By Mason Watson

Bonnie and Clyde were born during the time of the Great Depression. Clyde “Champion” Chestnut Barrow was born on March 24, 1909, in Tellico, Texas which is in Ellis County and was enrolled in Cedar High School however he skipped his classes most of the time. Bonnie Elizabeth Parker was born in Rowena, Texas on October 1, Many people think that Bonnie and Clyde were married, but Bonnie had already married Roy Thornton in Bonnie was very gifted in school and was considered to be a great writer.

Bonnie and Clyde met when Clyde went to go visit a friend’s sister who had broken her leg in Clyde was already a thief with his brother Buck. Bonnie and Clyde were a match from the start.

When Clyde was imprisoned in Waco, Bonnie smuggled a gun to him so he could escape along with William Turner, a fellow inmate, on March 9, Normally, Clyde would switch the license plates on his cars to avoid being caught by the police; however, one slip-up caused him to be recaptured. His freedom lasted a measly 10 days. Then he was recaptured on March 19,1930 and sentenced to 14 years in Eastham prison.

Eastham was an awful prison. It has been said that the guards would draw straws just to see who would beat the new prisoner. The men in the prison were forced to do hard labor. The conditions were so harsh that Clyde cut off two of his toes to avoid working. After Clyde chopping off his toes and Clyde’s mother begging for her child to be released, Clyde is paroled and released from Eastham on February 2,1932. Clyde spent a total of two years in Eastham, 1/7 of his sentenced time.

After the Barrow gang robbed a store, Clyde kicked Bonnie out. Probably, so she wouldn’t get arrested or hurt in some way. After kicking Bonnie out, the Barrow gang robbed a store, killing John Bucher on April 30, Clyde visited Bonnie after the killing and asked her if she wanted to come with him despite all the danger. She decided to go with Clyde. John Bucher:

At a dance in Stringtown, OK, the Barrow Gang shot two police officers, killing Sheriff Eugene Moore and wounding Sheriff Charlie Maxwell on August 5, After this, the Barrow Gang kidnapped police officer Tom A. Persell on January 26,1933.However nothing happened to him, and he was released near Joplin, Missouri just days later. Soon after this kidnapping the infamous Barrow Gang became known as “Bonnie and Clyde”. Tom A. Persell: Sheriff Eugene Moore:

On October 11, 1932, Clyde Barrow killed grocery store owner Howard Hall during a robbery where the gang got $28 and some groceries. Soon after this, W.D Jones joined the gang saying that he had experience in car theft. On December 25, 1932, the Barrow Gang took another victim, Doyle Johnson during a car theft. W.D Jones:

Soon before the shoot-out in Joplin,Missouri, Buck,Clyde’s brother, and his new wife Blanche joined Bonnie, Clyde, and W.D Jones. However, this happy reunion did not last long. On March 13,1933 a neighbor had reported to the police that there was suspicious activity in the apartment next to them. A shoot out ensued. Where policemen Welsey Harriman and Harry McGinnis were killed. Bonnie and Clyde did not have time to retrieve the film they had left behind. This started the tradition of them leaving film behind for the police to find.

Soon after the Joplin shootout, the Barrow Gang stole Dillard Darby’s car, and when he went after them, not knowing who they were, he was kidnapped himself. However, he was not harmed and was dropped off soon after being taken because he had said he was an undertaker. On June 10, 1933, the gang was involved in a car wreck where Bonnie’s leg was burned badly. At this point, the Barrow Gang realized that their lives would eventually come to an end.

On July 19,1933, a shootout occurred in Platte City, Missouri. At this shootout, Buck Barrow was wounded by two bullets in the skull and Blanche was partially blinded because glass had cut her eye. In Dextfield Park, Iowa on July 24,1933, another shootout occurred killing Buck Barrow. Blanche was also imprisoned.

At a picinc on November 22, 1933, yet another shootout occurred however Bonnie and Clyde escaped with only minor wounds. Ted Hinton, someone who knew Bonnie and Clyde, was one of the people who participated in the ambush. At this point, the police force finally decided to not let Bonnie and Clyde get away again. They would shoot first and ask questions later.