Boyd Gang
Encyclopedia
The Boyd Gang was a notorious criminal gang based in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, named for member Edwin Alonzo Boyd
. The gang was a favourite of the media at the time because of its sensational actions, which included bank robberies
, jail break
s, beautiful women, gun fights, manhunts, and daring captures.
's Prince Albert Penitentiary at the age of 22. After returning from service in the Second World War, Boyd robbed a Toronto
branch of the Bank of Montreal
with a gun on September 9, 1949 while drunk and escaped with $3,000 With others, he committed six more robberies before he was caught and imprisoned in the Don Jail
. There he met Willie Jackson
and Lenny Jackson (not related) and together they broke out of jail with a hacksaw concealed in Lenny's artificial leg. After their escape, they were joined by Valent Lesso (a.k.a. Steve Suchan) and committed four more robberies in four months for $75,000. Although Lenny Jackson, a hairdresser from Niagara Falls
, led the group, Boyd's charms and good looks led the media to label them the "Boyd Gang".
Roy Perry stopped a vehicle containing two men; these two men turned out to be Lennie Jackson and Steve Suchan. As Tong approached the vehicle, Suchan drew a .455 pistol and shot him and Sergeant Perry in the police car, wounding the latter in the arm. Tong died of his wounds on March 23, 1952.
Both Jacksons and Suchan were arrested in Montreal
after a shootout with police that left Lennie and Steve wounded. Both men were convicted and sentenced to death
by hanging for the murder of the policeman. Boyd was arrested separately, in Toronto.
's first television newscast, anchored by Lorne Greene
and produced by Harry Rasky
, detailed the escape.
The jail's warden was suspended, and a $26,000 reward was offered for information leading to their arrest.
and Sheppard Avenue
in North York. Lennie Jackson and Steve Suchan were quickly tried for murder. Although they were defended by prominent lawyers Arthur Maloney
and John Josiah Robinette
(respectively), both men were found guilty and sentenced to death. While Jackson had not fired a shot at Tong, he essentially confessed on the stand, which undoubtedly hurt their case. They were executed in a double hanging at the Don Jail in December 1952.
Edwin Boyd, who had not been present at the murder, was sentenced to eight life terms plus twenty-seven years concurrent. Willie Jackson was sentenced to thirty-one years. Both served their terms in Kingston Penitentiary
. Jackson was released on parole in 1966. Boyd was released earlier, in 1962, but returned to prison for four more years after parole violations. He then moved to the west coast of Canada
where he changed his name and re-married. He died in 2002.
's High Park.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, named for member Edwin Alonzo Boyd
Edwin Alonzo Boyd
Edwin Alonzo Boyd was a Canadian criminal and leader of the Boyd Gang. His career made him a notorious Canadian folk hero.-Early life:...
. The gang was a favourite of the media at the time because of its sensational actions, which included bank robberies
Bank robbery
Bank robbery is the crime of stealing from a bank during opening hours. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, robbery is "the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of...
, jail break
Prison escape
A prison escape or prison break is the act of an inmate leaving prison through unofficial or illegal ways. Normally, when this occurs, an effort is made on the part of authorities to recapture them and return them to their original detainers...
s, beautiful women, gun fights, manhunts, and daring captures.
Formation
Edwin Boyd had committed a variety of crimes in his youth and served time in SaskatchewanSaskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
's Prince Albert Penitentiary at the age of 22. After returning from service in the Second World War, Boyd robbed a Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
branch of the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
with a gun on September 9, 1949 while drunk and escaped with $3,000 With others, he committed six more robberies before he was caught and imprisoned in the Don Jail
Don Jail
The Toronto Jail is a provincial jail for remanded offenders in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Riverdale neighbourhood on Gerrard Street East near its intersection with Broadview Avenue. It gets its nickname from the nearby Don River...
. There he met Willie Jackson
Willie Jackson
Willie Jackson may refer to:*Willie Jackson , former NFL wide receiver*Willie Jackson , American former basketball player*Willie Jackson , New Zealand broadcaster and former Alliance list MP...
and Lenny Jackson (not related) and together they broke out of jail with a hacksaw concealed in Lenny's artificial leg. After their escape, they were joined by Valent Lesso (a.k.a. Steve Suchan) and committed four more robberies in four months for $75,000. Although Lenny Jackson, a hairdresser from Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
, led the group, Boyd's charms and good looks led the media to label them the "Boyd Gang".
Death of a policeman
On March 6, 1952, Detective Sergeant Edmund Tong and his partner, SergeantSergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Roy Perry stopped a vehicle containing two men; these two men turned out to be Lennie Jackson and Steve Suchan. As Tong approached the vehicle, Suchan drew a .455 pistol and shot him and Sergeant Perry in the police car, wounding the latter in the arm. Tong died of his wounds on March 23, 1952.
Both Jacksons and Suchan were arrested in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
after a shootout with police that left Lennie and Steve wounded. Both men were convicted and sentenced to death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
by hanging for the murder of the policeman. Boyd was arrested separately, in Toronto.
Second escape
All four men were placed in side-by-side cells in the Don Jail. On Sept. 7, 1952, they managed to escape for a second time with the help of another saw blade smuggled in by a lawyer. The following night, the Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's first television newscast, anchored by Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene , was the stage name of Lyon Himan Green, OC, a Canadian actor.His television roles include Ben Cartwright on the western Bonanza, and Commander Adama in the science fiction movie and subsequent TV Series Battlestar Galactica...
and produced by Harry Rasky
Harry Rasky
Harry Rasky, CM, O.Ont was a Canadian documentary film producer.He was born in Toronto into a Jewish family, where he completed studies at University College. He participated in CBC Television's first four years writing and producing CBC Newsmagazine . He also produced a documentary for the 1961...
, detailed the escape.
The jail's warden was suspended, and a $26,000 reward was offered for information leading to their arrest.
Recapture
Eight days later, they were discovered hiding in a barn near Yonge StreetYonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
and Sheppard Avenue
Sheppard Avenue
Sheppard Avenue is an east-west principal arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A small portion of a continuation of the road in Pickering, Ontario is also called Sheppard Avenue.-History:...
in North York. Lennie Jackson and Steve Suchan were quickly tried for murder. Although they were defended by prominent lawyers Arthur Maloney
Arthur Maloney
Arthur Edward Martin Maloney QC was a Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons and first Ontario Ombudsman from 1975 to 1979....
and John Josiah Robinette
John Josiah Robinette
John Josiah Robinette, was a Canadian lawyer who was one of Canada's premier legal authorities and litigators....
(respectively), both men were found guilty and sentenced to death. While Jackson had not fired a shot at Tong, he essentially confessed on the stand, which undoubtedly hurt their case. They were executed in a double hanging at the Don Jail in December 1952.
Edwin Boyd, who had not been present at the murder, was sentenced to eight life terms plus twenty-seven years concurrent. Willie Jackson was sentenced to thirty-one years. Both served their terms in Kingston Penitentiary
Kingston Penitentiary
Kingston Penitentiary is a maximum security prison located in Kingston, Ontario between King Street West and Lake Ontario....
. Jackson was released on parole in 1966. Boyd was released earlier, in 1962, but returned to prison for four more years after parole violations. He then moved to the west coast of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where he changed his name and re-married. He died in 2002.
Unsolved murder
Journalist Brian Vallée, who interviewed an aging Edwin Boyd, has alleged that Boyd was also responsible for the unsolved 1947 murder of George Vigus and Iris Scott in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's High Park.