Philadelphia was left reeling on February 9th, 1947, when one of the most infamous bank robbers in American history pulled off something no one had managed before. Willie Sutton, a man already well-known for his brazen criminal exploits, broke free from Eastern State Penitentiary — and in doing so, sparked a frenzy among law enforcement, the media, and everyday citizens who couldn't stop talking about the audacious escape.

Who Was Willie Sutton?

Born in 1901 in Brooklyn, NY, Willie Sutton didn't wait long before embarking on a life of crime — he was just 15 years old when he stole his first car. Over time, banks became his obsession and his preferred targets, and he carried out robbery after robbery across East Coast cities. His streak came to a halt in 1934, when police caught up with him following an attempted robbery in a Philadelphia hotel.

Sutton's Great Escape

According to legend, Sutton spent many months painstakingly devising his escape strategy, relying on nothing more than common tools along with pieces of leather straps and canvas pulled from prison mattresses. When February 9th arrived, he sprang into action. He managed to cut through three cells and two exterior walls, then scaled a fence standing 30 feet high — earning the remarkable distinction of being the only inmate to ever successfully escape from Eastern State Penitentiary!

Aftermath

News of the breakout spread like wildfire, quickly dominating headlines and drawing fascination from people near and far. Bounty hunters stepped forward with rewards for any information that might lead to an arrest. Yet despite the intense manhunt, not a single trace of Sutton turned up. It would take until April 4th before authorities were able to catch him once more — this time all the way out in Tucson, AZ — finally bringing the wild saga to a close!

Willie's Later Years

Following his recapture, Willie received a sentence of 10-20 years at a state prison. He was eventually granted parole in 1969 at the age of 71. All told, he spent a total of 33 years locked up across multiple facilities, the result of various robbery convictions during the past decade.

Once free, Sutton turned to writing and published a book called Where The Money Was. Beyond that, he took up lecturing on the subject of prison reform and even lent his expertise to banks looking to strengthen their anti-theft measures.

He passed away in 1980 at the age of 79.