Indiana’s Reno Gang

Indiana’s Reno Gang carried out a crime wave across the Midwest in the years after the Civil War.  Train robbery, counterfeiting, burglary and safe-cracking, extortion, arson—the outfit engaged in a number of criminal activities.

For a couple of years, they managed to stay out of jail, primarily by hiring top lawyers and bribing officials. At least twice they murdered men who were ready to testify in court against them.

Citizens finally got fed up with the lack of justice and took matters into their own hands, lynching 11 gang members (including Frank Reno, in photo) in 1868.