296

Colt Single Action Army, used in the famous “Santa Claus Bank Robbery” circa 1927. The Santa Claus

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,500.00 USD
Colt Single Action Army, used in the famous “Santa  Claus Bank Robbery” circa 1927. The Santa Claus
All items are as is, no warranty or claims and All SALES ARE FINAL. Please examine prior to bidding as it is the bidder's responsibilty to establish condition, age, genuineness, value or any other determinative factors.
Colt Single Action Army, used in the famous “Santa Claus Bank Robbery” circa 1927. The Santa Claus bank robbery occurred on Dec. 23 1927 in the central Texas town of Cisco. Marshall Ratliff, Henry Helms, and Robert Hill, and Lewis Davis, held up the First National Bank in Cisco. It evoked one of the biggest man-hunts ever seen in the state of Texas. An eye witness was quoted “The most spectacular crime in the history of the Southwest, surpassing any crime Billy the Kid of the James boys had ever figured.”Basically, Ratliff was the ringleader and donned a Santa suit and masqueraded as Santa two days before Christmas when everyone was in the spirit. Ratliff entered the First National Bank where he was greeted by the tellers with a cheerful “Hello, Santa”. Ratliff and his gang pulled guns and held up the bank. A customer ran out and sounded the alarm to police chief G.E. “Bit” Bedford. He and his officers rushed to the bank. Gunfire ensued with a full blown gunfight. The robbers took hostages and used two little girls as shields to make their getaway. Chief Bedford and Deputy George Carmichael were mortally wounded. Bedford was shot five times trying to block the escape.