Friend of Clyde Barrow and brother of Raymond Hamilton's girlfriend Mary O'Dare. Two identical printed fingerprint 'wanted' cards for Odell Chambless issued by Fort Worth Sheriff J. R. Wright, one page, 8 x 8, January 11, 1933. The cards feature images of all ten of Chambless's fingerprints as well as front and side mug shots. Text reads, in part: "Odell Chambless, whose photograph and finger prints are submitted, is badly wanted in this County for the robbery of the Grapevine Home Bank, Grapevine, Texas, December 30, 1932, and who, while in company with Clyde Champion Barrow, resisting arrest on above charge, murdered Deputy Sheriff Malcolm Davis…Both parties are dangerous, especially Barrow, who is already wanted for three or four murders. Every precaution should be taken by arresting officers." One card bears several pencil notations on the reverse. In overall fine condition. From the collection of Dallas County Sheriff 'Smoot' Schmid.
Les Stewart and Odell Chambless hauled in nearly $3,000 in their robbery of the Grapevine Home Bank at the end of December 1932. Stewart was captured only hours afterward, and sold out his partner in crime. He told police that Chambless was a friend of Barrow and suspected that he might seek refuge at the home of Lillie McBride, the sister of Raymond Hamilton. Hoping to trap Chambless, a group of police officers set up at the McBride house to keep watch. On the night of January 6, Barrow pulled into the driveway and, spotting the trap, grabbed his shotgun. After firing into a front window, Barrow encountered Deputy Sheriff Malcolm Davis at close range and shot him in the chest. Barrow managed to escape. Though Chambless was considered a suspect in the Davis murder, he had a solid alibi. By that time he had already made it to California, and had been arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of robbery (one that he hadn't actually committed); he was being held by the Los Angeles police at the time Barrow gunned down Davis. On January 18, Chambless surrendered to the police in Pampa, Texas, in order to end the manhunt and prove his innocence; he was, however, found guilty in the Grapevine bank robbery, and sentenced to 33 years in prison.
