If the gang trusted them, why were they always following Mrs. Wanatka and listening to her conversations?
It was just the opposite. She was the one who was always following them and listening. Dillinger would later say “You couldn’t whisper your secrets into your pillow without her hearing you.” Actually, it was Wanatka’s wife that may have caused most of the tension that weekend. She was understandably concerned for her family, and made an issue of it in front of the gang. It’s not known if she was aware “special guests” were coming to the lodge – and she probably didn’t – but they weren’t there very long before she knew who they were … and the potential danger that posed to her family. She wanted them gone, but Wanatka kept assuring her that there would be no trouble, and kept assuring the gang that he could keep his wife under control. So why did the Wanatkas decide to contact the FBI? Well, Mrs. Wanatka wanted the gang gone and Emil needed money to keep the heavily-mortgaged lodge afloat, so one (or both) seized on a great idea. They were being paid by the gang (allegedly $500 – abou
