Vanessa Richardson

Steve may have been suspicious of Catherine's intentions, but hiring George was ultimately good for his bottom line. With his charming good looks and clean-cut style, George fit in with respectable society in a way most gangsters didn't. Known as the society bootlegger, he sold liquor from a briefcase, taking the goods directly to wealthy clientele.

Steve may have been suspicious of Catherine's intentions, but hiring George was ultimately good for his bottom line. With his charming good looks and clean-cut style, George fit in with respectable society in a way most gangsters didn't. Known as the society bootlegger, he sold liquor from a briefcase, taking the goods directly to wealthy clientele.

This influx of well-to-do customers improved Steve and Catherine's operation. But even though George was great for business, Steve probably should have kept a closer eye on him and Catherine. Because in September of 1930, while Steve was out of town, 35-year-old George took 26-year-old Catherine out to dinner. Before their drinks even arrived, he spontaneously proposed.

This influx of well-to-do customers improved Steve and Catherine's operation. But even though George was great for business, Steve probably should have kept a closer eye on him and Catherine. Because in September of 1930, while Steve was out of town, 35-year-old George took 26-year-old Catherine out to dinner. Before their drinks even arrived, he spontaneously proposed.

She accepted without a second's hesitation. They rushed back to Little Steve's place and stuffed all of Catherine's things into Steve's Cadillac, which they took to Minnesota. By this stage, there were more than a couple of warrants out for George's arrest, and probably Catherine's too, so they needed to keep government paperwork to a minimum.

She accepted without a second's hesitation. They rushed back to Little Steve's place and stuffed all of Catherine's things into Steve's Cadillac, which they took to Minnesota. By this stage, there were more than a couple of warrants out for George's arrest, and probably Catherine's too, so they needed to keep government paperwork to a minimum.

Fortunately, George had connections up north who could arrange a hasty wedding. Afterwards, the newlyweds returned to Texas and spent their honeymoon doing their two favorite things, partying and shopping. Between the two of them, the Kellys could spend a fair amount of money. Their wardrobes alone were worth thousands, and that was just one of their expenses.

Fortunately, George had connections up north who could arrange a hasty wedding. Afterwards, the newlyweds returned to Texas and spent their honeymoon doing their two favorite things, partying and shopping. Between the two of them, the Kellys could spend a fair amount of money. Their wardrobes alone were worth thousands, and that was just one of their expenses.

So once the fun was had, they needed to get back to business. Unfortunately, by the 1930s, the power of the temperance movement was waning. The end of Prohibition was in sight, and bootlegging wasn't as lucrative as it had been. But George had a plan. He'd made a few friends in prison who dabbled in a much more profitable business than liquor.

So once the fun was had, they needed to get back to business. Unfortunately, by the 1930s, the power of the temperance movement was waning. The end of Prohibition was in sight, and bootlegging wasn't as lucrative as it had been. But George had a plan. He'd made a few friends in prison who dabbled in a much more profitable business than liquor.

They robbed banks, and the Kellys wanted in on the action. In 1930, 26-year-old Catherine Kelly finally married her perfect match, 35-year-old gangster George Kelly. Together, they embodied the ideal image of the Prohibition-era underworld. They were a gorgeous couple, living it up with the finest fashion, diamonds, and Cadillacs.

They robbed banks, and the Kellys wanted in on the action. In 1930, 26-year-old Catherine Kelly finally married her perfect match, 35-year-old gangster George Kelly. Together, they embodied the ideal image of the Prohibition-era underworld. They were a gorgeous couple, living it up with the finest fashion, diamonds, and Cadillacs.

But with bootlegging on the way out, they needed a new way to stay flush. So, after a quick trip to Minnesota for an even quicker marriage ceremony, George reached out to some folks he'd met during his time at Leavenworth Penitentiary. His friends put him in contact with Harvey Bailey, the most successful bank robber of the period.

But with bootlegging on the way out, they needed a new way to stay flush. So, after a quick trip to Minnesota for an even quicker marriage ceremony, George reached out to some folks he'd met during his time at Leavenworth Penitentiary. His friends put him in contact with Harvey Bailey, the most successful bank robber of the period.

Bailey took George under his wing, passing along all of his hard-earned criminal wisdom. The trick, he said, was to focus on mid-sized towns and little cities, places where there'd be enough money to make it worth stealing, but not so much that local police were likely to be on guard. Bailey taught George how to study the banks, how to track business activity like payroll deposits.

Bailey took George under his wing, passing along all of his hard-earned criminal wisdom. The trick, he said, was to focus on mid-sized towns and little cities, places where there'd be enough money to make it worth stealing, but not so much that local police were likely to be on guard. Bailey taught George how to study the banks, how to track business activity like payroll deposits.

With a few days of careful observation, George could nearly pinpoint the day the take would be at its highest. And soon, George could too. He absorbed all the lessons Bailey had to offer. Well, all except the most important one. Don't ever work with women. especially when it came to their lips. In short, he believed women were gossips.

With a few days of careful observation, George could nearly pinpoint the day the take would be at its highest. And soon, George could too. He absorbed all the lessons Bailey had to offer. Well, all except the most important one. Don't ever work with women. especially when it came to their lips. In short, he believed women were gossips.

And okay, Catherine liked to chat and share secrets, but she was also a major asset. She was smart, she was cunning, and she was ruthless. Once George struck out on his own, he was more than happy to include her in his schemes. While George and another associate went inside a bank, she waited in the parking lot, manning the getaway car.

And okay, Catherine liked to chat and share secrets, but she was also a major asset. She was smart, she was cunning, and she was ruthless. Once George struck out on his own, he was more than happy to include her in his schemes. While George and another associate went inside a bank, she waited in the parking lot, manning the getaway car.