Frank P. Ellis & The Nobel Train Robbery
In 1930, five bandits boarded a mail train near the abandoned Nobel, California train station and stole $56,000 worth of mail and goods. Through investigation, it was discovered the leader of the gang was a well-known post office robber, Frank P. Ellis (alias Smith)
The Robbery & Investigation
On November 7, 1930, Southern Pacific Train No. 36 was boarded by five masked bandits, brandishing dynamite and guns. Overpowering the crew and passengers, they escaped in a car with $56,000 worth of mail and goods. Almost instantly, inspectors and railroad detectives knew the culprits were connected to the McAvoy train robbery that had occurred just 18 months prior.
Inspectors recruited the assistance of Clarence S. Morrill, from the bureau of identification, who had been endlessly searching for connections to McAvoy and other robberies that had been occurring. Through witness accounts and examining the method by which the train was robbed, inspectors and Morrill believed the robbery was devised by none other than Frank P. Ellis. Then, the getaway car was discovered. Fingerprints left on the get-away car convinced inspectors that Ellis was in fact involved.
Investigation & Manhunt
Ellis’ career in crime began at the age of 17. The criminal had flown under the radar for most of his life, but the Nobel train robbery helped link Ellis to the Pinole bank robbery of 1929, the Tracy Post Office robbery of 1928, the McAvoy train robbery of 1929, and the robbery of the Calwa winery of 1928. Authorities were now on the hunt for where Ellis and his cohorts could be hiding. In December 1931, they were discovered hiding out in a home near Oakland, California.
When police searched the home, numerous amounts of evidence pertaining to the robberies was discovered. Ellis and three others were arrested, but Ellis would not go without a fight. In a tussle with police, he reached for the weapon of one, but was shot and killed.
Capture & Trials
The others taken into custody were Charles Berta, R.E. Sherwood, and Ellen Ellis (Evelyn Smith), the wife of now slain gang leader, Frank Ellis. However, one more bandit was still at large. It took until 1932, but the last culprit in the Nobel robbery, James Sergeant (California Eddie), was arrested and tried.
With Frank P. Ellis killed by police, the trials were based on witness accounts, suspect line ups, and the evidence provided by inspectors, which was extensive. The four surviving bandits were each sentenced to twenty-five years in federal prison.
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