Holden-Keating Gang
Encyclopedia
The Holden-Keating Gang was a bank robbing team, led by Thomas James Holden (1896-1953) and Francis Keating (1899-July 25, 1978), which was active in the Midwestern United States
during the 1920s and 30s. Holden was described by a spokesman for the FBI as "a menace to every man, woman and child in America" and was the first fugitive to be officially listed on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted List in 1950.
and escaping $135,000. They eluded authorities for two years before their arrest by federal agents and, on May 25, 1928, Holden and Keating were both convicted and given 25 years each.
who supplied them with forged passes. Holden and Keaton fled to Chicago, and from there to St. Paul, where they quickly formed a new gang from the city's thriving underworld. Among its members included Frank "Jelly" Nash, Harvey Bailey
and George Kelly, who joined them following his parole four months after their escape, along with various other career criminals. The gang committed a series of major daylight robberies during 1930 and 1931, however several minor and one-time members were killed.
The gang's first robbery occurred on July 15, 1930, when they held up a bank in Willmar, Minnesota
and stole $70,000. Harvey Bailey, George Kelly and Vernon Miller participated in the robbery along with at least four other men. Three of these alleged gunmen, Mike Rusick, Frank "Weinie" Coleman and Samuel "Jew Sammy" Stein, were later found shot to death at White Bear Lake
. Reportedly, this occurred during a dispute with the unstable and trigger-happy Verne Miller.
Lawrence De Vol joined the next robbery which netted $40,000 from a bank in Lincoln, Nebraska
on September 9. Eddie Bentz
joined with the gang in its next two robberies stealing $24,000 on September 19 and, in its most successful heist, stole 2.6 million in securities. The gang went into hiding after that, but Holding and Keating resurfaced months later and robbed $58,000 from a pair of bank messengers in Duluth, Minnesota
on October 2, 1931. That same month, they joined Charlie Harmon and Frank Weber in robbing a bank in Menomonie, Wisconsin
getting away with $130,000. James Craft, a cashier and son of the bank president, was taken as a hostage during the getaway and later found shot to death outside town. The bodies of Harmon and Weber were also found by police, both similarly shot to death, widely believed at the time to have been killed by their partners for the murder of Kraft. One of the suspects of the Menomonie holdup, Bob Newbourne, was later wrongly convicted of the robbery and sentenced to life imprisonment.
-Barker Gang. On June 17, 1932, they joined Karpis, Fred Barker, George Kelly, Harvey Bailey, Lawrence De Vol and Verne Miller in a raiding a bank in Fort Scott, Kansas
for $47,000. Not only did they escape, but authorities arrested Frank Sawyer
, Jim Clark
and Ed Davis
who were wrongly convicted for the robbery.
Less than a month later, Keating and Holden were arrested by federal agents while playing at a Kansas City
golf course
with Harvey Bailey on July 7. A fourth member, Bernard Phillips, quietly slipped away during the confusion; he was later killed in New York City, reportedly murdered by Frank Nash and Verne Miller who suspected him of being an FBI informant.
In March 1950, he became the first fugitive to be listed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted List. Fifteen months later, Holden was spotted in Beaverton, Oregon
, by a local resident and acquaintance on June 23, 1951, after his picture had been published in The Oregonian
, a local newspaper, on June 20. He had been living in the area for some time under the name John McCullough and arrested that same day at his job site where he worked as a plasterer
. Extradited to Chicago, he stood trial for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He died in prison two years later.
Following his own parole, Keating quietly returned to St. Paul and lived in retirement until his death from heart failure on July 25, 1978.
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
during the 1920s and 30s. Holden was described by a spokesman for the FBI as "a menace to every man, woman and child in America" and was the first fugitive to be officially listed on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted List in 1950.
Early years
Thomas Holden and Francis Keating began robbing payroll deliveries, and then train and bank robberies, before becoming one of the most notorious hold up teams by the end of the decade. Their most successful heist was the 1926 hijacking of a U.S. Mail truck at Evergreen Park, IllinoisEvergreen Park, Illinois
Evergreen Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,044 at the 2009 census.-Geography:Evergreen Park is located at . The suburb is surrounded by the city of Chicago on three of its sides, while Oak Lawn and Hometown border it on the west...
and escaping $135,000. They eluded authorities for two years before their arrest by federal agents and, on May 25, 1928, Holden and Keating were both convicted and given 25 years each.
Escape from Leavenworth and Midwest crime spree
Sent to Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary, they spent two years there before escaping on February 28, 1930. They were helped by fellow inmate George "Machine Gun" KellyMachine Gun Kelly
George Kelley Barnes , better known as "Machine Gun Kelly", was an American gangster during the prohibition era. His nickname came from his favorite weapon, a Thompson submachine gun. His most famous crime was the kidnapping of oil tycoon & businessman Charles Urschel in July 1933 for which he,...
who supplied them with forged passes. Holden and Keaton fled to Chicago, and from there to St. Paul, where they quickly formed a new gang from the city's thriving underworld. Among its members included Frank "Jelly" Nash, Harvey Bailey
Harvey Bailey
Harvey John Bailey , called "The Dean of American Bank Robbers", had a long criminal career. One of the most successful bank robbers during the 1920s, walking off with over $1 million during that time, Bailey is almost forgotten today.- His career :Born in West Virginia, Bailey robbed his first...
and George Kelly, who joined them following his parole four months after their escape, along with various other career criminals. The gang committed a series of major daylight robberies during 1930 and 1931, however several minor and one-time members were killed.
The gang's first robbery occurred on July 15, 1930, when they held up a bank in Willmar, Minnesota
Willmar, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile . There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile...
and stole $70,000. Harvey Bailey, George Kelly and Vernon Miller participated in the robbery along with at least four other men. Three of these alleged gunmen, Mike Rusick, Frank "Weinie" Coleman and Samuel "Jew Sammy" Stein, were later found shot to death at White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake is the name of a city and two townships in Minnesota* White Bear Lake, Minnesota is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota;* White Bear Township, Minnesota is located in Ramsey County, Minnesota....
. Reportedly, this occurred during a dispute with the unstable and trigger-happy Verne Miller.
Lawrence De Vol joined the next robbery which netted $40,000 from a bank in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
on September 9. Eddie Bentz
Eddie Bentz
Edward Wilhelm "Eddie" Bentz was an American bank robber and Depression-era outlaw. He was associated with several high-profile public enemies during his criminal career including Harvey Bailey, Albert Bates, George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Baby Face Nelson...
joined with the gang in its next two robberies stealing $24,000 on September 19 and, in its most successful heist, stole 2.6 million in securities. The gang went into hiding after that, but Holding and Keating resurfaced months later and robbed $58,000 from a pair of bank messengers in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
on October 2, 1931. That same month, they joined Charlie Harmon and Frank Weber in robbing a bank in Menomonie, Wisconsin
Menomonie, Wisconsin
Two other spellings of the name appear elsewhere, see Menomonee and Menominee. For the town, see Menomonie .Menomonie is a city in and the county seat of Dunn County in the western part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city's population was 16,264 as of the 2010 census...
getting away with $130,000. James Craft, a cashier and son of the bank president, was taken as a hostage during the getaway and later found shot to death outside town. The bodies of Harmon and Weber were also found by police, both similarly shot to death, widely believed at the time to have been killed by their partners for the murder of Kraft. One of the suspects of the Menomonie holdup, Bob Newbourne, was later wrongly convicted of the robbery and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Time with the Karpis-Barker Gang
Following the Menomonie heist, Holden and Keating joined the Alvin KarpisAlvin Karpis
Alvin Francis Karpis , nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile, was an American criminal known for his alliance with the Barker gang in the 1930s. He was the last "public enemy" to be taken.-Early life:Karpis was born to Lithuanian immigrants in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and was raised in Topeka,...
-Barker Gang. On June 17, 1932, they joined Karpis, Fred Barker, George Kelly, Harvey Bailey, Lawrence De Vol and Verne Miller in a raiding a bank in Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States, south of Kansas City, on the Marmaton River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Fort Scott National...
for $47,000. Not only did they escape, but authorities arrested Frank Sawyer
Frank Sawyer (criminal)
James Franklin "Frank" Sawyer was an American Depression-era bank robber and prison escapee. An associate of Jim Clark, Ed Davis and other fellow Oklahoma bandits, he was a participant in countless bank robberies throughout Kansas and Oklahoma between 1917 to 1933...
, Jim Clark
Jim Clark (criminal)
Jim Clark was an American bank robber and Depression-era outlaw. A longtime career criminal in Oklahoma during the 1920s, Clark was associated with Wilbur Underhill, Harvey Bailey and Robert "Big Bob" Brady and remained a public enemy in the state of Kansas until his capture and imprisonment in...
and Ed Davis
Ed Davis (criminal)
Ed Davis was an American burglar, bank robber and Depression-era outlaw. He was especially active in Oklahoma, referred to by authorities as "The Fox", and frequently teamed with Jim Clark and Frank Sawyer during the early 1930s...
who were wrongly convicted for the robbery.
Less than a month later, Keating and Holden were arrested by federal agents while playing at a Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
with Harvey Bailey on July 7. A fourth member, Bernard Phillips, quietly slipped away during the confusion; he was later killed in New York City, reportedly murdered by Frank Nash and Verne Miller who suspected him of being an FBI informant.
Return to Leavenworth and final years
Holden and Keating were returned to Leavenworth where they would remain for nearly two decades. Holden was paroled on November 28, 1947 and, two and a half years later, killed his wife and two of her brothers during a drunken family argument in Chicago on June 6, 1949.In March 1950, he became the first fugitive to be listed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted List. Fifteen months later, Holden was spotted in Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
, by a local resident and acquaintance on June 23, 1951, after his picture had been published in The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
, a local newspaper, on June 20. He had been living in the area for some time under the name John McCullough and arrested that same day at his job site where he worked as a plasterer
Plasterer
A plasterer is a tradesman who works with plaster, such as forming a layer of plaster on an interior wall or plaster decorative moldings on ceilings or walls...
. Extradited to Chicago, he stood trial for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He died in prison two years later.
Following his own parole, Keating quietly returned to St. Paul and lived in retirement until his death from heart failure on July 25, 1978.