The Santa Claus Bank Robbery occurred on December 23, 1927. Just days before Christmas, four men held up the First National Bank in Cisco, Texas. The robbery was a failure that led to, at the time, the largest manhunt in Texas history. Of the four men involved, one died during the robbery, one was sentenced to death in the electric chair, one was lynched and one served time in prison before changing his ways.
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Sources for this episode:
- Association, Texas State Historical. “Santa Claus Bank Robbery.” Texas State Historical Association, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/santa-claus-bank-robbery. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
- “Henry Helms (1897-1929) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15182228/henry-helms. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
- “Henry Helms, Convict Biography, September 6, 1929.” Texas State Library, https://www.tsl.texas.gov/exhibits/prisons/inquiry/henry_helms_sep6_1929_4.html. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025. The Texas Prison Systems First 100 years. Archives
- Hollister, Stacy. “Texas History 101: July 2002.” TexasMonthly, July 2002, https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/texas-history-101-50/.
- “Lewis Elmore Davis (1895-1927) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41665380/lewis-elmore-davis. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
- “Marshall Fields Ratliff (1903-1929) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15565349/marshall_fields-ratliff. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
- “Mattie Belle Minica Elkins (1898-1984) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96513179/mattie_belle-elkins. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
- McKinney, Noah. “Cisco Collectors Show off Remnants of the Towns Infamous ‘Red Christmas’ on 95th Anniversary.” Big Country Homepage, 17 Dec. 2022, https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/cisco-collectors-show-off-remnants-of-the-towns-infamous-red-christmas-on-95th-anniversary/.
- “Meets Death Kicking and Struggling [Henry Helms, Texas, 09/06/1929]—VictoriaAdv Pg01 Pt1 - Newspapers.ComTM.” Newspapers.Com, 6 Sept. 1929, https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-meets-death-kicking-an/125819221/.
- Sneed, Lani. “Author Released New Story on Survivor of 1927 Santa Claus Bank Robbery.” Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene Reporter-News, 19 Dec. 2023, https://www.reporternews.com/story/entertainment/books/2023/12/19/author-released-new-story-on-survivor-of-1927-santa-claus-bank-robbery/71911957007/.
- “The Cisco Santa Robbery.” Product Listing, https://member.texasbankers.com/Magazine/magazine/Vault/22-01-The-Cisco-Santa-Robbery.aspx. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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