Bonnie and Clyde are said to have committed thirteen murders in addition to various acts of robbery, burglary, kidnapping, car theft, and abduction. They were apprehended while actively engaging in these crimes. The discovery of an abandoned Ford vehicle down an embankment on the roadside provided a crucial piece of evidence. Inside the vehicle, authorities found a prescription bottle that served as a clue. This significant finding triggered an investigation that ultimately led the authorities to Clyde’s aunt.
Another example was when Clyde would abduct policemen only to release them unharmed. It was as if the crimes they committed were for survival and enjoyment. Bonnie appeared to be more knowledgeable about the crimes committed by Clyde and the gang. She had warrants for her involvement in over 100 felonies, eight murders, seven kidnappings, several bank robberies, felony armed robberies, numerous automobile thefts, and one particularly severe jailbreak and assault and battery. She understood how to assist without getting caught.
Despite a previous arrest, Bonnie was released because of inadequate evidence. In January 1930, she encountered Clyde and they immediately developed a deep affection for each other. Nevertheless, shortly after their encounter, Clyde was convicted for his prior offenses and sentenced to two years in prison. During his incarceration, Bonnie successfully managed to secretly deliver a firearm to him, assisting in his escape. However, he was recaptured one week later and subsequently given a fourteen-year term at the Eastern Prison Farm in Weldon, TX.
Clyde sought to evade prison life and thus sought a fellow inmate’s assistance to sever some of his toes, hoping for relocation. Although his transfer wish was not fulfilled, he gained early parole. Upon regaining freedom, Clyde made a solemn promise to prefer death over returning to incarceration. As Clyde’s release coincided with the Great Depression, the prevailing circumstances were arduous, rendering it challenging for him to secure stable employment due to his lack of work experience. After Clyde’s foot recuperated, he resumed his thieving and looting activities; however, this time alongside Bonnie and The Barrow Gang.
The members of the gang consistently changed, but it included Bonnie and Clyde, Ray Hamilton, WD Jones, Buck Barrow (Clyde’s brother), Blanche Barrow (Buck’s wife), and Henry Methvin. Together, the gang committed their initial robbery at a nearby hardware store, which resulted in Bonnie’s capture and imprisonment in Kaufman, Texas. During Bonnie’s confinement, Clyde and The Gang tried to rob a general store. Sadly, this particular incident ended with the store owner being shot and killed, marking one of Clyde’s earliest known homicides.
Bonnie showed her undying love for Clyde by deciding to remain with him even when it meant confronting immediate peril. In spite of the unlawful acts they participated in, such as stealing cars and robbing gas stations, grocery stores, and banks, as well as kidnapping incidents, Bonnie stayed fiercely devoted to Clyde. Throughout the time from summer 1932 until spring 1934, they carried out several violent offenses. It is important to mention that Clyde, being more proficient with a gun, did not hesitate to kill.
Allegedly, the individual in question was responsible for the deaths of multiple individuals, including police officers and innocent bystanders during bank robberies. Notably, they were known to kidnap policemen who apprehended them, although no harm was inflicted upon the officers aside from being driven for extensive distances before being released unscathed. In December 1932, the FBI initiated an investigation based on an abandoned Ford vehicle discovered in Jackson, Michigan. This vehicle had been reported stolen in Pawhuska, Oklahoma and was also recognized as stolen from Illinois.
The Ford vehicle flipped over on Bonnie and injured her as it ran down an embankment. Unfortunately, Bonnie couldn’t receive the necessary medical help due to their attempt to escape. Upon examining the vehicle, authorities found a man and a woman inside along with a prescription bottle. Further investigation at a nearby drug store confirmed that the prescription bottle belonged to Clyde’s aunt who stated that he and his brother Buck had visited recently and were driving the stolen Ford.
This investigation led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Bonnie and Clyde in Illinois, as they were suspected of interstate transportation of a stolen automobile. These incidents prompted the FBI’s search for them, suspecting their involvement in murder, multiple bank robberies, burglaries, and car theft. On March 23, 1933, Buck Barrow was released from Texas State Prison after serving time for burglary. Upon his release, he joined Bonnie and Clyde on their crime spree along with his wife Blanche.
Despite committing a number of daring robberies that captured media attention, the Barrow Gang managed to repeatedly evade the law. However, their luck began to run out when they experienced a shootout in Iowa in July 1933, resulting in Buck being fatally wounded and his wife Blanche being captured. Jones, also known as “Pretty Boy” Floyd, was later apprehended in Houston, Texas in November 1933. On November 22, 1933, Bonnie and Clyde narrowly escaped capture during an attempted arrest near Grand Prairie, Texas.
During this incident, Bonnie and Clyde robbed a lawyer on the road and stole his vehicle, which they later left in Miami, Oklahoma. On January 16, 1934, Bonnie and Clyde freed Raymond Hamilton from Eastham State Prison Farm in Waldo, Texas. During the escape, the prisoners shot two guards with automatic pistols. Following this escape, law enforcement officials requested help from other agencies to capture Bonnie and Clyde. This led to the hiring of Texas Ranger Frank Hamer.
While Bonnie and Clyde were in Louisiana, the authorities closely monitored their movements and gathered all the necessary information to corner them. The authorities were determined to capture Bonnie and Clyde due to the severe danger, trouble, and criminal activities they were involved in. Ivan Methvin, Henry’s father, played a crucial role in assisting the authorities in apprehending Bonnie and Clyde. Ivan frequently allowed Bonnie and Clyde to rendezvous with their loved ones at one of his abandoned buildings, an old post office. However, on April 1, 1934, as Bonnie and Clyde were en route to visit their family and friends, they fell into a trap set by the authorities.
Frank Hamer and his former comrades positioned themselves 25 feet away from the road, strategically ensuring they could both hear and see any approaching activity. After a tense seven-hour wait, they finally detected the sound of a rapidly approaching vehicle. In response, one of the officers cautiously approached the highway, prompting the vehicle to halt. Despite the officer’s demand for surrender, immediate gunfire erupted towards the vehicle. The car defiantly continued forward before ultimately coming to a stop in a nearby ditch, with the officers still relentlessly shooting. A staggering total of 167 rounds were discharged into the vehicle, resulting in the tragic demise of 23-year-old Bonnie and 24-year-old Clyde.
In my opinion, the punishment for certain aspects of this case was warranted because of the numerous deaths that occurred. The group was responsible for ending the lives of 13 individuals, thereby causing harm to innocent people. They were involved in theft by taking someone’s belongings without permission and vehicle theft by unlawfully taking someone’s car. The Barrow Gang consistently participated in illegal activities, particularly when faced with challenging circumstances and needing a means of escape. Their choices often involved either killing an individual or abducting an innocent bystander.
According to U.S. laws, it is permissible to impose punishment that is deemed fair. Individuals who violate the law must accept the resulting consequences. When initially apprehended, Bonnie and Clyde were claimed guilty by the defense, and subsequently they engaged in further illegal activities, with some involving Clyde’s brother Buddy. The evidence available to authorities served as substantial proof of their pursuit of the correct criminals, given that all shootings and robberies were executed using a similar approach. The motivation behind Bonnie and Clyde’s extensive criminal endeavors stemmed from their desperation as criminals.
Instead of legally maintaining their desired lifestyle, they chose illegal methods to do so. Their criminal activities allowed them to obtain various possessions such as a saxophone, three automatic rifles, shotguns, a Winchester lever action rifle, seven pistols, forty-five Colt revolvers, thirty-two Colt caliber firearms, a saw-off shotgun, and three thousand rounds of ammunition in order to ensure a steady flow of cash. When authorities found them dead, they also discovered license plates from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Texas, Indiana Kansas Ohio and Louisiana in their car.
Authorities believed that Bonnie and Clyde were both affected by Hybristophilia, a psychological disorder characterized by a sexual attraction towards individuals who have committed severe criminal acts such as murder or rape. This condition is named after Bonnie and Clyde themselves, known for their intense attraction to each other, particularly on Bonnie’s part. Despite numerous opportunities to leave their life of crime, Bonnie decided not to abandon her husband and instead helped him escape from jail.
Despite being caught, Bonnie remained loyal to him, knowing that her loyalty could potentially lead to her execution. Bonnie had a relatively ordinary upbringing, not experiencing poverty or living in a difficult neighborhood. She excelled academically and had a passion for poetry, although she dropped out of school at 16. In contrast, Clyde grew up in constant struggle to survive, relying on the kindness of others to support him and his family during times when they were unable to provide for themselves.
Despite growing up in a tough neighborhood and engaging in criminal activities from a young age, he was already heading towards trouble. Personally, I disagree with the way the couple was apprehended and killed. The unimaginable suffering caused by the excessive bullets mercilessly fired into their vehicle is beyond belief. I think they should have faced consequences for their actions, but maybe through a different approach. If Bonnie and Clyde had opened fire and posed a threat, then I could understand a retaliatory response.
Despite the authorities’ lack of knowledge regarding the ammunition found in Bonnie and Clyde’s vehicle, they had sufficient backup hidden in the bushes, ditches, and woods to capture them. Unfortunately for Bonnie, the one thing she dreaded happened: she suffered a painful death.
Reference
- http://www. fbi. gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/bonnie-and-clyde
- http://history1900s. about. com/od/1930s/a/bonnieandclyde. htm
- http://www. historybuff. com/library/refbonnie.
- html http://www. helium. com/items/1526595-fatal-love-the-psychological-disorder-hybristophilia
