Bank Robber Willy Meets Queens DA

Popular Sunnyside District Attorney Tom Cullen is questioning Willy (the Actor) Sutton in the picture above.  DA Cullen was an active member and leader in the Anoroc Democratic Club.  Willy Sutton age 49 was booked for robbing our Manufacturers-Trust Co. (now Chase bank) on March 9th, 1950 located at 47-11 Queens Blvd.  The robbery took place after Willy “cased” the bank from the IRT Bliss Street platform.  The desperado Willy was already on the lamm from Sing Sing prison since 1932, he had a long record and was already wanted for robberies in Miami, New Orleans and other parts of New York. This robbery made headlines everywhere, this would be Willy’s last robbery.

Photograph was donated by Tom Cullen Jr. (circa 1950)