Denver Mint Robbery
Denver Mint Robbery Case
CLASSIFICATION: Robbery
LOCATION
Denver, Colorado
TIME PERIOD
December 18, 1922
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
The Denver Mint robbery occurred on December 18, 1922, at approximately 10:30 AM, when five armed men hijacked a Federal Reserve Bank delivery truck outside the U.S. Mint in Denver, Colorado, making off with $200,000 in cash. The assailants, who arrived in a black Buick touring car, opened fire with sawed-off shotguns, resulting in the death of U.S. Mint Guard Charles Linton and the injury of one of the robbers, Nicholas "Chaw Jimmie" Trainor, who was later found dead in a getaway vehicle. Despite the quick response from U.S. Mint Police, the gang escaped the scene within a minute and a half. Investigations led to the recovery of $80,000 in stolen cash in February 1923, but the case remained unsolved for 12 years until police identified the robbery team, which included five men and two women, all of whom had died by that time. Harvey Bailey, a suspected accomplice, was arrested in 1933 and died in 1979, leaving the case with unresolved elements regarding the full extent of the gang's operations.
Many believe that the robbery was orchestrated by a well-planned criminal gang, possibly involving notorious criminals like Harvey Bailey, who had connections with Nicholas "Chaw Jimmie" Trainor. Speculation exists that the gang had inside information about the delivery schedule and security measures at the Mint. Additionally, some theorize that the quick getaway and the absence of identified suspects suggest a network of accomplices aiding the robbers in evading capture.
The Denver Mint Heist: A Brazen Robbery in the Mile High City
On a crisp winter morning on December 18, 1922, a daring robbery unfolded outside the U.S. Mint in Denver, Colorado. The streets buzzed with the usual commotion of city life, unaware of the chaos about to erupt as a Federal Reserve Bank delivery truck prepared to move $200,000 in crisp $5 bills. The time was approximately 10:30 a.m. when the tranquility was shattered by the screeching halt of a black Buick touring car near West Colfax Avenue.
The Robbery
Two men leapt from the vehicle, brandishing sawed-off shotguns, while a third quickly seized the money bags. The scene was chaotic as U.S. Mint Police Officers, fifty strong, sprang into action with gunfire. The air was filled with the sharp crack of gunshots, one finding its mark in the jaw of one of the assailants. Despite the hail of bullets, the gang remained at the scene for a mere ninety seconds before they vanished, leaving behind a trail of confusion and terror.
The Immediate Aftermath
As the dust settled, it became clear that the robbers had made a clean escape, taking with them the mortally wounded Nicholas "Chaw Jimmie" Trainor, a 36-year-old member of the gang. Tragically, in the exchange of gunfire, Charles Linton, a former Arapahoe and Denver Deputy Sheriff turned Federal Reserve Guard, lost his life. Linton's storied past included notable events such as his involvement in the 1882 arrest of Doc Holliday, a famed figure from the O.K. Corral shootout.
The mystery deepened when, on January 14, 1923, Trainor's lifeless body was discovered in the very getaway car used in the heist. The vehicle had been abandoned in a garage on Gilpin Street in Denver. This discovery, however, did little to unravel the identities of the other criminals involved.
The Suspects and Investigations
Initially, the identities of Trainor's accomplices remained elusive. Among those considered was Harvey Bailey, an associate of Trainor, though solid evidence tying him to the crime was never uncovered. As the investigation expanded, authorities in Minnesota made a significant breakthrough on February 17, discovering an abandoned hideout. Inside, the Secret Service recovered $80,000 from the Denver Mint robbery, alongside $73,000 in bonds from a bank heist in Walnut Hills, Ohio, dated to three months before the mint incident. Both Trainor and Bailey were under suspicion for the Walnut Hills robbery, further fueling theories of Bailey's involvement in the Denver crime.
Despite the mounting suspicions, Harvey Bailey managed to evade capture until 1933, when he was finally arrested and convicted on unrelated charges. He lived out his days until his death in 1979, without ever being charged for the Denver Mint heist.
The Long Road to Closure
The case lingered unsolved for over a decade, until a revelation in 1934 by Denver Police Chief A.T. Clark. He declared that the robbery team had been identified, comprising five men and two women, all of whom had met their demise in the years following the robbery. The surviving members, Harvey Bailey and James "Oklahoma Jack" Clark, were incarcerated for life on unrelated offenses. According to police claims, the gang had fled to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, where a prominent attorney allegedly received the stolen funds. Despite these revelations, no charges were ever filed in connection with the robbery, and the case was officially closed on December 1, 1934.
Thus, the Denver Mint robbery, an audacious heist that captured the public's imagination, slipped into the annals of unsolved criminal history, leaving behind a legacy of intrigue and unanswered questions.
Sources
For further inquiry into this captivating chapter of criminal history, you can explore the following sources: Wikipedia.
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Denver Mint Robbery
Five men hijack a Federal Reserve truck, stealing $200,000.
Trainor's Body Found
Nicholas 'Chaw Jimmie' Trainor's body discovered in a getaway car.
Recovery of Stolen Money
Authorities recover $80,000 from the robbery in Minnesota.
Bailey's Arrest
Harvey Bailey, a suspect in the robbery, is arrested.
Case Closed
Denver Police Chief announces the robbery team identified; case officially closed.
The Denver Mint robbery occurred on December 18, 1922, at approximately 10:30 AM, when five armed men hijacked a Federal Reserve Bank delivery truck outside the U.S. Mint in Denver, Colorado, making off with $200,000 in cash. The assailants, who arrived in a black Buick touring car, opened fire with sawed-off shotguns, resulting in the death of U.S. Mint Guard Charles Linton and the injury of one of the robbers, Nicholas "Chaw Jimmie" Trainor, who was later found dead in a getaway vehicle. Despite the quick response from U.S. Mint Police, the gang escaped the scene within a minute and a half. Investigations led to the recovery of $80,000 in stolen cash in February 1923, but the case remained unsolved for 12 years until police identified the robbery team, which included five men and two women, all of whom had died by that time. Harvey Bailey, a suspected accomplice, was arrested in 1933 and died in 1979, leaving the case with unresolved elements regarding the full extent of the gang's operations.
Many believe that the robbery was orchestrated by a well-planned criminal gang, possibly involving notorious criminals like Harvey Bailey, who had connections with Nicholas "Chaw Jimmie" Trainor. Speculation exists that the gang had inside information about the delivery schedule and security measures at the Mint. Additionally, some theorize that the quick getaway and the absence of identified suspects suggest a network of accomplices aiding the robbers in evading capture.
The Denver Mint Heist: A Brazen Robbery in the Mile High City
On a crisp winter morning on December 18, 1922, a daring robbery unfolded outside the U.S. Mint in Denver, Colorado. The streets buzzed with the usual commotion of city life, unaware of the chaos about to erupt as a Federal Reserve Bank delivery truck prepared to move $200,000 in crisp $5 bills. The time was approximately 10:30 a.m. when the tranquility was shattered by the screeching halt of a black Buick touring car near West Colfax Avenue.
The Robbery
Two men leapt from the vehicle, brandishing sawed-off shotguns, while a third quickly seized the money bags. The scene was chaotic as U.S. Mint Police Officers, fifty strong, sprang into action with gunfire. The air was filled with the sharp crack of gunshots, one finding its mark in the jaw of one of the assailants. Despite the hail of bullets, the gang remained at the scene for a mere ninety seconds before they vanished, leaving behind a trail of confusion and terror.
The Immediate Aftermath
As the dust settled, it became clear that the robbers had made a clean escape, taking with them the mortally wounded Nicholas "Chaw Jimmie" Trainor, a 36-year-old member of the gang. Tragically, in the exchange of gunfire, Charles Linton, a former Arapahoe and Denver Deputy Sheriff turned Federal Reserve Guard, lost his life. Linton's storied past included notable events such as his involvement in the 1882 arrest of Doc Holliday, a famed figure from the O.K. Corral shootout.
The mystery deepened when, on January 14, 1923, Trainor's lifeless body was discovered in the very getaway car used in the heist. The vehicle had been abandoned in a garage on Gilpin Street in Denver. This discovery, however, did little to unravel the identities of the other criminals involved.
The Suspects and Investigations
Initially, the identities of Trainor's accomplices remained elusive. Among those considered was Harvey Bailey, an associate of Trainor, though solid evidence tying him to the crime was never uncovered. As the investigation expanded, authorities in Minnesota made a significant breakthrough on February 17, discovering an abandoned hideout. Inside, the Secret Service recovered $80,000 from the Denver Mint robbery, alongside $73,000 in bonds from a bank heist in Walnut Hills, Ohio, dated to three months before the mint incident. Both Trainor and Bailey were under suspicion for the Walnut Hills robbery, further fueling theories of Bailey's involvement in the Denver crime.
Despite the mounting suspicions, Harvey Bailey managed to evade capture until 1933, when he was finally arrested and convicted on unrelated charges. He lived out his days until his death in 1979, without ever being charged for the Denver Mint heist.
The Long Road to Closure
The case lingered unsolved for over a decade, until a revelation in 1934 by Denver Police Chief A.T. Clark. He declared that the robbery team had been identified, comprising five men and two women, all of whom had met their demise in the years following the robbery. The surviving members, Harvey Bailey and James "Oklahoma Jack" Clark, were incarcerated for life on unrelated offenses. According to police claims, the gang had fled to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, where a prominent attorney allegedly received the stolen funds. Despite these revelations, no charges were ever filed in connection with the robbery, and the case was officially closed on December 1, 1934.
Thus, the Denver Mint robbery, an audacious heist that captured the public's imagination, slipped into the annals of unsolved criminal history, leaving behind a legacy of intrigue and unanswered questions.
Sources
For further inquiry into this captivating chapter of criminal history, you can explore the following sources: Wikipedia.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Denver Mint Robbery
Five men hijack a Federal Reserve truck, stealing $200,000.
Trainor's Body Found
Nicholas 'Chaw Jimmie' Trainor's body discovered in a getaway car.
Recovery of Stolen Money
Authorities recover $80,000 from the robbery in Minnesota.
Bailey's Arrest
Harvey Bailey, a suspect in the robbery, is arrested.
Case Closed
Denver Police Chief announces the robbery team identified; case officially closed.