There are many still living who have important historical recollections of the early G-Men who served the FBI and their Country.    This section is devoted to their remembrances.  Whether you're a son, a daughter, a distant relative, retired FBI Agent or just a friend, we'd love to have your thoughts here. 

If you'd like to post here, please send me an email titled "Reflections" in the subject line and it will be incorporated into this page.  Please bear in mind that in light of space considerations etc., the owner has the right to edit submissions. 

On FBI Special Agent Chris Callan, Brady Gang Investigation

"My father, Chris Callan, graduated from Georgetown Law School in 1932 and found a job with the FBI in 1934. He was an excellent athlete, having lettered in basketball and tennis during his undergraduate years at Georgetown. His first office was Philadelphia, where he became totally smitten with a nurse at Hahnemann Hospital. They married in his hometown of D.C., and he was immediately transferred to Boston.

It was there that he found his first major challenge. He was the case agent on the Brady Case. This resulted in a nationwide press event, when FBI Agents destroyed the Brady operation on 10/12/37. I asked him about his role in the take down. He said that he and others covered it from a store above the take down. He was never sure about his abilities with firearms but he was damn sure about how to organize a shoot.

He transferred to the Trenton RA, where he said that he had a good relationship with a local chief trying to do things right, but shortly after that , he was transferred to Springfield, Ill. and assigned to the Danville RA. He was happy as an RA and gave his son - me - one bit of advice. The life of an Resident Agent (RA)  is the best there is in the Bureau. Be your own boss and stay away from the suits. I followed it."  (Submitted By:  Retired Special Agent, FBI Dave Callan - Florida)

 

On Special Agent Daniel Sullivan, Dillinger & Other Investigations

Your Name: Mike Sullivan
Your Email: mikesullivan2@gmail.com

Subject: GMEN
Message: My grandfather is Dan Sullivan. My sister told me about this website. I wanted to let you know that I have been looking for old photos and info on my grandfather. As you are probably aware it is very difficult seeing as how the web was not around then. I have several books that mention my grandfather in them. My dad passed away last year and I have been working very hard to learn as much as I can about the history of his father, my grandfather. I want to be able to pass this history on to my children when they get older.

Thank you very much for putting this together.

Regards,

Mike

On Brady Gang Members, James Dalhover and Clarence Shafer

Hello,my name is Cathy and I have been doing research on the Brady Gang. James Dalhover was my grandfather and Clarence Shafer was my uncle. They weren't talked about too often because of the embarrassment to my family.I have learned that there are some things written that were not true. When I came across your site and read about them, I thought it interesting and the repercussions from my grandfather went down the line in the family. My mother was teased and my sister was refused a job due to him. I also would like to state for the record that they all got what was coming to them. My grandmother lived by this mantra: If you can lie,you can steal and if you can do that, you can kill. She was quite a lady, nothing like Life magazine's protrayal of her or her sister.  Thanks for talking to me Larry. Cathy (Pennsylvania)

 

On San Antonio gun dealer, Harold Lebman:

Larry,

Thank you for the materials on Harold Lebman. As a first office agent in the San Antonio Division in the period 1969-70 I got to know Mr. Lebman. He operated a shop on Flores St in San Antonio that was known as "Lebman's Saddlery ". It manufactured custom saddles, holsters, belts and related items, in addition to selling a wide range of firearms.

Shortly after reporting for duty I was taken to Lebman's by another first office agent, Ed Tickel. A number of agents used to drop by his establishment to look at the guns, occasionally buy a holster and listen to Mr. Lebman's stories of times past. The store had not changed in decades and was located on an old dirt street that had wooden side walks. There were pictures in the store that were taken in the 1930's and the shop in the late 60s and 70s had not changed much. There was one photograph I recall seeing
that had a rack of Thompson's sitting at the entrance to the store.

Mr. Labman told some of us about his selling Thompson's and other automatic weapons to all sorts of characters but I do not recall him mentioning those listed in the letter that you posted. He was a very colorful figure from the past. When I met him he had to be in his very late 60s or early 70s. He had two sons that worked with him that seemed like nice fellows but were dull by comparison to the father. During that time I learned from some old time San Antonio residents that Mr. Lebman was quite wealthy, having over the years acquired thousands of acres of land that he leased out as feedlots to cattle ranchers.

I did have him make me a holster which I carried for many years.

Thanks again for digging up such interesting incidents in the Bureau's history.

Jay Grodin, Retired SA, FBI

 

George Franklin in 2008 On His Father, FBI SA George H. Franklin  (Notes On Elfego Baca)

According to his son, SA George H. Franklin (1932-1954) worked the Southwest as a local law enforcement officer before the FBI and after joining the Bureau played a role in some high profile cases, including the chase/shootout & capture of  Buck Barrow, older brother of Clyde Barrow.  SA Franklin had once owned Buck Barrow's shotgun. 

According to George, his father was also close to "Jelly" Bryce and was instrumental in convincing Bryce to join the Bureau in 1934. Bryce had saved George's life as a young teen by shooting a bear that was chasing him.  His father was also close to legendary lawman, Elfego Baca.  With that regard, George Franklin notes:

Larry.........

"Elfego Baca was indeed a lawman at times (self-appointed on at least one occasion) including sheriff of Socorro County, NM.  He was involved with Doroteo Arango (aka Pancho Villa)  and other notable characters of the day. My dad served as a Bernalillo Co. NM deputy sheriff in 1921 before moving to the Alb. PD."

In 1921 my dad was 18 years old and Elfego was a notorious character and gunman practicing law in Albuquerque (approx. 57 years old).  Elfego was known to get drunk and disorderly at times and since he had many unsettled scores he always carried a sidearm and had dispatched several men in his time.  A complaint was phoned in re Elfego's being drunk in an oldtown bar and my dad was dispatched to bring him in. Because of his reputation my dad was careful to approach Elfego from behind with his gun drawn.  Elfego was disarmed and taken to the old court house for booking. After sobering up Elfego looked up my dad and told him "I was never so scared - I knew you were just a green kid and I thought you would shoot me before we got to the jail".

"In the years after that incident Elfego would walk with my dad when he had the downtown foot patrol and blessed him with many stories of the "wild west" - many true and many "embellished".

"Shortly before Elfego died he gave my dad a colt .45 made in 1882. Many years later my dad drew up documents certifying the pistols origin and passed it on to me.  Of all the known, authentic Baca firearms it is the only one old enough to have been one of the two Colts he used in the Frisco, NM shootout of 1884.  My dad and Elfego formed a bridge between two very interesting eras - wish we had their stories on tape!  Feel free to share this and I'd like to hear more about Baca and my father if anyone knew them or has information. "

George Franklin,  New Mexico

g.franklin01@comcast.net

 

On SA Charles Winstead In 2008 From A Former Neighbor

Your Name: guy seaborn
Your Email: seaborn@osogrande.com
Subject: Charles W Winstead
Message: Hello, I have enjoyed greatly finding info about " Charley" Winstead. As a youngster in the 50s and 60s I knew Charley well. A friend of mine who lived across the street from him. He still has in his garage Charles 1961 Chevrolet and a Model 94 30-30 rifle. We have talked many hours about him and our experiences with Charley. Everybody knew he had been at the Dillinger shooting, but he would never say what his role was. Just that there were a lot of people involved. Thank you for putting all this togather. It means a lot to us that Mr. Winstead now can be read about. The picture of him with Rinky his dog and horse ; which I have forgotten, is hangin my friends home . We stood there last night looking and remembering. Thanks again. Guy Seaborn 505 344-8170

 

On SA William L. Buchanan In 2008 From His Son, William - The Karpis Famous "Tie Story"

Dear Mr. Wack,

My father was William L Buchanan,who was originally Chief of Detectives in Waco,Tx.,joined the FBI in 1934 or 1935 and was a dear friend of Clarence Hurt and D.A.”Jelly” Bryce.  He was with Mr. Hurt on many of the famous cases of  those times including Pretty Boy Floyd, Ma Barker, Roger Toughy, and Alvin Karpis.

I have many letters both professional and personal written to my father by Mr. Hoover.  The official letter from Hoover after the apprehension of Karpis and Fred Hunter in May of 1936 congratulated my father for his “fearlessness” and recommended an increase in his grade from Caf-9 at $3300 per year to Caf-10 at $3600 per year.

Apparently at the time the apprehension of Karpis, none of the agents had their handcuffs and so my father removed his new tie and tied up Karpis’s hands. In 1940, my dad wrote Mr. Hoover and stated that he had been on many “necktie” parties but none more memorable than the Karpis case and he included with the letter, the same tie.  Mr. Hoover replied a few days later that he had received the tie and stated that he was looking forward to his visit to Oklahoma in June of 1940 and he hoped that he could join my dad and the boys on a fishing trip.

My dad lived through a number of tense and dangerous situations,but died at the age of 46 from renal failure as the result of post streptococcal nephritis acquired in the  pre-penicillin era. I have very nice letter from Mr Hoover  dated July 24th,1947 that was sent to my mother thanking my father for his service to his country and included my dad’s official badge. I was 2 years old.  Following my dad’s death, we had a steady stream of FBI agents including Hurt and Bryce, and Federal Marshals, state and local officials, coming to our house to make sure we were okay.  I’m very sorry that I never really knew my dad.  By all accounts, he was very gregarious, but at the
same time very modest.  Throughout my life I have met numerous individuals who have described him as one of the “nicest but one of the bravest son-of-a bitches I have ever met”.---I think this is a compliment!  I would be very happy to hear from you.