Carl Janaway - Smartest Bandit of the Cookson Hills
Last surviving bank robber of the 1930's, builder of getaway cars for "Pretty Boy" Floyd & Nursemaid to Al Capone in Alcatraz Prison
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
1. SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS
Growing up in the Tahlequah area in the 1920's, and falling on hard times after his father mysteriously disappeared, Carl Janaway:
• Robbed several banks in
1930's), and wounded two lawmen in getaways, a
Sequoyah
policeman.
• Built getaway cars for notorious gangsters Charles
“Chock” or ”Pretty Boy” Floyd, “Kaiser Bill”, and
John Dillinger. Souped up a 1933 Hudson
Terraplane to do 125 miles per hour, and welded
protective steel plates and railroad rails into the cars.
• Married a female bandit, Darcy Lynch, who was a
major headache. The “Blonde Bandit” robbed the
Paris
• Escaped from the Little Rock Prison and the
dreaded Tucker Prison Farm in
times in two years.
• Was the only outlaw famous Sheriff Grover Bishop
chased an estimated 3,000 miles and couldn’t
catch! Janaway was known as the
“Cookson Will ‘O the Wisp”.
• Became the only person in Alcatraz Prison, or “The
Rock”, Al Capone both feared and respected.
Was assigned by Warden Johnston to care for
Capone when he became terminally ill. Backed
down Capone in a cuss fight, which gained his
respect and gifts, including a dictionary which is in
this museum exhibit.
• Consulted at
Edgar Hoover and U.S. Attorney General Homer
Cummings, on an investigation of the scandal of
murder of inmates by prison guards at Tucker
Prison while he was there. Carl was forced to bury
many of the inmates.
• Was offered the help by his ex-wife Darcy Lynch to
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Book Details
About the Book
Carl Janaway -
The Smartest Bandit of the Cookson Hills
Last Surviving Bank Robber
of the 1930’s,
Builder of getaway cars for
“Pretty Boy” Floyd,
Nursemaid to Al Capone
in
by
Gary D. Courtney
The life, times, and character of one of the most elusive gangsters of the 1930’s era, who survived by going straight after prison and becoming an upstanding citizen.
Based upon the author’s month-long museum exhibit of Carl Janaway’s possessions and story, which filled the John Vaughn Library lobby at
Famous Sheriff Grover Bishop, who killed more men (17) than Wyatt Earp, chased Carl Janaway over 3,000 miles, and couldn’t catch him.
Carl’s wife was also a bank robber, called the “Blonde Bandit”, of rough and rowdy
Janaway spent time in
About the Author
Gary Courtney
Author, Photographer, Outdoor Adventurer & Historian
Business Automation & Organization Pioneer
- Raised in
- Research and Development geophysical technician
- Partner in a private detective agency
- Air Force radio electronics technician
- Owner of a computer consulting firm, in
- Front Page Feature writer and books – historical and outdoor adventures
- Author, photographer, designer & creator of the San Juan Mountains 60-page online magazine, “BlackhawkPublishing.com”, with pictures from area backpacking,
- Creator of museum exhibits at
- Creator and Editor of the Cookson Hills 100-page online magazine, “LakesOK.com”,
- Designer, builder and owner of the Cookson Hills Gallery of fine art,
award-winning Western and American Indian paintings, scrimshaw, sculpture & pottery - Pioneer in cave exploring, backpacking, S.C.U.B.A. diving & new computer technologies
- Organizer & foundation builder of prominent nationwide companies
- Collector-dealer and authenticator of Civil War weapons, antique books, maps, and cameras
- Keynote guest speaker on: