Herman Edward Hollis, a 31-year-old American male of Caucasian ethnicity, was an FBI special agent who died on November 27, 1934, in Barrington, Illinois. He was born on January 27, 1903, in Des Moines, Iowa, and received his law degree from Georgetown University Law School in 1927. Hollis began his service with the FBI in August 1927 and worked in the Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Chicago field offices.
Hollis is best known for his involvement in the Battle of Barrington, an intense
gunfight with notorious gangster Lester "Baby Face" Nelson. On the afternoon of November 27, 1934, Hollis and fellow agent Samuel P. Cowley encountered Nelson, his wife Helen Gillis, and John Paul Chase near Barrington. A shootout ensued, resulting in the deaths of Hollis and Cowley. Nelson was also mortally wounded and died later that evening.
Following the gunfight, Chase was apprehended and later convicted of murder, receiving a life sentence. Helen Gillis was convicted of harboring a fugitive and sentenced to one year in prison. The gunfight marked a significant moment in the FBI's efforts to combat organized crime during the Great Depression.
Hollis's death was a tragic loss for the FBI and the law enforcement community. He is remembered for his dedication and bravery in the line of duty. He is buried in Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa.
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