Brady gang

[wheelman]

Has there been any discussion on this bunch?

[OCM]

I don't think so. Go for it- Al Brady , can't help much if looking for info-

[wheelman]

 

I live in the area where they started their life of crime, and where they killed the first Indiana state policeman.

[TAS1921AC]

Yes....the frequently forgotten but no less tragic shootout at Caley Church.

 

I lived the first four years of my life northwest of Royal Center just down the road from my grandparents. We moved to Idaville (southwest of Royal Center) in 1962 so we made frequent trips back and forth. So I grew up with stories of the shootout and often saw the church as we passed by. My dad was a mechanic and had his own shop in Idaville. A friend of his who was several years older and who's name was Bob was a young fellow when the shootout occurred. He was nearby and walked up not long afterward. Crime scene forensics being a lot more lenient then, he picked up a 30-06 casing and took it home. My dad displayed it in his shop for many years until the guy wanted it back. He stated that there were some puddles of water on the ground so the casing may have been overlooked. I wondered over the years what automatic weapon had fired that shell. I pictured a BAR, 1917, or a 1919 Browning. I've since read that it was a 1918 Marlin tank gun. (See last link below)

 

Here are several links that give some interesting information on the Brady gang.

 

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/the-brady-gang

 

http://historicalgmen.squarespace.com/1937-brady-gang-shootout-the

 

http://bangorinfo.com/Focus/focus_brady_gang.html

 

https://maps.google.com/maps?expflags=enable_star_based_justifications:true&ie=UTF8&cid=11110296165246957040&q=Caley+Church&iwloc=A&gl=US&hl=en

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/gangsterologists/conversations/topics/3407

Edited September 9, 2013 by TAS1921AC

[OCM]

Pretty active Dude, I'd say, yes, give old Dillinger a run for his money- Nothing like criminal competition.

A tank gun, you talk about a dysfunctional group, all of them actually-

 

Thanks for the history links, TAS1921AC- interesting reading. I knew a little about Brady, but mainly by default.

 

OCM

[wheelman]

Not sure if they had radios back then,so it probably took some time to get anyone out ther to secure the scene. A local named Clayton Heiny came by and took Craig to get medical attn. he had a new car that got messed up. A local carpenter reported some guys approached him a few days earlier wanting to know the location of bridges across the Tippacanoe river,which they had to cross comming from the west.

[TAS1921AC]

OCM,

You're welcome. I always had some interest in Brady since some of his activities took place so "close to home". I wish you could zoom in to the memorial to the fallen officer that's in front of the church surrounded by the short green bush. I know it's available on line I just haven't been able to find it.

 

wheelman,

Hello from a past neighbor. I think you're correct in the assumption that they did not have radios. And I don't recall if "Bob" said he walked up before the police came or after. Since a lot of folks didn't even have a phone then it likely took a while before anyone arrived.

My grandma's sister lived on the north side of 16, west or the RR tracks just out of town then and claimed she saw Brady's car do a U-turn when they spotted the trooper's car. But some of the things I've read since don't seem to back that up.

 

Just for grins, if you pull up the map, find WCoRd950N, (between CR1000W and NCoRd900W) north west of town, go east from 1000 and find the second long driveway on the right, you can see where my grandparents lived from 1950 until 1987. I lived down the road to the east (south side of the road) where the two barns are, south of the short driveway. Even the barns are gone now but I have some wonderful country memories of that area. My dad still lives in Idaville so I get to that neck of the woods occasionally.

 

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=royal+center+indiana&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x8813947fe5648785:0x6638f659ca608e2d,Royal+Center,+IN&gl=us&ei=WXMvUsKzCsrkyAHiv4HwCg&ved=0CIUBELYD

Edited September 10, 2013 by TAS1921AC

[wheelman]

 

 

I know where your grand parents lived. I helped build the place, son.