF THE DEPRESSION-ERA GANGSTERS IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR FIGURES IN AMERICAN HISTORY

Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd was a bank robber who peaked during the depression. He initially became famous for his excessively violent bank robberies and was arrested at 18.
At this age he vowed to never steal again, yet eventually returned to a life of crime, except in a different way. He began targeting banks with high amounts of mortgage papers.

Once he entered the banks, which were usually guarded by locals, he would quickly rob it and steal all of the records. Once he was gone, he would destroy all of the mortgage papers, which made him especially popular during the depression because many could not make the payments, thus freeing them from their debts. He earned the nickname, “the Robin Hood of Cooksoon Hills,” yet drew too much attention.

Despite his popularity, the FBI eventually caught up with him and gunned him down in 1934. Even with his violent exit, many Americans idealized the criminal and considered him a positive figure during the depression and today he is one of the most well liked people of his time!.