The gang was famous in the media at the time because of their actions, which included bank robberies, jail breaks, relationships with women, gun fights, manhunts, and captures.
Edwin Boyd had committed a variety of crimes in his youth and served time in Saskatchewan's Prince Albert Penitentiary at the age of 22.
[1] After returning from service in the Second World War, Boyd robbed a Toronto branch of the Bank of Montreal with a German Luger on September 9, 1949, while drunk and escaped with US$3,000 (equivalent to $38,417 in 2023)[1] With others, he committed six more robberies before he was caught and imprisoned in the Don Jail.
As Tong approached the vehicle, Suchan drew a .455 pistol and shot him and Sergeant Perry in the police car, wounding the latter in the arm.
[1] That night, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's first television newscast, anchored by Lorne Greene and produced by Harry Rasky, detailed the escape.
Although they were defended by prominent lawyers Arthur Maloney and John Josiah Robinette (respectively), both men were found guilty and sentenced to death.
Edwin Boyd, who had not been present at the murder, was defended by Frederick Joseph McMahon, and sentenced to eight life terms plus 27 years concurrently.