Callahan Gang
On March 12, 1911, a gang of men entered the Breman Station Post Office in St. Louis, Missouri, and robbed it. After a shootout with authorities, two men were arrested while the others fled. Soon, it was made apparent to postal inspectors that the leader of the gang was also wanted in three major jewelry robberies.
The Crimes
Responding to reports of a robbery, authorities arrived at the Breman Station while the robbery was still in progress. A shootout with police ensued, resulting in the arrest of two gang members, James Sheridan and William Raftus, while two others made their escape. One of those who escaped was Daniel Callahan, a known professional jewelry thief.
Just weeks before the post office robbery, Mrs. Maldwin Drummand, the wealthy widow of entrepreneur Marshall Field, made a report of over $120,000 worth of jewelry being stolen from her stateroom onboard the steamboat Amerika. Quickly, postal inspectors began the hunt for the infamous Daniel Callahan and his accomplices.
Chase and Arrest
Over the next year, postal inspectors pursued Callahan, during which time he and an accomplice robbed a jewelry store in Chicago, killing a man a they made their escape. Callahan then fled the United States, making his way to London. In London, he was captured and was preparing to be extradited to the U.S., but Callahan escaped again.
Some time after, he made his way back to the states. For a time. it seemed as though Callahan would never be caught. But an attentive postal inspector and a crucial mistake by Callahan led to his arrest. On March 12, 1912, Callahan and associate Charles Miller were in St. Louis waiting for a train. Deciding to stop in a diner across the street, they soon found themselves sitting across from Postal Inspector Brunson, who had been searching for Callahan since the post office robbery.
Arrest & Punishment
Inspector Brunsen noticed the men sitting near him. Most importantly, he noticed the missing index finger on Daniel Callahan and recognized him as the man he had been chasing for over a year. Inspector Brunsen calmly finished his meal and left the restaurant, only to return with two police officers.
The two men were quickly arrested, and this time there was no way for Callahan to escape. As he loaded into a police vehicle, Callahan turned to Miller and shouted "--- you and your fried eggs!" Callahan would later be tried, convicted, and sentenced to federal prison.
HISTORY SPOTLIGHT HOMEPAGE
Explore the history of the United States Postal Inspection Service.
LEARN MORE