The Santa Claus Bank Robbery

Master storyteller A. C. Greene re-creates one of America's most bizarre holdups -- one that began as a lark. On Christmas Eve 1927, four men set off to rob the First National Bank of Cisco, Texas. Soon the lark turned into a tragedy -- and at times a comedy -- of errors. The robbers did not realize the car they had stolen for their get-away was running on empty. The leader did not anticipate the attention his disguise would draw, even though it was a bright red Santa Claus suit. And they could not have known that all of Cisco would have guns at hand because the Bankers Association had offered a reward of $5000 for any dead bank robber, no questions asked. The Santa Claus bank robbery set off a chain of events that would lead to violence and the death of six men and launch the largest manhunt Texas had ever seen. A. C. Greene's factual account of the unusual crime reads like a novel -- fast paced, full of unexpected turns, and rich with the flavor of life in Texas at the beginning of the end of the Old West. This new edition contains an Afterword with photographs, some of them never before published, and follow-up information on the lives of the participants, including the surviving robber, witnesses and kidnap victims.

2024 Spur Award Winner! "A novel as compelling as the incredible true story it's based on." James Wade, two-time Spur Award-winning author of Beasts of the Earth. When Santa Claus enters a Texas bank just before Christmas in 1927, no one expects him to pull a gun. The fake white beard hides his dentity from his neighbors while he and three others take everything. But their easy heist goes sideways fast when armed lawmen and citizens assemble to claim a new reward for dead bank robbers. Taking hostages, the gang forces a path through a frenzied and bloody shootout, setting the whole Lone Star state on their trail. One bandit dies in the getaway. One is executed in the electric chair. One swings from a rope in a mob lynching. The last man finds a life he always hoped for … if only he can keep it. Closely based on a true story, The Last Man is a gritty Prohibition-era crime novel filled with flawed characters and second chances. "Do not miss this fabulous Texas tale!” Kathleen Y’Barbo, Publishers Weekly bestselling author of The Black Midnight and the Bayou Nouvelle series.

Around noon on December 23, 1927 Santa Claus strolled through the town of Cisco, Texas, patting children's heads, and chatting with locals. He did not come bearing candy or gifts, however, nor did he care who was naughty or nice. No, this particular Santa and his helpers were there to rob a bank. At first, Marshall Ratliff's white beard and red coat seemed the perfect disguise. A few minutes into the heist, things began to unravel. After a shootout riddling the bank with no less than 200 bullet holes, a car chase, and the abduction of two little girls, this particular Santa Claus became the focus of one of the largest manhunts in Texas state history. But the story does not end there. Tui Snider's extensive research includes quotes from eyewitnesses, photos, and a myriad of quirky facts to round out this strange-but-true crime story. Along the way, Tui Snider discovered some intriguing loose ends, clues pointing to a mysterious blonde woman. Did the notorious Santa and his crew have a female helper, and did she get away with murder?

Think you know all about the Santa Claus Bank Robbery in Cisco, Texas? Think again! True Crime in West Texas Marshall Ratliff thought robbing a bank dressed like Santa at Christmastime would be easy. He didn't expect the citizens of Cisco to come at him with guns blazing! But in 1927, a $5000 bounty was offered to any citizen who killed a bandit while the crime was in progress. Tui Snider's new book follows the true-crime action from this wild shootout with vigilantes to its tragic conclusion. Fake Names in "Official" Accounts Most "official" versions of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery (including magazines, websites, & even printed books) use fake names for key players. This keeps readers from knowing the truth. Learn the Truth - Read Tui Snider's new book! Read Santa Claus Bank Robbery: A True-Crime Saga in Texas by Tui Snider to learn the true tale behind the infamous West Texas bank robbery that led to the biggest manhunt the Lone Star State had ever seen. Only then can you decide whether or not a mysterious blonde was involved - and if so, did she get away with murder? Santa Claus Bank Robbery by Tui Snider - On sale now at Amazon.com!!!

Captain M. T. Lone Wolf Gonzaullas, 1st ed. includes bibliographical references index.

Bonnie and Clyde, Machine Gun Kelly, the Newton Boys, the Santa Claus Bank Robbers. . . . During the era of gangsters and organized crime, Texas hosted its fair share of guns and gambling, moonshine and morphine, ransom and robbery. The state’s crime wave hit such a level that in 1927 the Texas Bankers Association offered a reward of $5,000 for a dead bank robber; no reward was given for one captured alive. Veteran historian T. Lindsay Baker brings his considerable sleuthing skills to the dark side, leading readers on a fascinating tour of the most interesting and best preserved crime scenes in the Lone Star State. Gangster Tour of Texas traces a trail of crime that had its beginnings in 1918, when the Texas legislature outlawed alcohol, and persisted until 1957, when Texas Rangers closed down the infamous casinos of Galveston. Baker presents detailed maps, photographs of criminals, victims, and law officers, and pictures of the crime scenes as they appear today. Steeped in solid historical research, including personal visits by the author to every site described in the book, this volume offers entertaining and informative insights into a particularly lawless period in our nation’s history. Readers interested in true crime, regional history, or this unique aspect of heritage tourism will derive hours of enjoyment as they follow--on the road or from their armchairs--the trail of both cops and robbers in Gangster Tour of Texas. “Baker knows how to spin a yarn that keeps his readers engrossed; knows that it does history no harm to write it so folks will enjoy many illustrations, maps, and pictures of outlaws, lawmen, victims, witnesses, and crime scenes that accompany each story. Plus, his picture captions are as informative as his story narratives."--Bill Neal, author, Getting Away with Murder on the Texas Frontier