In July his parole was denied by Justice Secretary Jack Straw, who said the Great Train Robber was "wholly unrepentant" about his actions, and had "outrageously courted the media" during his many years on the run.

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Police said the robber, who was carrying a gun, told Mr Garbutt "we've got your wife" before demanding cash.

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The Gilded Age was followed by the Progressive Era of tough laws and court actions against Robber Barons who controlled state legislatures and Congress with their anti-trust legislation.

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In 2011, a year after the publication of his autobiography, "Robber: From Suburbs to Organized Crime, " Faid, who was free at the time, landed back behind bars.

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