The October Bonnie & Clyde Polls-- Loyalty, Mules and Bravery

The October B&C Polls were seemingly a rag tag batch of B&C questions. Never the less and true to form-- there "were" apparently a number of challenges, disciphering some of these latest B&C queries. The Bonnie & Clyde Harboring Trial began on February 22nd, 1935. As such, B&C "confederates" from near and far were brought to justice for aiding and abetting Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Perhaps of all the sentences imposed, you would think Henry Methvin might have been given one of the stiffest. But in reality, only 15 months was doled out to the last B&C accomplice. After the killing of Cal Campbell and kidnapping of Percy Boyd-- the Miami Daily News Record described Bonnie Parker as being Clyde Barrow's gun-woman sweetheart. I kind of liked gun toting hellcat-- a phrase I created for this question. In another news related B&C story, according to the Kaufman Daily Herald-- Bonnie Parker and Ralph Fults told authorities the "tall" tale of having ridden in a rodeo at Tulsa, in explaining just how they were able to remain upon a pitching mule for a 5 mile stretch after the Maybank incident.

Blanche and Buck's date of marriage listed upon their marriage license as seized from The Barrow Gang's Joplin Hideout-- was July 1st, 1931. This Barrow marriage document, has been displayed most recently by The Dallas Historical Society Museum. During the Red Crown shootout, Sheriff Holt Coffey was said to have found himself in the precarious position-- of being located in between the 2 Barrow Gang cabins when the firing commenced. Coffey who was also noted to have carried one of the metal shields upon having knocked on the door of Blanche and Buck's cabin-- was wounded in the neck, shoulder and left hand. Apparently upon hearing the prearranged signal Blanche spoke loudly enough for Clyde, Bonnie and W. D. to hear from the adjacent cabin (of needing time to dress)-- Clyde apparently opened up on Coffey from behind. It seems in being caught in the middle of firing from both cabins, Sheriff Coffey was a lucky man to have survived this Barrow Gang escape determined onslaught.

The next question was one in retrospect, I wish I had worded differently. What I was after was the greatest longevity of the Barrow family members. Instead-- apparently all took this question to mean who lived until the most recent year. In the form I meant this question, Henry Barrow would be the correct answer-- as he outlived Marie in terms of being the oldest Barrow upon passing away. However in fairness, I must accept Marie as well-- in terms of having lived as the question stated-- the longest. And in perhaps the most unexpected question of the lot-- "Old Man" Methvin (Ivy Methvin)-- was just 49 years old at the time of the ambush of B&C. Based on this descriptive term used to identify Ivy, in which many seem to envision an elderly man-- Ivy's comparatively young age (younger than Frank Hamer at the time)-- is often surprising. And finally Gene O'Dare, husband of Mary O'Dare-- was reportedly serving 99 years for robbery, while Mary accompanying her new beau Raymond Hamilton on his adventures and misadventures.

"Thanks" as always-- for participating in the B&C Polls. Look for the November edition, of B&C question & answer fun to be posted soon. BTW-- the photo at the head of this post, is by far one of my favorite B&C related photos. How ironic is that shot of W. D. Jones and Henry Methvin handcuffed together at the B&C Harboring trial?? I've always figured this pairing, to have been a deliberate and perhaps hellish joke-- played on W. D. and Henry by law enforcement?? Or it could have been just a practical matter-- with authorities wanting to keep the Barrow Gang members who had killed, together in one spot?? But one thing seems certain-- well before The Odd Couple hit the stage, TV and movies-- somehow that photo qualifies as depicting an indisputable Odd Couple. I've considered the possibility that in looking away as decidedly as they did, that perhaps neither of them wanted anything to do with one another-- although they found themselves attached. I've wondered what W. D. and Henry must have been thinking the moment that photo was taken?? W. D. of course knew when he bailed on B&C, that he didn't directly contribute to killing them. I'm not sure the same could be said, of Henry's realization of any similar thoughts.