Al Brady
Encyclopedia
Al Brady was an Indiana
-born armed robber and murderer who became one of the FBI's "Public Enemies" in the 1930s. He and an accomplice were shot dead in an ambush by FBI agents in downtown Bangor, Maine
, in 1937. The spectacular public gun-battle that led to the demise of "The Brady Gang" is an essential part of Maine
folklore, and was even the subject of a re-enactment in 2007.
, in which he was shot and wounded. On release from jail, he teamed up with Clarence Lee Shaffer, Jr., James Dalhover, and Charles Geisking, and the gang proceeded to steal cars and commit armed robberies across Indiana, mostly of grocery stores. They eventually murdered a 23-year-old Indianapolis store clerk, and then an Indianapolis
policeman. The four were captured in 1936, but Brady, Dalhover, and Shaffer escaped from a Greenfield, Indiana
jail, and then robbed a bank in Goodland, Indiana
in May, 1937. In fleeing the robbery, they managed to ambush and kill one of their pursuers, Indiana State Police
trooper Paul V. Minneman, and severely injure another. The gang then relocated to first Baltimore, then to Bridgeport, Connecticut
, and eventually to Bangor, Maine
.
Relaxing their guard in Bangor, the trio began negotiating the purchase of automatic weapons at the downtown Dakin's Sporting Goods Store, but the suspicious owner contacted the police after taking their order and telling them to return in a few weeks. When the three later returned to pick up the guns, on Columbus Day
, Oct. 12, 1937, a large number of FBI agents were waiting in ambush, inside the store and across the street. Dalhover was apprehended after a scuffle when he entered Dakin's alone, but Brady and Shaffer drew their weapons in the street and were shot down in a furious exchange. Photographs of their bullet-ridden bodies lying dead in the middle of Central St. became iconic local images, and long hung behind the counter at Dakin's.
Dalhover would be tried and executed for murder. One of the FBI agents who apprehended Dalhover and was wounded in the ensuing gun battle, Walter Walsh
, would live to 104 (and counting), becoming the bureau's oldest retired Special Agent.
With no living relatives, Brady's body went unclaimed, and he was buried in an unmarked grave at Mt. Hope Cemetery
in Bangor. In 2007 the grave was finally marked with a stone and a brief religious ceremony conducted, in conjunction with a re-enactment of the shoot-out in Bangor's downtown.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
-born armed robber and murderer who became one of the FBI's "Public Enemies" in the 1930s. He and an accomplice were shot dead in an ambush by FBI agents in downtown Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, in 1937. The spectacular public gun-battle that led to the demise of "The Brady Gang" is an essential part of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
folklore, and was even the subject of a re-enactment in 2007.
Biography
Al Brady lost his father at age 2, his mother at age 16 and his stepfather at age 18. Two months after his stepfather's death he committed his first robbery, in Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, in which he was shot and wounded. On release from jail, he teamed up with Clarence Lee Shaffer, Jr., James Dalhover, and Charles Geisking, and the gang proceeded to steal cars and commit armed robberies across Indiana, mostly of grocery stores. They eventually murdered a 23-year-old Indianapolis store clerk, and then an Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
policeman. The four were captured in 1936, but Brady, Dalhover, and Shaffer escaped from a Greenfield, Indiana
Greenfield, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,600 people, 5,917 households, and 4,017 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,818.0 people per square mile . There were 6,449 housing units at an average density of 803.0 per square mile...
jail, and then robbed a bank in Goodland, Indiana
Goodland, Indiana
Goodland is a town in Grant Township, Newton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,043 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Goodland is located at ....
in May, 1937. In fleeing the robbery, they managed to ambush and kill one of their pursuers, Indiana State Police
Indiana State Police
The Indiana State Police is the statewide law enforcement agency for the state of Indiana. Indiana was the 12th state to offer protection to its citizens with a state police force.-History:...
trooper Paul V. Minneman, and severely injure another. The gang then relocated to first Baltimore, then to Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, and eventually to Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
.
Relaxing their guard in Bangor, the trio began negotiating the purchase of automatic weapons at the downtown Dakin's Sporting Goods Store, but the suspicious owner contacted the police after taking their order and telling them to return in a few weeks. When the three later returned to pick up the guns, on Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
, Oct. 12, 1937, a large number of FBI agents were waiting in ambush, inside the store and across the street. Dalhover was apprehended after a scuffle when he entered Dakin's alone, but Brady and Shaffer drew their weapons in the street and were shot down in a furious exchange. Photographs of their bullet-ridden bodies lying dead in the middle of Central St. became iconic local images, and long hung behind the counter at Dakin's.
Dalhover would be tried and executed for murder. One of the FBI agents who apprehended Dalhover and was wounded in the ensuing gun battle, Walter Walsh
Walter Walsh
Colonel Walter Rudolph Walsh is a former FBI agent, USMC shooting instructor and Olympic shooter. Walsh joined the FBI in 1934, serving during the Public enemy era, and was involved in several high-profile FBI cases, including the capture of Arthur Barker and the killing of Al Brady...
, would live to 104 (and counting), becoming the bureau's oldest retired Special Agent.
With no living relatives, Brady's body went unclaimed, and he was buried in an unmarked grave at Mt. Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor
Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine is the second oldest garden cemetery in the United States. It was designed by architect Charles G. Bryant in 1834, the same year that Bangor was incorporated as a city, and likely modeled after Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts...
in Bangor. In 2007 the grave was finally marked with a stone and a brief religious ceremony conducted, in conjunction with a re-enactment of the shoot-out in Bangor's downtown.