John Callahan (1866 – June 8, 1936) 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.[1][2][3]
John Callahan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1866 |
| Died | June 9, 1936 (aged 70) |
| Occupation(s) | Outlaw, bank robber and underworld figure |
| Criminal status | Released after serving 7 years |
| Conviction(s) | Drug smuggling |
| Criminal penalty | 25 years imprisonmemt |
His partnership with corrupt police officials in the Wichita Police Department allowed the city to become 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.[1][2][3][4]
Callahan was eventually convicted of drug smuggling and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. He would serve only seven years before his release and retired to Wichita where he died in his sleep on June 8, 1936, at age 70.[1][2][3]
References
edit- ^ a b c Wellman, Paul Iselin. A Dynasty of Western Outlaws. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1986. (pg. 7, 11, 14, 16, 296-297, 308-315, 324-327, 362) ISBN 0-8032-9709-2
- ^ a b c Wallis, Michael. Pretty Boy: The Life and Times of Charles Arthur Floyd. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994. (pg. 102-107, 117, 123, 204) ISBN 0-312-11046-4
- ^ a b c Newton, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Robberies, Heists, and Capers. New York: Facts On File Inc., 2002. (pg. 49) ISBN 0-8160-4488-0
- ^ King, Jeffrey. The Life and Death of Pretty Boy Floyd. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1999. (pg. 16) ISBN 0-87338-650-7