The most extensive search in Texas history, one that would extend over a long period and include air support to look for the thieves, began with someone in a Santa Claus suit. This event, known as the Santa Claus robbery, took place in the 1920s, an era known for high-profile gangsters such as Al Capone and others who ruled the streets during the prohibition era. Perhaps the bank robbers in this story wanted a piece of that fame. They became famous, but probably not as they had hoped.

The Incredible Santa Claus Robbery

At lunchtime on December 23, 1927, the First National Bank in Cisco, TX, was held up. Behind the armed robbery were Marshall Ratliff, Robert Hill, Henry Helms, and Louis Davis. All were professional criminals except for Louis Davis, Henry Helms’s cousin. 

Ratliff had originally planned to rob the bank with his brother as soon as they got out of jail for other crimes, but Ratliff’s brother had already been arrested again, so he had to improvise, choosing Helms, Davis, and Hill to help him. Davis hadn’t been Ratliff’s first choice. He initially wanted to recruit a man he knew was good at safe cracking, but he came down with the flu, so Davis was brought in instead. 

The plan was devised well ahead of time and was seen as an easy way to get big money quickly. What was the reason for the Santa suit? Ratliff was from Cisco and knew he would be recognized if he did not have some type of disguise.Ratliff had been recently pardoned for previous crimes he had committed. 

The Beginning

They had first begun their stint in robbery by robbing several banks; over four days, several banks had been hit. It created such panic that the Texas Banker’s Association offered a $5,000 reward to anyone who shot a bank robber during the crime. This was not your typical monetary reward for providing information to authorities. 

It was a large sum of money offered to those who partook in the violence to stop these crimes from happening. However, this reward may have been one of the reasons these robberies became deadly acts of violence. $5,000 back then amounts to $90,000 today. This was a radical solution to the bank robbery problems.

The Big Job

The bank robbers decided to pull off the big job they had been planning all these months. To prepare for the occasion, Marshall Ratliff wore a Santa Claus suit. He had borrowed the suit from a lady who ran a boarding house in Wichita Falls. He even wore a beard. Ratliff was left off a few blocks from the bank, and as he walked down the sidewalk towards the target, he was followed by children interested in speaking with Santa Claus. 

He ignored each greeting he was given and continued until he met up with his posse. Entering the bank, they all drew firearms and forced a teller to open the vault in the bank. Though these men had no problem showing deadly force, they did not plan on anyone not listening to their demands and commands. However, a lady named Mrs. Blassengame entered the bank with her daughter. She immediately realized what was happening and left. 

A Sack Full of Cash

The robbers tried to threaten her with their firearms, but she did not pay them any heed and left screaming at the top of her lungs for help, and she even went to the police department. Her screams and uproar caught the attention of the Chief of Police. Despite the possible hiccup, the robbers continued with their plan and filled their sacks with money. The Santa Claus Robbery was well underway.

Ratliff led the way out of the vault with his Santa’s sack full of money, but he was stopped in his tracks as he realized law enforcement was now involved. Marshall Ratliff fired a shot, and there was gunfire then exchanged. 

Thinking they were stuck, the men began to take hostages, forcing customers inside the bank to go outside and start walking toward the robber’s vehicle. Fortunately, during this trek to the car, most of the bank customers escaped. However, the robbers then took two young girls as hostages.

More Trouble 

Law enforcement did not give up, though, and began to have a shootout with the men in an alleyway. During this gun battle, the police Chief and a Deputy were wounded; the Chief died that day, and the Deputy died one month later. Louis Davis and Marshall Ratliff were also injured. Due to the intensity of the situation, the community formed a mob and went after the bank robbers. 

The crooks soon realized they didn’t stand a chance in their current vehicle against the angry mob. Their car tires had been shot out, and they had run out of gas. They came across a young boy driving his family’s vehicle. He allowed them to take the car, but he kept the keys. The robbers did not figure this out until after they had already packed up the new car and were ready to go.

Unsure what to do next, they left Louis Davis in the second car because he was unconscious at this time, and they went back to the original car with the two young hostages. Little did they know the money was left in the other car with Davis. 

An Angry Mob

Eventually, the crowd came upon Davis in the other vehicle, and the money was taken back to the bank. They had stolen what would be today well over $200,000. All of that trouble and strife, for nothing but trouble. Davis did not make it and died later.

What did the other gang members do? They kept running. Eventually, they did let the two young girls go but continued to steal car after car and take hostages from time to time to help them drive. None of the robbers who had survived were well since most had sustained injuries in the original gunfire exchange. 

Sheriff Foster finally came across them in Young County as they tried to cross a river. Another gunfight ensued, and all three of the robbers left were hit and wounded. However, they continued to try to escape until they finally were caught, and this time, they did not put up a fight. Law enforcement had pulled all the stops, including an airplane, to help look for the criminals.

The Santa Claus Robbery Trial 

The men were trialed, and Robert Hill was sentenced to 99 years. During his prison time, he attempted to escape three times but was caught each time. He was paroled, however, after only serving about ten years. He went off into the sunset, changing his name.

Since Henry Helms had shot and killed the law enforcement officers, he received the death penalty and was executed in 1929. Marshall Ratliff was also sentenced to 99 years until it was found out he also had a hand in the deaths of law enforcement officers. He attempted to avoid the death penalty by appealing his case, pleading insanity, and escaping. However, a mob found him and hung him. 

By the end of it all, they had killed and wounded several people, they had taken and let go several hostages, they had lost some of their own, and had no money to show for it. It shows you that crime just doesn’t pay.