Throughout history there have been many thieves, criminals, crooks. But none are more famous than those we at The Brotherhood are about to showcase. These guys are legends. Most have been headlines, some have been the subject of a movie or two, but all are honorary members of The Brotherhood.
Known as The Gentleman Robber, Bill Miner was a famed stagecoach robber with manners. It is said he is the originator of the phrase “Hands up!”.
Bonnie and Clyde need no introduction. Active during the Great Depression this pair managed to shake things up and make national headlines. Their two year crime spree yielded endless robbed banks,shootouts and a murder or two. Their road ended in May 23, 1934 when they were gunned down outside their Bienville Parish, Louisiana hideout.
Al Capone, the greatest gangster of all time. The man who ran the largest crime syndicate in the country and kept it drunk during Prohibition. His crimes include racketeering, smuggling, bootlegging, tax evasion and The Saint Valentines Day Massacre.
Saint Valentines Day Massacre.
Billy The Kid was a 19th century outlaw and gunman in the American Frontier. According to legend, he killed over 20 white men and a number of Mexicans and Indians. People described him as a “neat” dresser who favored an “unadorned Mexican sombrero. He died at the hand of a Sheriff, who later went on to write a book about him. He shall remained unnamed.
Machine Gun Kelly. Another shooting star from the Prohibition Era responsible for crimes such as bootlegging, armed robbery and kidnapping (which was his favorite).
Baby Face Nelson
Baby Face Nelson, was a bankrobber and murderer in the 1930’s. He was tight with John Dillinger who helped him escape from prison in the famed “wooden pistol” escape, and was later labeled as Public Enemy number one. He was shot to death by FBI agents in the famed shootout often called “The Battle of Barrington”.
Yet Another Anthem of the Brotherhood by our favorites The Clash.
It was originally recorded by Sonny Curtis and The Crickets in 1959. But has been covered by many.
Showing a true result of our endeavors. The Law almost always wins.
Alcatraz Prison might be the most famous prison in the world. Often referred to as The Rock, Alcatraz has been an integral part of American History. Serving as a fort in the Civil War era, a maximum security prison until 1963, and a place of Native American occupation in the late 1960’s.
Alcatraz has housed some of the most famous criminals throughout history.
-Al Capone, the notorious gangster
-Machine Gun Kelly, a notorious criminal during the prohibition era. His crimes included bootlegging, armed roberry, and most prominently, kidnapping.
-Robert Franklin Stroud, also known as the Birdman of Alcatraz, for his affinity to birds.
-Alvin “Creepy Karpis” Karpowicz
The prison was established in 1934 and was in operation until 1963. It was a maximum security prison where escape was nearly impossible. In its years of operation 36 prisoners were involved in 14 attempts, two men trying twice; 23 were caught, six were shot and killed during their escape, and three were lost at sea and never found. The only succesful attempt was done in 1962 by Frank Morris, John Anglin and Clarence Anglin. It is called one of the most intricate escapes ever devised.
The Rock has served as the setting for many movies, and is one of San Francisco’s biggest tourist attractions.
View from the Bars at Alcatraz.
Showers at Alcatraz.
Cell at Alcatraz.
San Francisco seen from The Rock.
Alcatraz Cell.
Lighthouse
Map
Evidence of the Native American Occupation of 1969
Clint Eastwood ESCAPES!!! and reinvents himself as Dirty Harry, San Fran’s finest detective.
The Brotherhood has always had its share of good publicity, but none were more stylish than the posters found in the Old West.
New Wanted Posters lack the glamour.
Sometimes even the famous fall to the ranks of the Brotherhood. Whether for shoplifting, joy riding, public drunkenness, lewd behavior, paparazzi assaults, or drinking and driving. Everyone visits the slammer someday.
Larry King
Al Pacino, aka “Scarface”
David Bowie, auteur, idol, Ziggy Stardust
Ezra Pound, Great American Poet
Dennis Hopper, actor, writer, director, all around badass
Johnny Cash, musician, father, husband, Man in Black. Supposedly shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.
Keith Richards, Guitarist, Drug Fiend, Party Animal. Snorted father’s ashes.
Steve Mcqueen, aka “The Man”, All American, Actor, Outdoorsman, Ladies man, Trouble maker.
The Fuzz have always been a plight to the Brotherhood, stifling our plans for world domination. Sending us to jail or prison. Burdening us with fines and community service. They are The Man, and we have to stick it to The Man. Nevertheless, we have compiled a showcase of their most stylish badges.
A favorite at the Brotherhood, this single by The Clash was never released on any of their studio albums, but became extremely popular peaking at #12 in the U.K Singles Chart. This song is proof that robbers never hurt nobody.
Tools of the Trade can be expensive, they can be easily concealed, they can be bought at high-tech spy stores, Gun Shops, online, in Chinatown, everywhere and anywhere. But there is something to be said about keeping things simple, less is more right? And More is money. So without further a due I Present the BASICS.
Brass Knuckles, or knuckles, knucks, brass knucks, or my favorite, Knuckles dusters are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat, and can really pack a punch, literally. They result in deep tissue damage, broken bones/jaws and bloody hands.
Found in most hardware stores, Home Depots and General Stores, the crowbar has somehow become the defining tool for Car Theft. Although used in many situation such as opening doors, gates, breaking windows, opening cheap safes and hitting people over the head, it has been linked to car theft the most. This is an essential tool in any thief’s arsenal. And can be easily replaced if forced to be left behind.
Gloves need no introduction. A fingerprint in a hot crime scene can put you away for life. Always remember to glove up.
A favorite among amateur thieves and a alley way local, the switchblade has for decades been a basic tool for any thief, pickpocket and hoodlum. Small enough to be concealed and sharp enough to intimidate.
Some thieves can never stop stealing, and this tool is evidence of it. A popular instrument in jails and prisons the shiv is easily concealed and can be made from household, or “prisonhold” items.
Last but definitely not least, we have my personal favorite the Baseball bat. A staple in every boys closet, locker or garage this wooden tool has been used by many. Thieves, mafiosos, gang-members and The Warriors . Used to break windows, bones and anything else you could possibly think of.
Folsom Prison
Folsom Prison is California’s second oldest prison. Established in 1880 and known for its harsh treatment of prisoners during the California Gold Rush, Folsom began making a name for itself. Inmates would spend most of their time in the dark behind solid boiler plate doors in stone cells measuring 4 feet by 8 feet with a 6 inch eye slot. Air holes were drilled into the cell doors in the 1940s, and the cell doors are still used today.
Folsom is well known for the series of concerts Johnny Cash held at the facility, but it was also the first prison in the world to have electrical power, and is the manufacturer of most Californian license Plates since the 1930’s.
Folsom Prison houses approximately 3,400 inmates, divided into different Unit. Unit 1 is the most populated cellblock in the United States holding 1,200 prisoners behind bars.
This prison has has many notoriuos and famous visitors. Here’s the list
- Sonny Barger, Leader of Hell’s Angels
- Suge Knight, founder and owner of Death Row Records
- Rick James, Superfreak
- Danny Trejo, Machete
-Timothy Leary, LSD advocate
- Charles Manson, Cult figure, Musician
Folsom Walls
Inside Folsom
Sam, the life size mannequin rocking Folsom issued couture in the Folsom Museum.
Old Folsom Prison
William Burke Revisits Folsom
Old Death House
Johnny Cash singing to inmates at Folsom during the epic concert given in the facility’s cafeteria in 1968.
Cash singing “Cocaine Blues”
There is no school like the oldschool.
That has been said again and again throughout the years, and in honor of the oldschool, The Brotherhood has compiled a showcase of tools from the days of old. Times when trains carried money and cowboys carried Colts. Times when it took a minute to load your guns and you had to make each shot count. Times where there were no security cameras and no police cruisers. A time when being a thief was being free, and being free meant being rich and robbing trains.
Old School flint lock guns, used in the 18th and 19th century. A favorite among pirates, smugglers, and gentlemen in feuds.
The Apache Revolver opened
The Apache Revolver is the Swiss Army knife of guns. Designed in the early 1900’s by the french gang Les Apaches this weapon was easily concealed and it is said that one bullet would always be left out of the chamber so as to not shoot yourself while it was in your pocket. Its range was very limited due to its lack of a barrel but it was an effective tool due to everything it could do, this weapon could shoot, cut and hit and could be easily folded up and placed in your pocket. Sheer Genius.
Samuel Colt revolutionized weaponry when he introduced his first Colt, and popularized revolvers to unworldly standards. This handgun is the Colt 3rd Model, so the kinks had been worked out by the time it was released. It could be loaded easily and its range was very effective. Nowadays Colts are still being made with little or no alteration to the original design. This gun was a favorite among thieves of the Old West.
Commonly used to shave ones face, this Straight Razor was commonly used for criminal activity by those in dire circumstances. Sold over the counter and at discount prices this blade is the cheapest weapon one could buy back in the day.
Photo by A. Warhol
