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The adventure begins ....
The stories you are about to read are true and (as much as possible) accurate accounts from the life and times of various outlaws and bank robbers who roamed the Midwest during the "Golden Age" of bank robbing ... 1920-1935. Such people as George "Baby Face" Nelson, John Dillinger, Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd, Alvin "Old Creepy" Karpis, Arthur "Doc" Barker and his brother Freddie, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Clyde Barrow and others, criss-crossed the Midwest leaving fear and death in their wake.
And as these men robbed and murdered, others such as Al Capone, Waxey Gordon and Owen Madden took a more organized approach to their thefts. They and others like them helped establish the roots of organized crime which still flourish today. Prostitution, gambling, loansharking and intimidation were their stock in trade - and they were very good at it.
None of the stories on this site are pretty. There are no hearts and flowers; no happy endings. With rare exception, these men didn't die peacefully in bed surrounded by loved ones. Many died in the streets in a hail of bullets from police or rival gangs, others died in a prison death chamber. Some of the bank robbers died from wounds received during a robbery and their bodies were simply left on the side of a lonely road or buried in a shallow, unmarked grave. Most were still in their 20s or early 30s.
But for a short time, these men captured the imagination of a nation ... and brought frustration to law enforcement. So, if you are ready for a wild ride, click on any of the tabs at the left ... and let the adventure begin.
Oh, and by the way, like most everything in life, there are two sides to a story. A lot of these stories have "alternate endings" - the deaths of Nelson and Floyd ... the capture of Alvin Karpis ... the gunfight at Little Bohemia ... the Kansas City Massacre investigation - to name a few. All of these stories, and others like them, are slightly different depending on who is telling the story. So make sure you read all the stories linked to a particular person or incident. (We are always updating stories and adding new photos or swapping out old ones, so check in regularly.
And finally, if you know something is incorrect on the site, please contact us. We will verify your information and adjust the story as needed. We take our work seriously.)
Enjoy the ride ...
And as these men robbed and murdered, others such as Al Capone, Waxey Gordon and Owen Madden took a more organized approach to their thefts. They and others like them helped establish the roots of organized crime which still flourish today. Prostitution, gambling, loansharking and intimidation were their stock in trade - and they were very good at it.
None of the stories on this site are pretty. There are no hearts and flowers; no happy endings. With rare exception, these men didn't die peacefully in bed surrounded by loved ones. Many died in the streets in a hail of bullets from police or rival gangs, others died in a prison death chamber. Some of the bank robbers died from wounds received during a robbery and their bodies were simply left on the side of a lonely road or buried in a shallow, unmarked grave. Most were still in their 20s or early 30s.
But for a short time, these men captured the imagination of a nation ... and brought frustration to law enforcement. So, if you are ready for a wild ride, click on any of the tabs at the left ... and let the adventure begin.
Oh, and by the way, like most everything in life, there are two sides to a story. A lot of these stories have "alternate endings" - the deaths of Nelson and Floyd ... the capture of Alvin Karpis ... the gunfight at Little Bohemia ... the Kansas City Massacre investigation - to name a few. All of these stories, and others like them, are slightly different depending on who is telling the story. So make sure you read all the stories linked to a particular person or incident. (We are always updating stories and adding new photos or swapping out old ones, so check in regularly.
And finally, if you know something is incorrect on the site, please contact us. We will verify your information and adjust the story as needed. We take our work seriously.)
Enjoy the ride ...
