Bonnie Parker, the girl bandit who lived and died with Clyde Barrow, as two of the most desparate killers the southwest has known, was employed in Dodge City three years ago this summer.
The first year that the Black Cow, a root beer stand, was operated at the junction of highways 45 and U.S. 283, at the south edge of the city, she was an attendant there, according to a diary found after she and Barrow were shot to death by Texas officers. Local persons will remember her as the slender dark haired girl who "hopped cars" at the root beer and chicken sandwich stand.
This information has just come to Sheriff Will Zurbucken. The girl worked there about five months, according to the diary.
After that she and Cyde Barrow operated a chili stand in Hugoton for several months, according to the same source of information. Barrow was a fugitive then but not nearly so notorious as he became a year or so afterward.
Until that information came from the diary, the first intimation of their connection with this immediate vicinity, was the escape they made from the Meade city park a year ago this month, after they had kidnapped a rancher from Wilmore and ditched his car at Meade. They escaped when Henry Messingill of their outfit was attacked by a woman with a croquet mallet in the park when he attempted to take a car there.
Also see:
Alva Trummel Kidnapped (by Bonnie & Clyde), The Western Star, 8 Sept 1933.
Bill Brock relates Story of Highway Robbery at Meade Park, The Fowler News, September 7, 1933.
Research on the Alva Trummel Kidnapping by Bonnie and Clyde
Although there is no reference to Bonnie and Clyde (who were killed May 23, 1934, in Louisiana) in the following story, it is interesting to note that kidnapping someone whose car they had stolen was something frequently done by Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, as they did when they stole Alva Trummel's car, that the kidnappers were driving a car stolen in Oklahoma City and that they "were in a jam and had to have Pipkin's car to make a getaway":
No Trace Found of Trio Who Kidnapped Barber at Coldwater Friday Night: H. E. Pipkin Freed by Kidnappers Late Friday Evening Near Olin Millam Farm, The Western Star, June 8, 1934.
Off-site Links to Information about Bonnie & Clyde: (The following links will open in a new browser window.)
Bonnie and Clyde - Wikipedia article.
Bonnie & Clyde: Romeo & Juliet in a Getaway Car
FBI History, Famous Cases: Bonnie & Clyde
Bonnie & Clyde, the 1960's film by Arthur Penn, available on DVD
Bonnie & Clyde: Original "Wanted" Poster
Issued 2 days before they were killed on 23 May 1934.In Search of Bonnie & Clyde Places in or near Dallas, Texas associated with the Barrow Gang.
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