On a chilly December morning in 1927, the small town of Cisco, Texas, became the site of one of the most infamous—and strangely festive—bank robberies in American history. What began as a stunt involving a man in a Santa suit quickly spiraled into a deadly shootout, a massive manhunt, and a tale that still haunts the Lone Star State nearly a century later.
Marshall Ratliff
A Heist in Holiday Disguise
Marshall Ratliff, a career criminal recently released from prison, had a plan. Dressed in a full Santa Claus costume, complete with a beard and floppy red hat, he would charm his way into the First National Bank of Cisco while his three armed accomplices waited nearby. The date was December 23, and the streets were bustling with Christmas cheer. No one suspected that “Santa” was about to pull a gun.
Once inside, Ratliff announced the holdup. The gang swiftly began emptying the cash drawers while horrified customers and employees were forced to the floor. But outside, a brave young girl who had seen “Santa” enter the bank ran to alert the police.
Photograph, Members of the crowd that pursued the Santa Claus robbers.
Shootout on Avenue D
The response was immediate. Police Chief G.E. Bedford and Officer R.T. Redies arrived quickly, guns drawn. What followed was a chaotic shootout right in the middle of downtown Cisco. The robbers took hostages and fled in a getaway car—only to be chased by law enforcement and angry citizens armed with hunting rifles.
In the end, two police officers were killed, several others wounded, and two of the robbers were captured after an intense manhunt. Ratliff was later caught as well, but his story didn’t end in court.
Vigilante Justice
Awaiting trial, Ratliff feigned paralysis in a desperate attempt to avoid execution. But the citizens of Eastland County weren’t buying it. On November 19, 1929, a mob stormed the jail, dragged Ratliff from his cell, and lynched him in the street—a grim end to a man who once tried to rob a bank while dressed as Santa Claus.
Location of the jail where the mob attacked Ratliff
Location: Eastland, TX
Ratliff was located in a cell on the second floor.
Legacy of the Crime
The Santa Claus Bank Robbery remains one of the most bizarre and tragic crimes in Texas history. It’s a reminder of how holiday joy and criminal desperation can collide with deadly consequences. Today, the city of Cisco remembers the event with historical markers and museum exhibits, keeping alive a story that is as surreal as it is sobering.
