Sometimes when you are minding your own business, you bump into someone famous or infamous, as in this case.
Road Work
Grandpa Joe McCracken worked for several years maintaining the highways in the southern portion of Bourbon County. In those days, many of the highways were better maintained gravel roads. Thus, road graders or maintainers, as we called them, were used to keep the roads drivable.
Most of the time, Grandpa worked on highway 7 or highway 39 in Bourbon County, Kansas. At that time, highway 7 meandered through Pawnee/Anna. South of there, it turned to the west on what is now Birch Road. Then about a mile west of where highway 7 now runs, it made another turn to the south.
Highway 39 approached Hiattville from the west, turned to the north. Then, about three and a half miles north of Hiattville near the Scofield School, it turned to the east before making more turns on its way to Ft. Scott.
Washing The Car
In was on the stretch of highway 39 east of Scofield School not far from where our Peelle family had lived at one time, that Grandpa had his brush with the infamous. As he was working along the stretch of the road, he came to a creek. Today the roadside in that area and the creek bank are covered with trees and brush. However, in the 1930s, the banks of the creek and the nearby ditch wasn’t quite so covered with trees and brush. It was such that a car could drive right down to the water without difficulty.
Yet, the creek was enough lower than the road that someone in a car or horse and buggy passing by wouldn’t easily see what was going on at the creek. However, on a maintainer, Grandpa was high enough that he had a view of the activities down by the creek.
On that day, Grandpa saw a car down by the water. Nothing appeared to be amiss as there was a couple and they were washing their Ford. Grandpa took in the scene and kept on working as they didn’t appear to need any assistance.
The Recognition
Perhaps at the moment he saw them, he thought he recognized them. After all, they had become front-page news since the incident in southwest Joplin in March of the previous year. The story was too good – hiding out in an apartment over a garage¹ for two weeks; almost getting away with it; an accidental shot of a rifle; a raid by law enforcement; and two dead law enforcement officers. In their escape, they had also left most of their belongings including undeveloped film behind when fleeing the police. The film had provided many captivating photographs that gained the attention of newspapers across the country.
The next day, when the news mentioned that they had been in the area, he was certain. And, he was glad that he had not approached them. Getting in their way or asking too many questions could get you a few bullet holes. It was best to keep your distance from Bonnie and Clyde.
When Did Their Paths Cross?
I never heard a specific date for this event and Grandpa drove a maintainer during all the years that Bonnie and Clyde were active in the area. So, in theory, their paths could have crossed any of the times that Clyde’s gang was on the move.
Since Bourbon County borders Missouri, it fit Clyde’s choice of travel locations as he liked to travel near state lines so that he and his cohorts could easily escape to the neighboring state if the law got too close. So, skirting through the county occurred on more than one occasion.
Although Grandpa could have seen them on one of their trips moving around the country just trying to avoid the law, it seems most likely that Grandpa saw Bonnie and Clyde on April 6, 1934.
By this time, the true nature of Bonnie and Clyde was well known. They had to be very careful in their movements as they had become recognizable. They had once stayed in hotels and ventured into restaurants, but did no longer dare to on most occasions as far too many people recognized them and were willing to turn them in.
April 6, 1934
Stuck In The Mud
On the morning of April 6, Constable Cal Campbell and Percy Boyd, the chief of police at Commerce City, Oklahoma were called to the scene where Clyde’s car had become stuck in the mud. Multiple reasons for the call have been provided. A majority of the stories focus on a motorist that reported that a man had told him to stop and help get a car out of the mud or he would shoot the person. Another version says that they were called to the scene based on drunken behavior and that in an attempt to evade the law, Clyde backed into mud that he couldn’t escape.
In any case, when the two lawmen got out of the car, the Barrow Gang, as Clyde and his cohorts were called, immediately began shooting. Mr. Campbell immediately fell to the ground and Mr. Boyd hurriedly put his hands in the air, but still received a scalp wound.
At that point, the Barrow Gang forced Mr. Boyd into their car. A truck driver freed them from the mud just prior or just after the shooting. Thus, they were able to flee the scene. Clyde drove off with Bonnie at his side wearing a red dress and having a gun lying across her lap. Mr. Boyd and another man, who was believed to possibly be Raymond Hamilton, another known criminal who had recently escaped, rode in the backseat. (Raymond Hamilton later wrote a letter proving that he was in Louisiana at the time of these events.)
On The Run
It wasn’t long before the muddy roads caused trouble again. There were reports that they held guns on one farmer while he pulled their car out of the mud. Another report was that someone was in the middle of the road hindering their progress. So, the threats came out again to get out of their way.
Mr. Boyd couldn’t describe the details of their travels as they were always taking back roads and skirting the towns. However, Mr. Boyd and eyewitnesses indicated that they headed toward Chetopa, Kansas after the shooting. When they were just south of Chetopa, they turned west toward Bartlett, Kansas. After that the reports seem to diverge with some people indicating that it appeared that they were traveling in circles.
As they tried to evade the law, the speedometer passed 90 on multiple occasions (according to Mr. Boyd). So, they were moving quickly, but also trying not to be detected. Still, they did have to slow down at times and even come in contact with people.
The group stopped three times during the day to get gas. No one appeared to suspect anything or recognize them. However, the attendant at the gas station in Bartlett reported them to the sheriff. The others either didn’t recognize them or thought it was better to keep their mouths shut.
The Search
Meanwhile, a posse was immediately raised to look for Bonnie and Clyde. At least one plane took off to search for them from the sky. Reports went out to all neighboring states alerting them that Bonnie and Clyde were on the run and could be coming there way.
A huge focus was put on known hideouts and places connected to the Barrow Gang and others that could possibly be with them. This included several locations in Oklahoma just to the south of Chetopa. They also focused on Joplin as Clyde had connections in the area.
The various law enforcement officers followed many leads; most of which were misleading. They had trouble keeping tabs on where the group was headed. Some believed they were headed to Coffeyville, Kansas. Others thought that they would head south and hide out in the area where they had been or even head to Texas.
Staying Out of Sight
The Barrow Gang, along with their hostage, spent the afternoon mostly criss-crossing the area between Pittsburg and Fort Scott in Southeast Kansas. They weren’t far from Oklahoma, but more importantly they were close to the Missouri state line and they could jump the line if the law got too close.
It would have been during this time that Grandpa encountered Bonnie and Clyde. They likely stopped to wash the car since the black Ford V-8 had become covered with mud in their earlier escapades. Mr. Boyd reported that “the windows were so muddy that no one could see in.” He also reported that they had gotten stuck in a ditch near Ft. Scott. It very well could have been that they got stuck when they pulled off to wash the car.
High school students tried to push them out of the ditch, but couldn’t and Clyde told them to go on their way. Then Clyde stopped a truck and made the man use his truck to pull them out.
During their journey, Mr. Boyd made conversation with the group. Bonnie indicated that Mr. Boyd should tell the world that she wasn’t a cigar smoker. She said that the photo of her with a cigar in her mouth was not what it seemed. She indicated that she had posed with Clyde’s cigar and that it had made her very angry that she had been made out to be a cigar smoker. They also talked about being sorry that they had to shoot Mr. Campbell. However, they indicated that they “had” to do it. Still, in the next breath, they joked about shooting him.
Quick Trip Into Town
Late in the afternoon or in the early evening, they ventured into Fort Scott. The other man besides Clyde bought a newspaper at a drugstore and food at a grocery store as he was not as recognizable. As soon as they got the items they desired, they headed back out of town. They stopped and ate in the woods. The newspaper indicated that Mr. Campbell had died, which they had not previously known. Clyde had hit him with one shot, but it had pierced his heart. Death had come immediately. Mr. Campbell had shot three bullets before he was shot.
Attempt To Steal A Car
Later that evening, they went back into Fort Scott to steal a car. Far too many people had seen this one and it was time for a change. However, Clyde couldn’t find a car to his liking. So, they left town in the same car that they had been driving all day.
During their excursions into town, Clyde had arrogantly driven down Main Street and even driven by the police station.
The Release
Shortly after midnight on April 7, Bonnie and Clyde released their hostage several miles south of Fort Scott. Mr. Boyd walked to Harry Dugan’s home and contacted the sheriff. The sheriff came as quickly as possible. An officer took Mr. Boyd to Fort Scott Mercy Hospital for treatment of his wound while the search for the killers cranked up.
The alert went out as to the last location of Bonnie and Clyde. Local, state, and federal officers amassed along the Kansas border with Missouri and Oklahoma. The National Guard was put into service and officers came from Kansas City, Joplin, and Springfield to assist. In Texas officers rushed to the border with Oklahoma in case the Barrow Gang made it that far. In the coming hours, people reported seeing them in Missouri, Oklahoma, and even Texas. Most of these, and possibly all, weren’t them at all. Despite driving at break-neck speeds, there is a limit on how quickly they could move from place to place.
Another Connection
An interesting side note is that I am also related to Harry Dugan’s wife, whose maiden name was Frances Pellett. She was the great-granddaughter of Able John & Eunity (Harrison) Pellett. Thus, Frances and my grandfather Clifford Claney Pellett were second cousins. Although I have not identified the specific location where Harry and Frances were living at the time, I know that they were likely living near Godfrey in the same general area as my Grandpa Cliff as they lived near my Mom when she was growing up.
Meanwhile, Mr. Boyd filled the officers in regarding the details of the day. He said that the Barrow Gang had treated him well (other than wounding him in the initial conflict). They had helped bandage his head and had given him a fresh shirt and tie to wear. Both actions, however, were likely self-serving since someone with uncovered wounds on their head and bloody clothes was more likely to garner attention than someone who was cleaned up even if bandaged.
Mr. Boyd told what he knew of the path they had taken and filled the officers in on the weapons in the gang’s possession. He had seen 3 machine guns, 3 shot guns, and numerous pistols. They also had a suitcase full of ammunition. The oddest thing he shared might have been that Bonnie had a white pet rabbit with her.
Mr. Boyd told of their confidence and arrogance. Clyde thought he could avoid capture by outsmarting the officers. Bonnie and Clyde felt invincible. And, for the moment they were as they had once again escaped by going against everything the officers thought they would do. Instead of moving toward areas where they had hideouts and knew the roads, they went north and further into the interior of Kansas. Clyde ditched the car in a haystack north of Ottawa, leaving behind a smattering of belongings and a fingerprint.
The End
In the end, Clyde wasn’t smart enough to escape 130 rounds that were fired upon Bonnie and him less than two months later on May 23, 1934. Tipped-off, a posse in Louisiana ambushed them and they never had a chance.
In Retrospect
Given the circumstances of April 6, 1934, there is no telling what might have happened had Grandpa approached or even called out to the people washing their car. Maybe they would have just let Grandpa go like the high school students and the man that pulled them out of the ditch. However, it is hard to tell what might have happened because Clyde, it is said, had a nervous trigger finger. As it was, Grandpa went home that night and went to work the next day like usual.
¹This garage was located at 3347 ½ Oak Ridge Drive. It is preserved and is on the National Historic Register.