Reno Gang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reno Gang |
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|---|---|
| Founded | 1864 |
| In | Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana, U.S. |
| Founded by | Frank Reno and John Reno |
| Years active | 1864-1868 |
| Territory | southern Indiana, Missouri, Iowa |
| Ethnicity | European-American |
| Membership | 10-11 |
| Criminal activities |
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The Reno Gang, also known as the Reno Brothers Gang and The Jackson Thieves, were a group of criminals that operated in the Midwestern United States during and just after the American Civil War. Though short-lived, they carried out the first three peacetime train robberies in U.S. history. Most of the stolen money was never recovered.
The gang was broken up by the lynchings of ten of its members by vigilante mobs in 1868. The murders created an international diplomatic incident with Canada and Great Britain, a general public uproar, and international newspaper coverage. No one was ever identified or prosecuted for the lynchings.
The Reno Brothers have been portrayed in at least three movies, including Elvis Presley's first movie, Love Me Tender, 1956, in which he starred as brother Clint, and "Rage at Dawn" (1955) with Randolf Scott.
In popular culture
- The Legend of the Reno Brothers a 2013 documentary film directed by Anthony Susnick and starring Morgan Raque, released to DVD December 12, 2013.
- Rage at Dawn is a 1955 Hollywood film based on the Reno brothers gang of robbers. It stars Randolph Scott as undercover detective James Barlow. Forrest Tucker, born in Plainfield, Indiana, played Frank Reno
- Elvis Presley's first movie was the 1956 Love Me Tender where he starred (in his only historical film) as "Honest" Clint Reno,
- The song "Ballad of a Well-Known Gun" on Elton John's 1970 album Tumbleweed Connection makes reference to the Pinkertons and Reno ("Now I know how Reno felt when he ran from the law.").
- The song "The First Train Robbery" on Larry Cordle's 2007 album Took Up and Put Down, written by Chris Stuart tells the story from William Reno's perspective.
