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Frank Reno Didn’t Get the Last Laugh

by | Mar 11, 2016 | Uncategorized

Frank Reno
February 1868.  Frank Reno (photo) and members of his Indiana gang traveled to Iowa to rob county treasuries. Over the course of a few weeks, they burglarized at least three county safes and collected more than $40,000.  But the heat was on.  Pinkerton agents joined with local lawmen to arrest the outlaws in Council Bluffs in mid-March. But the gang dug a hole in the jail wall and escaped on April 1—leaving a chalk message above the opening: “April Fools!” Frank Reno was lynched l


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