The Life and Death Of

Bonnie & Clyde


(The Gangster Couple)

Bonnie Parker (October 1, 1910 – May 23, 1934) and Clyde Barrow (March 24, 1909 – May 23, 1934) were notorious robbers and criminals who traveled the central United States during the Great Depression.

Their exploits were known nationwide. They captivated the attention of the American press and its readership during what is sometimes referred to as the "public enemy era" between 1931 and 1935. Though remembered as bank robbers, Clyde Barrow preferred to rob small stores or gas stations.

Though the public at the time believed Bonnie to be a full partner in the gang, the role of Bonnie Parker in the Barrow Gang crimes has long been a source of controversy.

Gang members W.D. Jones and Ralph Fults testified that they never saw Bonnie fire a gun, and described her role as logistical.

1. Jones' sworn statement was that "Bonnie never packed a gun, out of the five major gun battles I was with them she never fired a gun." Writing with Phillip Steele in The Family Story of Bonnie and Clyde, Marie Barrow, Clyde's youngest sister, made the same claim: "Bonnie never fired a shot. She just followed my brother no matter where he went."

2. In his article "Bonnie and Clyde: Romeo and Juliet in a Getaway Car", the noted writer Joseph Geringer explained part of their appeal to the public then, and their enduring legend now, by saying "Americans thrilled to their 'Robin Hood' adventures. The presence of a female, Bonnie, escalated the sincerity of their intentions to make them something unique and individual — even at times heroic.

 

 

Bonnie Parker

(October 1, 1910 - May 23, 1934)

Clyde Barrow

Chestnut Barrow aka Clyde Champion Barrow

(March 24, 1909 - May 23, 1934)


Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow collaborated on nationwide crime spree from 1932 until their deaths in 1934. Bonnie met Clyde in West Dallas, Texas in January 1930 and the pair combined to commit 13 murders, numerous kidnappings, and several burglaries and robberies. The FBI and many local law enforcement agencies engaged in one of the largest manhunts in United States history. Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed and killed instantly by a posse of lawmen led by Texas Ranger Frank Hamer near Sailes, south of Gibsland, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, on May 23, 1934. Bonnie was shot 23 times and Clyde was shot 25 times. The posse used Browning Automatic Rifles (BAR) and other weapons. The BAR is a very powerful weapon. Some bullets went completely through one car door and still dented the opposite car door. A total of 167 bullets were fired.

 

 

Bonnie and Clyde

"Stick 'em up"

By. David R. Arredondo

MATERIAL USED: Oil pastel, oil base colored pencil, and acrylic paint. ("15 x 20" ) rag cold press surfaced illustration board of medium weight.

PAINTING SIGNIFICANCE: Rebel souls, deserters we are called, chose a gun and threw away the sun...
-Bad Company

This is a portrait of a 1932 photo of Bonnie & Clyde fooling around.

The Life and death of Bonnie and Clyde

"Bonnie & Clyde"

MATERIAL USED: Oil pastel, oil base colored pencil, and acrylic paint. ("15 x 20" ) rag cold press surfaced illustration board of medium weight.

PAINTING SIGNIFICANCE: "Company, always on the run, destiny is a rising sun... I was born, with a six gun in my hand, behind a gun I make my final stand"
-Bad Company

YESTERDAYS AMERICAN GANGMEMBERS

This is a portrait of a 1932 photo of Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow.

Bonnie and Clyde-ConvictedArtist.com

The Victims


Here's a run-down of the victims of the Barrow Gang. Although Clyde did
not have a hand in killing all of these men, he was nonetheless there,
participating in some form or the other.

John Bucher (Hillsboro, TX, 1932).
Clyde maintained that Raymond Hamilton killed the shopkeeper.

Eugene Moore (Atoka, OK, 1932).
Moore was a police officer who wanted to see if the men in the car (Clyde
and Raymond Hamilton) were drinking moonshine outside of a dance hall.

Howard Hall (Sherman, TX, 1932).
Shopkeeper/butcher. This was Clyde's first direct, intentional murder
(except for the killing of the Eastham Prison trustee.) Some historians
dispute that Clyde did this killing, though.

Doyle Johnson (Temple, TX, 1932).
Killed as he was trying to stop Clyde from stealing his car. W.D. Jones fired
the fatal shot.

Malcolm Davis (Dallas, TX, 1933).
A sheriff's deputy, Davis and his companions were waiting on the outlaws
at the home of Lillian McBride in West Dallas when Clyde shot him
pointblank.

Harry McGinis (Joplin, MO, 1933).
One of the two officers killed in the Joplin, MO garage apartment shootout.

Wes Harryman (Joplin, MO, 1933).
The other officer killed in the shootout.

Henry Humphrey (Alma, AK, 1933).
Killed by W.D. Jones and Buck Barrow.

Major Crowson (Huntsville, TX, 1934).
The mounted guard at Eastham Prison whose death spurred the governor
to action.

E.B. Wheeler (Grapevine, TX, 1934).
One of the two officers killed on a country road on Easter Sunday.

H.D. Murphy (Grapevine, TX, 1934).
The other officer killed on Easter. It is debated whether Clyde or Henry
Methvin instigated the shooting.

Cal Campbell (Commerce, OK, 1934).
A constable from Miami. Their last victim on their desperate run from the
police.

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