Ghost Road by Marty Gervais

Author:Marty Gervais [Gervais, Marty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781926845890
Publisher: Biblioasis

Clipping from the Globe upon Red Ryan’s death, May 25, 1936

In recounting that fateful shooting, McSherry said that Ryan was on parole, or what then was called “a ticket of leave.” He worked as a hotel greeter, sold cars, and hosted his radio program. He constantly boasted of being reformed. Meanwhile, he was secretly scheming and running afoul of the law. His new freedom lasted all of ten months. McSherry claimed Ryan was linked to at least three robberies, five safecracking ventures, and a possible murder in Markham during this period. “He was a cold-blooded killer,” McSherry said.

Ryan had hooked up with gang members Edward McMullen and Harry Checkley. He lived a double existence, keeping his robberies from the public eye while continuing to broadcast the message that crime doesn’t pay. But in February 1936, he and his gang broke into a car in Markham with the intention of stealing a 1935 V8 Chevrolet Master Sedan. As they were pulling away, the garage owner and son confronted them. Both the father and son were shot. The father had been shot with a sawed-off shotgun. A local constable pursued the getaway car but gave up after Ryan’s gang sprayed the police vehicle with bullets.

Back in Toronto, Ryan denounced the killings and then boldly walked into police headquarters and offered to help solve the case by acting as an undercover officer.

In May—a few months later—Ryan was killed by police in a liquor store robbery. He must have thought Sarnia seemed an easy target, but it turned out to be his downfall. The robbery went badly.

Ryan was gunned down with an Ivor Johnson .38 revolver in one hand and a Colt. 45 in the other. A dead policeman lay in front of him. Ryan’s last words were, “I give up.”

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