arrest, Pierpont was committed to the state hospital. In the Record of Inquest held on September 19, 1921, his mother states that he became sullen, suspicious, and prone to outbursts after his injury and, two days later, he was committed to the state hospital for the mentally ill, Central Indiana Hospital. Pierpont was diagnosed with dementia praecox of the hebephrenic type. Robbery of Cook Hardware Store, Greencastle, Indiana, January 1922 On January 2, 1922, Pierpont stole an automobile in Indianapolis and drove to Greencastle, where he robbed the Cook Hardware store, stealing 9 handguns. Five days later, Pierpont was arrested in Indianapolis for attempted auto theft and battery with intent to kill. The owners of the automobile, Mr. and Mrs. Devine, caught him in the act. Struggling with Mr. Devine, Pierpont fired a gun, slightly wounding him. Mrs. Devine was holding a roast, and hit Pierpont over the head with it. While being held in jail at Terre Haute, Pierpont failed in an escape attempt, sawing through the bars of his cell. Sentenced to Indiana State Reformatory On March 12, 1922, Pierpont entered the Indiana reformatory for a two to fourteen year sentence for assault and battery with intent to murder. On November 17, 1923, Pierpont was transferred to the newly built reformatory at Pendleton, Indiana. On May 1, 1923, Indiana Governor McCray denied Pierpont's request for clemency. The superintendent of the prison wrote that Harry was "as wild as a March Hare." Parole granted, 1924 Pierpont's mother Lena often visited the superintendent and told him about Pierpont's mental illness. Pierpont's mother campaigned for his release, claiming that he was insane. The parole board granted him parole on March 6, 1924. After his release, Pierpont worked in Brazil, Clay County, Indiana where, during his first stint in prison, his family had moved; his father operated a sand and gravel business for several months. He continued to associate with several known bank robbers, and may have robbed the Sourwine Theater in Brazil. Pierpont-Bridgewater-Northern gang, 1924–1925 By November 1924, Pierpont was living in Kokomo, Indiana staying at a boarding house run by Pearl Elliott. He continued to associate with a group of Jeffersonville ex-cons. In April, 1925 Pierpont was implicated as ringleader of a gang that struck several Indiana banks. Newspaper reports indicated there were seven members of the gang, and all identified Pierpont as their leader. Most members of the gang