OK, guys, this is what happens when you spend too much time on the road in hotel rooms.

Melvin Purvis was a lengendary G-man who lead the team that killed John Dillenger. Yet shortly thereafter he left the FBI and he and Hoover had a falling out which caused them never to speak again. What caused it?

Hoover was very jealous of publicity. He never forgave Purvis for hogging all the glory for the gangster killings.

(from crimelaboratory.com)

I agree with Tree. I have read, long ago, that Purvis had no respect for Hoover, and woulnd't kowtow to him. Purvis did seem to like the limelight, judging from his usual style of dress.

Tree - That's somewhat on point, but not quite it. This may be unfair - I have inside knowledge, having read all seven voumes of Purvis' personnel file in the late 1970's.

To true hobbyists in one special area, this will stand out pretty quickly.

from vernonjohns.org

Jealous of Purvis' popularity, Hoover gives the famous agent bad cases and he resigns. And Hoover's jealousy did not end there; he even went so far as to sabotage Purvis's attempts to get back into law enforcement. Purvis had to make commercial endorsements to make ends meet.

Tree - That's sort of it. When Purvis left the "B" he cut a deal with Kelloggs and they started the Melvin Purvis Junior G-Man Club. Kids got plastic G-man stuff in the cereal. Hoover was pissed that Purvis was capitalizing on his Bureau career and even went so far to as have collections of the toys maintained as part of the personnel file. Some folks collect that stuff, so this is probably pretty well known to some collectors.

Will do another Purvis post for those not already bored to tears.