John Callahan (outlaw)
Encyclopedia
John Callahan was an American outlaw and bank robber during the closing days of the Old West. He eventually became the leading underworld figure in Wichita, Kansas
during Prohibition
, specifically becoming involved in bootlegging and narcotics. He was also considered one of the top fences in the Midwestern United States
buying negotiable bonds and laundering money.
His partnership with corrupt police officials in the Wichita Police Department
allowed the city to became a haven for criminals, much like St. Paul, Minnesota during the 1930s, and served as a mentor to many future outlaws of the "Public Enemy
"-era such as Edward J. Adams
and Pretty Boy Floyd
. Floyd may have, in fact, gotten his start in the underworld by transporting bootleg liquor for Callahan before becoming a bank robber.
Callahan was eventually convicted of drug smuggling and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. He would only serve seven years before his release and retired to Wichita where he died in his sleep on June 8, 1936, at age 70.
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, specifically becoming involved in bootlegging and narcotics. He was also considered one of the top fences in the Midwestern United States
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....
buying negotiable bonds and laundering money.
His partnership with corrupt police officials in the Wichita Police Department
Wichita Police Department
The Wichita Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Wichita, Kansas, United States. WPD's jurisdiction overlaps with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.The WPD is housed at the City Hall building located at 455 N Main, Wichita, Kansas.-Mission statement:“The...
allowed the city to became a haven for criminals, much like St. Paul, Minnesota during the 1930s, and served as a mentor to many future outlaws of the "Public Enemy
Public Enemy
Public Enemy is an American hip hop group consisting of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and his S1W group, DJ Lord , and Music Director Khari Wynn...
"-era such as Edward J. Adams
Edward J. Adams
Edward J. "Eddie" Adams was a notorious American criminal and murderer in the Midwest. He was attributed with seven murders, including three Wichita policemen, in just a little over 14 month's time. He wounded at least a dozen others. Adams, at age 34, was surrounded and then killed by police in...
and Pretty Boy Floyd
Pretty Boy Floyd
Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd was an American bank robber. He operated in the West South Central States, and his criminal exploits gained heavy press coverage in the 1930s. Like most other prominent outlaws of that era, he was killed by law enforcement officers...
. Floyd may have, in fact, gotten his start in the underworld by transporting bootleg liquor for Callahan before becoming a bank robber.
Callahan was eventually convicted of drug smuggling and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. He would only serve seven years before his release and retired to Wichita where he died in his sleep on June 8, 1936, at age 70.