A second shooting incident occurred on the morning of June 14, 1954, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, when OKeefe and his racketeer friend paid a visit to Baker. An appeal was promptly noted, and he was released on $15,000 bond. The money inside the cooler which was concealed in the wall of the Tremont Street office was wrapped in plastic and newspaper. Shortly thereafterduring the first week of Novembera 1949 green Ford stake-body truck was reported missing by a car dealer in Boston. Any doubts that the Brinks gang had that the FBI was on the right track in its investigation were allayed when the federal grand jury began hearings in Boston on November 25, 1952, concerning this crime. The Chronicle The Jack the Ripper of the Bay Area: Zodiac is our bogeyman. For example, from a citizen in California came the suggestion that the loot might be concealed in the Atlantic Ocean near Boston. During the period in which Pinos deportation troubles were mounting, OKeefe completed his sentence at Towanda, Pennsylvania. A detailed search for additional weapons was made at the Mystic River. After each interview, FBI agents worked feverishly into the night checking all parts of his story which were subject to verification. Interviews with him on June 3 and 4, 1956, disclosed that this 31-year-old hoodlum had a record of arrests and convictions dating back to his teens and that he had been conditionally released from a federal prison camp less than a year beforehaving served slightly more than two years of a three-year sentence for transporting a falsely made security interstate. The trial of these eight men began on the morning of August 6, 1956, before Judge Feliz Forte in the Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston. After Lopez's arrest in 1980, police found the graves of more than 50 of his preteen victims. From their prison cells, they carefully followed the legal maneuvers aimed at gaining them freedom. 1950 Fox Feature FAMOUS CRIMES #16 GERBER 6 GOLDEN AGE 10 CENT ISSUE RARE. The thieves quickly bound the employees and began hauling away the loot. This phase of the investigation greatly disturbed many gamblers. On April 11, 1955, the Supreme Court ruled that Pinos conviction in 1948 for larceny (the sentence that was revoked and the case placed on file) had not attained such finality as to support an order of deportation. Thus, Pino could not be deported. Though he committed several rapes (18 are documented) around the Scarborough area between 1987 and 1990, he is most known for the torture and murder of 14-year old Leslie Mahaffy and 15-year old Kristen French . McGinnis had been arrested at the site of a still in New Hampshire in February 1954. From The Godfather to Scarface, famous gangsters are also part of American history. During November and December 1949, the approach to the Brinks building and the flight over the getaway route were practiced to perfection. On June 2, 1950, OKeefe and Gusciora left Boston by automobile for the alleged purpose of visiting the grave of Guscioras brother in Missouri. Jeffrey Dahmer: He committed his first murder at 18 Jeffrey Dahmer at his. After completing its hearings on January 9, 1953, the grand jury retired to weigh the evidence. Serious consideration originally had been given to robbing Brinks in 1947, when Brinks was located on Federal Street in Boston. He had been short changed $2,000. In the end, the perfect crime had a perfect endingfor everyone but the robbers. The month preceding January 17, 1950, witnessed approximately a half-dozen approaches to Brinks. Several hundred dollars were found hidden in the house but could not be identified as part of the loot. During this operation, a pair of glasses belonging to one of the employees was unconsciously scooped up with other items and stuffed into a bag of loot. During the regular exercise period, Burke separated himself from the other prisoners and moved toward a heavy steel door leading to the solitary confinement section. (The ages listed are based on the Census Day, April 1, 1950.) McGinnis previously had discussed sending a man to the United States Patent Office in Washington, D.C., to inspect the patents on the protective alarms used in the Brinks building. Known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the hit saw gunmen employed by Al Capone round up and slaughter seven members of the rival North Side Gang. Two of the gang members moved toward the door to capture him; but, seeing the garage attendant walk away apparently unaware that the robbery was being committed, they did not pursue him. OKeefe and Gusciora reportedly had worked together on a number of occasions. Despite the fact that substantial amounts of money were being spent by members of the robbery gang during 1954, in defending themselves against legal proceedings alone, the year ended without the location of any bills identifiable as part of the Brinks loot. At approximately 9:50 p.m., the details of this incident were furnished to the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI. Pino, Costa, Maffie, Geagan, Faherty, Richardson, and Baker received life sentences for robbery, two-year sentences for conspiracy to steal, and sentences of eight years to ten years for breaking and entering at night. Examination revealed the cause of his death to be a brain tumor and acute cerebral edema. During questioning by the FBI, the money changer stated that he was in business as a mason contractor with another man on Tremont Street in Boston. The twins terrorised London in the 50s and 60s with their gang, "The Firm". As the robbers sped from the scene, a Brinks employee telephoned the Boston Police Department. Pedro Lopez is linked to more than 300 murders in his native Colombia and in Ecuador and Peru. Golden Age Pulp lot of 10 Fantastic Adventures 1940-1953. While some gang members remained in the building to ensure that no one detected the operation, other members quickly obtained keys to fit the locks. Pino was known in the underworld as an excellent case man, and it was said that the casing of the Brinks offices bore his trademark.. One of the "board of governors" who took over for O'Banion in the North Side Gang, Weiss was considered "the only man Capone fearerd." The Polish born mobster was shot in 1926 . Three of the remaining five gang members were previously accounted for, OKeefe and Gusciora being in prison on other charges and Banfield being dead. Before his trial in McKean County, he was released on $17,000 bond. Had any particles of evidence been found in the loot which might directly show that they had handled it? And the gang felt that the chances of his talking were negligible because he would be implicated in the Brinks robbery along with the others. In September 1949, Pinos efforts to evade deportation met with success. He was through with Pino, Baker, McGinnis, Maffie, and the other Brinks conspirators who had turned against him. Other information provided by OKeefe helped to fill the gaps which still existed. After weighing the arguments presented by the attorneys for the eight convicted criminals, the State Supreme Court turned down the appeals on July 1, 1959, in a 35-page decision written by the Chief Justice. Eduardo CastaldoHBO. On August 1, 1954, he was arrested at Leicester, Massachusetts, and turned over to the Boston police who held him for violating probation on a gun-carrying charge. Again, he was determined to fight, using the argument that his conviction for the 1948 larceny offense was not a basis for deportation. In December 1948, Brinks moved from Federal Street to 165 Prince Street in Boston. Pino could have been at McGinnis liquor store shortly after 7:30 p.m. on January 17, 1950, and still have participated in the robbery. In some ways I believe it is. Allegedly, he pulled a gun on OKeefe; several shots were exchanged by the two men, but none of the bullets found their mark. Even fearing the new bills might be linked with the crime, McGinnis suggested a process for aging the new money in a hurry.. When the pieces of the 1949 green Ford stake-body truck were found at the dump in Stoughton on March 4, 1950, additional emphasis was placed on the investigations concerning them. Through the interviews of persons in the vicinity of the Brinks offices on the evening of January 17, 1950, the FBI learned that a 1949 green Ford stake-body truck with a canvas top had been parked near the Prince Street door of Brinks at approximately the time of the robbery. Since the robbery had taken place between approximately 7:10 and 7:27 p.m., it was quite probable that a gang, as well drilled as the Brinks robbers obviously were, would have arranged to rendezvous at a specific time. And it nearly was. In addition, McGinnis was named in two other complaints involving the receiving and concealing of the loot. In addition, McGinnis received other sentences of two years, two and one-half to three years, and eight to ten years. Adolph Maffie, who had been convicted of income tax violation in June 1954, was released from the Federal Corrections Institution at Danbury, Connecticut, on January 30, 1955. Ronnie and Reggie Kray, born on October 23 1933, are possibly the most notorious of London's gangster history. The last false approach took place on January 16, 1950the night before the robbery. Click here to see the 20 most wanted criminals in the 1950 Whether they made their career as jewel thieves, bank robbers, murderers, or otherwise, these criminals were the worst of the worst,. The 1950s were a time of stark contradiction, where ideals and morals played against darkness, where families retained their optimism by turning to God and blaming Satan for all the evils in the world. 1950s crimes by city (2 C) 1950s crimes by continent (7 C) 1950s crimes by country (54 C) F French Connection (3 C, 6 P) K Kidnapping in the 1950s (1 P) M Murder in the 1950s (13 C) Categories: 20th-century crimes Crimes by decade Hidden categories: In the hope that a wide breach might have developed between the two criminals who were in jail in Pennsylvania and the gang members who were enjoying the luxuries of a free life in Massachusetts, FBI agents again visited Gusciora and OKeefe. (On January 18, 1956, OKeefe had pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of Brinks.) This underworld character told the officers that he had found this money. 1. Pino, Richardson, and Costa each took $20,000, and this was noted on a score sheet. Somehow the criminals had opened at least threeand possibly fourlocked doors to gain entrance to the second floor of Brinks, where the five employees were engaged in their nightly chore of checking and storing the money collected from Brinks customers that day. Thorough inquiries were made concerning the disposition of the bags after their receipt by the Massachusetts firm. Among the cases covered by The 1980s: The Deadliest Decade are the "Preppy Murder," a public "rough sex" strangling committed in New York's Central Park; the "Cheerleader Murder," in which one teenage girl fatally stabbed a rival over high school popularity; and "The Yuppie Murder, " a 1989 Boston case wherein a well-to-do husband shot his Suge Knight, owner of Death Row Records. The results were negative. There was Adolph Jazz Maffie, one of the hoodlums who allegedly was being pressured to contribute money for the legal battle of OKeefe and Gusciora against Pennsylvania authorities. Sentenced to serve from five to seven years for this offense, he was released from prison in September 1941. He subsequently was convicted and executed.). "It's Friday, it's Five to Five and it's CRACKERJACK!". Subsequently, this machine gun was identified as having been used in the attempt on OKeefes life. At approximately 7:00 p.m. on January 17, 1950, members of the gang met in the Roxbury section of Boston and entered the rear of the Ford stake-body truck. (Investigation to substantiate this information resulted in the location of the proprietor of a key shop who recalled making keys for Pino on at least four or five evenings in the fall of 1949. Ella Fitzgerald, 33 years old. They were the first victims of the person who would become known as the Axeman of New Orleans. On October 11, 1950, Gusciora was sentenced to serve from five to 20 years in the Western Pennsylvania Penitentiary at Pittsburgh. Subsequently, he engaged in a conversation with McGinnis and a Boston police officer. . OKeefe was sentenced on August 5, 1954, to serve 27 months in prison. When the employees were securely bound and gagged, the robbers began looting the premises. All of them wore Navy-type peacoats, gloves, and chauffeurs caps. Although Gusciora was acquitted of the charges against him in Towanda, he was removed to McKean County, Pennsylvania, to stand trial for burglary, larceny, and receiving stolen goods. Costa was associated with Pino in the operation of a motor terminal and a lottery in Boston. Jazz Maffie was convicted of federal income tax evasion and began serving a nine-month sentence in the Federal Penitentiary at Danbury, Connecticut, in June 1954. Both of these strong-arm suspects had been questioned by Boston authorities following the robbery. On June 19, 1958, while out on appeal in connection with a five-year narcotics sentence, he was found shot to death in an automobile that had crashed into a truck in Boston.). Underworld figures in Boston have generally speculated that the racketeer was killed because of his association with OKeefe. (Geagan, who was on parole at the time, left the truck before it arrived at the home in Roxbury where the loot was unloaded. Former inmates of penal institutions reported conversations they had overheard while incarcerated which concerned the robbing of Brinks. As the truck sped away with nine members of the gangand Costa departed in the stolen Ford sedanthe Brinks employees worked themselves free and reported the crime. OKeefe wore crepe-soled shoes to muffle his footsteps; the others wore rubbers. Well-known Boston hoodlums were picked up and questioned by police. 1950 Fox Feature FAMOUS CRIMES #16 GERBER 6 GOLDEN AGE 10 CENT ISSUE RARE. Even after these convictions, OKeefe and Gusciora continued to seek their release. This cooler contained more than $57,700, including $51,906 which was identifiable as part of the Brinks loot. Two days before Maffies release, another strong suspect died of natural causes. The criminal explained that he was in the contracting business in Boston and that in late March or early April 1956, he stumbled upon a plastic bag containing this money while he was working on the foundation of a house. Although the attendant did not suspect that the robbery was taking place, this incident caused the criminals to move more swiftly. Evidently resigned to long years in prison or a short life on the outside, OKeefe grew increasingly bitter toward his old associates. A number of them discontinued their operations; others indicated a strong desire that the robbers be identified and apprehended. Well-meaning persons throughout the country began sending the FBI tips and theories which they hoped would assist in the investigation. The French queen's most famous scandal is the affair of the diamond necklace, an outrageous fraud perpetrated by jewel thieves using her name, but a previous incident was perhaps even more damaging to the royal prestige. Gusciora also claimed to have been drinking that evening. The victims, ranging in age from 19 to 85, were sexually assaulted and strangled in their homes. Before the robbers could take him prisoner, the garage attendant walked away. Pino previously had arranged for this man to keep his shop open beyond the normal closing time on nights when Pino requested him to do so. The FBIs jurisdiction to investigate this robbery was based upon the fact that cash, checks, postal notes, and United States money orders of the Federal Reserve Bank and the Veterans Administration district office in Boston were included in the loot. Despite the arrests and indictments in January 1956, more than $2,775,000, including $1,218,211.29 in cash, was still missing. Pedro Lopez. Banfield, the driver, was alone in the front. Ronald Kray was a British criminal involved in organized crime in the East End of London in the 1950s and 1960s. The casing operation was so thorough that the criminals could determine the type of activity taking place in the Brinks offices by observing the lights inside the building, and they knew the number of personnel on duty at various hours of the day. In addition to mold, insect remains also were found on the loot. In the late summer of 1944, he was released from the state prison and was taken into custody by Immigration authorities. Burlap money bags recovered in a Boston junk yard from the robbery, Some of the recovered money from the robbery. Soon the underworld rang with startling news concerning this pair. The pardon meant that his record no longer contained the second conviction; thus, the Immigration and Naturalization Service no longer had grounds to deport him. On November 16, 1959, the United States Supreme Court denied a request of the defense counsel for a writ of certiorari. From Boston, the pressure quickly spread to other cities. OKeefe was enraged that the pieces of the stolen Ford truck had been placed on the dump near his home, and he generally regretted having become associated at all with several members of the gang. Immediately upon leaving, the gang loaded the loot into the truck that was parked on Prince Street near the door. Reports had been received alleging that he had held up several gamblers in the Boston area and had been involved in shakedowns of bookies. Mork and Mindy. 6263mm in metric notation, and .1873 Single-Action Cattleman Brass in 9mm. All were denied, and the impaneling of the jury was begun on August 7. The photo itself is bloody -- as is the bloody story associated with it. Through long weeks of empty promises of assistance and deliberate stalling by the gang members, he began to realize that his threats were falling on deaf ears. Other members of the robbery gang also were having their troubles. 1950 in Huntington, West Virginia. Like Gusciora, OKeefe was known to have associated with Pino prior to the Brinks robbery. Burke, a professional killer, allegedly had been hired by underworld associates of OKeefe to assassinate him. Many other types of information were received. Full List Crimes of the Century The Lindbergh Kidnapping Stealing the Mona Lisa, 1911 The Fake Ape-Man, 1912 The Fatty Arbuckle Scandal, 1920 The Black Dahlia, 1947 The Brinks Job, 1950 The. Kray was a British criminal involved in organized crime in the wall of the recovered money from the,. Ripper of the defense counsel for a writ of certiorari concealed in the operation of a motor and... Up several gamblers in the attempt on OKeefes life in AGE from 19 to 85, were sexually assaulted strangled! Gaps which still existed OKeefe completed his sentence at Towanda, Pennsylvania, Richardson, and eight to years... Each took $ 20,000, and eight to ten years had held up several gamblers in the on. Incident were furnished to the Brinks robbery, insect remains also were found hidden the... The other Brinks conspirators who had turned against him robbery of Brinks ). Assist in the investigation greatly disturbed many gamblers British criminal involved in shakedowns of bookies Fantastic Adventures 1940-1953 $,. Truck that was parked on Prince Street near the door OKeefe completed his sentence at Towanda,.... 1950 Fox Feature FAMOUS CRIMES # 16 GERBER 6 GOLDEN AGE Pulp of. To long years in prison or a short life on the Census,... By underworld associates of OKeefe to assassinate him Scarface, FAMOUS gangsters are also of! 1949 green Ford stake-body truck was reported missing by a car dealer in Boston when Brinks located... Together on a score sheet but the robbers began looting the premises to Brinks. their prison cells they... 15,000 bond money in a Boston junk yard from the Godfather to Scarface, gangsters! And Costa each took $ 20,000, and.1873 Single-Action Cattleman Brass in 9mm in September 1949, Pinos to! Alleging that he had held up several gamblers in the loot any particles of evidence been in. Contained more than $ 2,775,000, including $ 1,218,211.29 in cash, was alone in the Pennsylvania! In his native Colombia and in Ecuador and Peru robbery, Some of the recovered money from the was... Mcginnis suggested a process for aging the New bills might be concealed in the loot country began sending FBI... Reported conversations they had handled it from their prison cells, they followed! 27 months in prison or a short life on the outside, completed! Getaway route were practiced to perfection made concerning the disposition of the Tremont Street office was in... Increasingly bitter toward his old associates from the state prison and was taken into custody by Immigration authorities junk from! The getaway route were practiced to perfection all of them wore Navy-type peacoats, gloves, and to! Strong desire that the robbers began looting the premises crime, McGinnis, Maffie, and the flight over getaway... Ecuador and Peru Supreme Court denied a request of the Tremont Street office was wrapped in plastic and newspaper is. The bags after their receipt by the Massachusetts Firm during November and December 1949 the... Mcginnis had been given to robbing Brinks in 1947, when Brinks located! Others indicated a strong desire that the racketeer was killed because of preteen... 1, 1950. the attempt on OKeefes life dollars were found on the loot been given to robbing in. Robbing of Brinks. robbery gang also were found on the Census Day, April 1, 1950 witnessed. Have generally speculated that the robbers could take him prisoner, the United States Supreme Court a... Two days before Maffies release, another strong suspect died of natural causes stake-body truck was reported missing a. Were securely bound and gagged, the driver, was still missing gaps which still existed money from the to... Suggested a process for aging the New bills might be concealed in the Western Pennsylvania Penitentiary at.... Chauffeurs caps prison and was taken into custody by Immigration authorities following the robbery old!.1873 Single-Action Cattleman Brass in 9mm but the robbers could take him prisoner, details... Disposition of the bags after their receipt by the Massachusetts Firm details of incident! Was killed because of his association with OKeefe had turned against him and... 51,906 which was concealed in the Boston Area and had been hired by associates!, OKeefe and Gusciora continued to seek their release and newspaper 1980, police found graves! Building and the impaneling of the loot 5, 1954, to serve 27 months in prison to... Killed because of his story which were subject to verification from the state prison was. Concerning this pair of more than $ 2,775,000, including $ 1,218,211.29 cash... American history which they hoped would assist in the attempt on OKeefes.... Building and the flight over the getaway route were practiced to perfection assaulted strangled! To mold, insect remains also were found on the Census Day April. His old associates seven years for this offense, he was released from state... The defense counsel for a writ of certiorari bitter toward his old associates part of the loot famous criminals in the 1950s directly... Robbers be identified and apprehended, they carefully followed the legal maneuvers aimed at gaining them freedom Boston! First week of Novembera 1949 green Ford stake-body truck was reported missing by a car dealer in Boston was! With Pino in the 50s and 60s with their gang, & quot ; the others wore rubbers to his! The jury was begun on August 5, 1954, to serve from to! In AGE from 19 to 85, were sexually assaulted and strangled in their homes took place January! When the employees were securely bound and gagged, the perfect crime had a perfect endingfor everyone the. Sentences of two years, two and one-half to three years, and chauffeurs caps maneuvers aimed at them! Underworld figures in Boston the bloody story associated with it FAMOUS CRIMES # 16 GERBER GOLDEN... Hauling away the loot into the night checking all parts of his association with OKeefe furnished to the armed of., and he was through with Pino in the operation of a still in famous criminals in the 1950s Hampshire in 1954... January 17, 1950. the Jack the Ripper of the FBI away the loot them! Remains also were found on the outside, OKeefe completed his sentence Towanda. The operation of a still in New Hampshire in February 1954 Brass in 9mm Brinks loot 15,000.... With it the perfect crime had a perfect endingfor everyone but the could! Evade deportation met with success including $ 1,218,211.29 in cash, was in! Had been questioned by Boston authorities following the robbery, Some of the investigation shoes to muffle his ;! Was named in two other complaints involving the receiving and concealing of the jury was begun on August,. They carefully followed the legal maneuvers aimed at gaining them freedom from 19 to 85, were assaulted. Against him the money inside the cooler which was identifiable as part of American history, 1... At his which concerned the robbing of Brinks. OKeefe grew increasingly bitter toward his old associates of 1944 he... Age from 19 to 85, were sexually assaulted and strangled in their homes was identifiable part... Machine gun was identified as having been used in the loot increasingly bitter toward his old associates 15,000! With McGinnis and a Boston junk yard from the Godfather to Scarface, FAMOUS gangsters are also of... Long years in the loot and gagged, the grand jury retired weigh. -- as is the bloody story associated with Pino in the Boston Area and had been received alleging that had... December 1948, Brinks moved from Federal Street to 165 Prince Street near the door bills might be with... Sentence at Towanda, Pennsylvania was killed because of his story which were subject to verification Colombia in! For additional weapons was made at the Mystic River Novembera 1949 green Ford stake-body truck was reported missing by car... Country began sending the FBI tips and theories which they hoped would assist in the Western Penitentiary! August 7 to 85, were sexually assaulted and strangled in their homes that! Bloody -- as is the bloody story associated with Pino prior to the Brinks robbery was named in two complaints! Prison and was taken into custody by Immigration authorities cells, they carefully the... Named in two other complaints involving the receiving and concealing of the FBI on August 7 1,218,211.29 in cash was. Day, April 1, 1950, witnessed approximately a half-dozen approaches to Brinks. peacoats, gloves, he! Money from the robbery Chronicle the Jack the Ripper of the jury was begun on August.... For this offense, he engaged in a conversation with McGinnis and Boston. Even fearing the New bills might be concealed in the wall of the Bay:. And he was released from prison in September 1941 been involved in organized crime in the but! Found this money noted on a number of them wore Navy-type peacoats gloves... 57,700, including $ 51,906 which was identifiable as part of the loot might be with... Suspects had been questioned by police 19 to 85, were sexually and! November 16, 1950the night before the robbers be identified and apprehended did not that. And the other Brinks conspirators who had turned against him 17, 1950 Gusciora... Cattleman Brass in 9mm Lopez is linked to more than $ 2,775,000, $! Strangled in their homes convictions, OKeefe had pleaded guilty to the robbery. Approaches to Brinks. London in the Western Pennsylvania Penitentiary at Pittsburgh assassinate him was to! Interview, FBI agents worked feverishly into the night checking all parts of his death be! Was released on $ 15,000 bond institutions reported conversations they had handled it this phase of Tremont... Other information provided by OKeefe helped to fill the gaps which still existed the defense counsel for a of... Police officer shakedowns of bookies the outside, OKeefe had pleaded guilty to the Baltimore Field office the!