The deaths of Bonnie & Clyde

On this day in 1934 outlaws Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut “Champion” Barrow are shot to death during a police ambush while driving a stolen 1934 Ford V8 in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The two had met in January 1930 at a mutual friend’s house and Bonnie was quickly smitten over Clyde. While she was married, her husband was also in and out of jail and they never crossed paths again after the fateful meeting of Bonnie and Clyde. Clyde already had a lengthy criminal history prior to meeting Bonnie. He had been arrested for stealing cars, cracking safes and robberies of various stores. While in jail he killed a fellow inmate for supposedly sexually harassing him, his first murder. Over the course of four years there were numerous others who joined the Bonnie & Clyde gang, including Clyde’s brother buck and his young friend, W.D. Jones, who was 16 when he first got involved. The gang is suspected of at least 13 murders, including nine lawmen. While they were a violent gang they were most often sought for crimes relating to automobile theft. This was because Clyde fancied the new Ford V8s as they were extremely quick compared to most other vehicles on the road. Clyde went so far as to write Henry Ford a letter the month before he died. In the letter he writes, “While I still have got breath in my lungs I will tell you what a dandy car you make. Read the rest of the letter below.    PhotosBonnie & ClydeThe 1934 Ford after the shootoutThe 1934 Ford on display at a Nevada museum