1925 Crime Spree in Northern California
By Richard Cooper, January 18,2021
This story is from “over the hill” in the Northern California foothills but everybody loves a true crime story and this is a good one.
TWO FUGITIVES AT BAY AFTER MAD RACE IN STOLEN AUTO
Latest Update: Auburn, California
“Fleeing in desperation from a hundred armed men, tried by a police dog, hemmed in by posses from three counties and driven toward the snow-bound-heights of the Sierras, two desperadoes, well identified as Joe Tanko and Floyd Hall, are believed to be caught in a trap where they will have to make their last stand today.
Sheriff Gum of Placer County declared that the fugitives undoubtedly were trapped in a wild canyon known as Long Ravine (east of Auburn). “It seems impossible for them to have broken through the surrounding posses and we expect to fight it out with them soon after daylight.” he said.
Ten additional policemen from Sacramento were expected due at Colfax early this morning to join in the expected battle.
All trains searched and no tickets issued to men of their description.
They are in a pocket famous since the days of ’49 as the pitfall of daring bandits and desperadoes. It was here that the notorious Rattlesnake Dick took his own life to avoid capture. Half a dozen other highwaymen have been shot down with their boots on in the “blind” ravine. A sheriff and several deputies have lost their lives in battles with bad men in that part of Placer county.
For a whole day these modern desperadoes spread excitement and terror through Nevada, Sierra and Placer counties, racing wildly through towns and villages in a stolen mail stage and firing recklessly at those who threatened to halt them. Later they abandoned the car in Long Ravine.”
THE MAD CHASE
First Sighted Three Days Ago in Nevada County
Their first confirmed local sighting was by John Hippert, who “occupies a lonely cabin in the hills.” A deputy sheriff went to investigate and was fired upon by two men who refused to halt. He recovered a pack with items stolen from the Plumbago Mine north of Nevada City. The manhunt had begun in that section when the dastardly duo confronted the auto-stage at Graniteville Tuesday morning and threw out driver Jack Muscadini and one passenger. They then turned it around and headed back to Nevada City. Along the way, they apparently abandoned that vehicle and held up “Buster” Brown, driver of the local Dodge mail truck between Graniteville and North Bloomfield stealing his vehicle. It was police interviews with these two drivers that convinced authorities the culprits were fugitives Hall and Tanko. Word quickly spread throughout the region. Arriving at the outskirts of Nevada City, as they paused to study the highway signs, they were spotted and sped off pointing their weapons as the cry went up.
They raced through Grass Valley where they were closely pursued by a sheriff’s car in a madcap chase. Converging posses from nearby towns mistook the sheriffs car for the fugitives, pulled it over and allowed the bandits to escape
Between Grass Valley and Colfax the chase grew so close that only a freak of fate prevented the Sacramento posse from overtaking the fugitives. When almost within striking distance the pursuing car caught fire and was destroyed. A costly ten minutes passed before the officers commandeered a passing auto and again took up the chase.
Emboldened by this turn, the fugitives slowed down, waved and called out “howdy boys” to potential ambushers and vigilantes. The ruse worked to perfection for miles permitting them to swing around Colfax until the ruse was discovered and the chase began again.
They turned onto Highway 40 and about 1 mile north of Colfax and turned down the dirt road to Long Ravine, abandoning the machine in the brush. Arriving ten minutes later a posse arrived, spotted the figures in the brush and fired. That was the last seen of them. There were near the snow-line and it was believed there only way out was back towards the valley.
Mayor Fred Roumase, who had received a trained police dog from Germany a few months ago, offered its services in tracking the men. Coincidentally, he had only the day before received the list of commands in German the dog understood. The dog responded and was sent out with the posse. Unfortunately the physical evidence had been handled so by much by police the dog went after the investigators and had to be relieved of duty.
Meanwhile, in the confusion and excitement of preparing for the dangerous manhunt, a detective in Sacramento accidentally shot off one of his own fingers with his gun.
WHO WERE TANKO AND HALL?
Story Begins in San Francisco
Not much is known of Tanko but Hall was from Louisiana and said he ran away from home at age 14
Long members of the Bay Area criminal underworld, Hall and Tanko had been involved in crime. They were associates of the “Yacht Club”, a gang that had terrorized Vancouver from their 50 foot yacht and moved south to San Francisco where they began robbing banks.
In September, 1923, Tanko and Hall, aged 21 and 19, shot to death the Chief of Police of San Bruno in the Bay Area when he pulled them over on his motorcycle. They were hunted down through detective work and brought to justice being sentenced to life in prison at San Quentin.
They attempted escape on the way to the prison by beating an officer and wrenching a gun from him but ultimately the other officers recovered the gun and they are locked away in San Quentin. On April 7, 1925 they make a successful escape from the prison by picking locks and scaling the wall with rope made from collecting string.
They are then pursued through Petaluma, Healdsburg and Sacramento stealing provisions, guns and ammunition. In Sacramento on April 18, they rob a store and kill the owner when he refuses to open the till. On the 21st, they commit a holdup, stealing a car during which they shoot and injure a Sacramento policeman in their escape. From then until May 4th they drop from sight as the region’s police forces busy themselves chasing false sightings and general hysteria.
THE ASSAULT ON THE KILLERS HIDEOUT
Story returns to Long Ravine
After the sightings and chases on May 4th the desperate bandits finally hide out in Long Ravine, and have their dinner and bed down for the night. By now police from Reno, Quincy and Lake Tahoe are preparing for their continued escape over the Sierras. An Armored police car was sent up from Sacramento to patrol the backroads. The Federal Government was flying in agents due to the theft of the mail truck. Local indians and prospectors were enlisted due to their knowledge of the local terrain. It was estimated in the San Francisco Examiner that 1,000 men were searching the area.
The next morning the bold bandits awoke and each had a leisurely shave with a kit stolen from the mail in the truck. Now, dozens of law enforcement officers formed a fan and began methodically moving through the ravine sure their manhunt was nearing and end. But the convicts incredible luck held out once again. A deputy, double checking his rifle, accidentally discharged a shot and Hall and Tanko sprang from their camp and down the hills towards Auburn, leaving their shaving supplies behind. By the time the officers realized what had happened and reorganized, they were gone.
Late that night, after walking many miles, they came across the ranch of Mr and Mrs Paul Therault, 2 miles east of Auburn. After sleeping in the barn, they knocked on the door, introduced themselves and demanded breakfast. Satisfied, they tied up the couple and stole their automobile.
Flee to Sacramento to Continue Mayhem
Arriving in Sacramento at a high rate of speed, they collided with another car and theirs ended up turned over in the ditch. As usual with their luck, both were unhurt and crawled out. They tried to steal another car at a garage and when it failed to start, hoofed it brazenly along the streets. Several people recognized them and gave alarm and they pulled their guns on several. Finally, alarmed at their celebrity they ran through yards and over fences and came upon Henry Hanson, washing his car. At gunpoint they stole the car and took Mr. Hanson hostage commanding him to “Drive like Hell!” After colliding with another car, they kicked him out and took over, finally abandoning the vehicle near the Capitol. At the same time, 1,000 World War One veterans are called up with their personal arms to search for the desperadoes.
Finally on foot again, they were starving and stuffed themselves at a couple of downtown restaurants. They were recognized and reported everywhere but kept one step ahead. Finally they entered a theater to hide out. When they left, they decided to split up. A citizen recognized Hall at the theater and followed him to a seedy boarding house. That’s where the citizen called it in and and the law immediately closed in. That night Lloyd Hall was captured, exhausted, without incident hiding under the bed. He had on him a pocket knife, nail file, handkerchief,$20.00 and rifle cartridges. The Sacramento sheriff predicted a quick arrest of Tanko. He disappeared.
JUSTICE SERVED
Two years later
Nearly two years later, the Oakland Tribune reported on November 13, 1926, that Joe Tanko had been killed in a shootout with Oakland police. After enjoying freedom for those two years, Tanko was accidentally located as detectives were investigating another crime. As one detective entered a back window he was shot in the leg by Tanko. Another Detective announced himself at the front door and Tanko said “Come in” and the the detective, apparently not hearing the shot, opened the door and was shot in the abdomen. As he was falling the brave detective fired 5 shots from his automatic pistol into Tanko, one hitting his heart causing instant death. It is surmised that Tanko was the head of a newly formed gang of petty thugs with the nicknames of “Spannie”, “Curley Red”, “Creepy Wilson” and “Society Red.” This event ended his lamentable legacy and his criminal ambitions. The wounded officers1925 Crime Spree in Northern California are expected to recover.
The California Supreme Court eventually reversed Hall’s conviction on the Sacramento killing on a technicality. Two jurors could not agree with guilty so the judge overruled them and sentenced him to death after two previous trials with juror indecision. Much debate followed and inspired criminal justice reforms. He was referred to prison for life on his original conviction of killing the police chief. He was paroled in 1958.
Meanwhile, life in Napa, Sacramento, Nevada and Placer Counties returned to semi-peaceful tranquility.
Comments? Email Rick at washoevalley@gmail.com
