Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"I think the only reason why they gave themselves a name, it's not for, you know, to get press or anything like that. It's just for rep in the criminal underworld." — Henry Zabrowski
"And the more you read about all of these gangland types, all of these personalities, they were all in Looney Tunes, which was really strange." — Ben Kisel
"This system of basically letting the criminals live in St. Paul, this began at the dawn of the 20th century with a police chief named John O'Connor, who had ties to New York City's Tammany Hall." — Marcus Parks
The episode chronicles the criminal activities of the Barker-Carpan gang, beginning with their early robberies and highlighting their recruitment methods, often through prison networks. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on St. Paul, Minnesota, which, under the "O'Connor System," operated as a safe haven for criminals who agreed not to commit crimes within city limits, leading to a boom in illegal activities and a corrupt symbiotic relationship between law enforcement and gangsters.
The narrative then details the gang's increasing violence and sophistication, including the use of tactics like scattering roofing nails to disable police vehicles and the wearing of expensive suits to blend in. The episode touches upon the shift in bank robbery from sneakier methods to more direct and armed confrontations as the gang grew and the economic climate worsened. The role of publicity, such as appearances in "True Detective" magazine, is discussed, alongside the gang's violent response to perceived betrayals and failures, exemplified by the brutal killing of Arthur Dunlop.
Later segments explore the gang's relocation to Chicago and their continued daring heists, including the perilous robbery of the First Northwestern Bank of Minneapolis and the First National Bank in Fairbury, Nebraska. The episode emphasizes the growing risks and casualties associated with these robberies, both for the criminals and law enforcement, leading to discussions about the transition from bank robbing to kidnapping as a more profitable venture. The episode concludes by setting the stage for the gang's final downfall and the eventual demise of many of its members.