Wanted poster for the DeAutremonts

The Postal Inspection Service released this 'Wanted' poster for the three DeAutremont brothers for robbery and murder on a mail train. The poster includes a synopsis of the crime, announcement of the $15,900 reward, and photographs and descriptions of each brother. Determined to track them down, postal inspectors sent 2.5 million posters in six different languages to law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and around the world.

The twins Roy and Ray and their brother Hugh DeAutremont ambushed the Southern Pacific train #13 near Siskiyou, Oregon, on October 11, 1923. Three railway employees were killed, and a fire sparked by the use of too much dynamite burned much of the mail and claimed the life of the Railway Post Office clerk. An extensive manhunt produced the arrest of Hugh DeAutremont in 1927, followed by the apprehension of his brothers a few months later. All three were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Wanted posters have assisted law enforcement agencies by eliciting information from the public. Formerly a fixture in post office lobbies, wanted posters captured many people's attention in this well-trafficked, community space.