The rise and fall of a Legendary
criminal.


Frank “Jelly” Nash was born on February 6, 1887, in
Birdseye, Indiana. His father, John “Pappy” Nash, started
hotels in several southern towns. Nash’s mother, Alta,
was the second of John’s three wives. Nash had two
sisters and two stepbrothers. Living in Paragould from
1893 to 1896, he then moved with his father to
Jonesboro and, afterward, to Hobart, which he later
treated as his hometown.
Jelly began working in his fathers hotel business, he
then enlisted in the army from 1904-1907.
 The
nickname Jelly originated from his
profession and skill to blow things up, so
jelly is slang for nitroglycerin.
 It is estimated that Nash was involved in
about 200 bank robberies .
 He planned vague plans to escape prison
while he was incarcerated and even
when he was released.
 Jelly
Nash’ first time getting arrested was in
1913.
• He and a friend, Nollie “Humpy” Wartman stole
$1,000 from a store in OKC.
• As they were escaping, Humpy and Jelly agreed to
hide the money.
• Result- Jelly shot Humpy in the back, and later on
convicted and sentenced to Life in OKC state
penitentiary.
• 1918, He convinced the warden to shorten his time
so he could join the army, and on August 16, 1918,
Frank Nash served in Belleau Woods.
Two years later, Nash was indicted for burglary using
explosives, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He
then became a trusty and got his time reduced to 5
years. Nash was released December 29, 1922 quickly
joining a group of bank robbers called the AlSpencer gang.
 August 20, 1923, the Spencer Gang robbed the Postal
Train. Nash fled to Juarez, Mexico. The US eventually
found him along with 3 others from the Spencer gang
and were all charged with 25 years in prison for mail
robbery, and assault on a mail custodian. He became
the Wardens chef and general handyman, when he
was sent out to run errands, he never returned.

 Frank
Nash escaped to Chicago Illinois.
 Still doing crime, he assisted to help
seven others escape out of prison in
December, 1931
 Nash moved to Hot Springs in the spring
of 1932.
 The
feds had learned that Frank was in
Hot Springs still on the run. They arrested
him and drove to Fort Smith, Arkansas.
 Word had gotten around of where the
Feds had took Nash and planned an
escape.
 They
arrived at the Kansas City Union
Station at 7:15am on June 17, 1933. Nash
was placed in a parked car outside the
station.
 Many shots were fired and at the end
Nash was killed by Charles “Pretty Boy”
Floyd, along with his gang.
 As a result of this tragedy, the Feds were
able to carry guns and make arrest on
their own.
 Frank
Nash only served 10 years of
indictment in his lifetime!
The Kansas City Train
Station
The vehicle that Frank
Nash was being
temporarily held in.
The vehicle of the
murderers