Collection of items generally related to members and associates of the Barrow Gang, including:
Joe Chambless Signed Fingerprint Card and Original Vintage Mug Shot Photograph:
Two items related to the 1934 arrest and processing of suspected Barrow Gang affiliate Joe Chambless: an original vintage glossy 5 x 4 mug shot photo; and an original Department of Justice fingerprint card, 8 x 8, signed in the lower right by Chambless. The opposite side of the card lists the institution as the Wichita Falls Police Department, a received date of October 5, 1934, and notes the crime as "Investigation—Released." Additionally, the card features a physical description and brief criminal history consisting of an "Internal Revenue" charge in June 1934. In overall very good condition, with deep vertical crease through center, horizontal crease towards bottom, and rusty paperclip impressions to top left center of photo; and a horizontal crease to card. Chambless was the father of Mary O'Dare Pitts and Odell Chambless. Pitts dated Barrow Gang member Raymond Hamilton and, for a short time, was a fringe member herself, in spite of the disapproval of both Bonnie and Clyde. Odell Chambless dated the sister of Hamilton, Lillian McBride, and was an integral reason for the death of Deputy Malcolm Davis on January 6, 1933. Davis was shot and killed by a shotgun-toting Clyde Barrow when the latter stopped at the McBride house to confirm plans for an upcoming prison break of Lillian’s brother, Raymond. Davis and three other police officers were staking out the residence for the expected arrival of Odell Chambless, the culprit in a recent Fort Worth bank robbery.
Hilton Bybee Original Vintage Mug Shot Photograph and FBI Papers:
Portion of a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal profile for convicted murderer and Eastham Prison Farm escapee Hilton Bybee, including: a vintage glossy 3.25 x 5 head-and-shoulders photo of Bybee, with physical description form on reverse filled out in black ink; two pages of handwritten memos, 8 x 10.5, listing Bybee's physical traits, family, known hangouts, and affiliated parties, with one page bearing an FBI Dallas office stamp dated July 6, 1937; and two typed letters from Special Agent F. J. Blake, both unsigned, 8 x 10.5. The first, dated July 3, 1937, concerns Bybee's escape from the Texas State Penitentiary farm on June 22, 1937; the second, dated August 6, 1937, in full: "Please withdraw Wanted Notice placed in the Identification Division as requested in my letter of July 3, 1937 against the above individual. Bybee was killed on July 20, 1937 near Monticello, Arkansas." In overall very good to fine condition, with scattered surface impressions and horizontal crease through facial area.
Beulah Praytor Signed Fingerprint Card and Original Vintage Mug Shot Photograph:
Two items related to the 1934 arrest and processing of suspected Barrow Gang affiliate Beulah Praytor: an original vintage glossy 5 x 4 mug shot photo, with arrest number in background dated "9-5-34"; and an original Department of Justice fingerprint card, 8 x 8, signed in the lower right by Praytor. The opposite side of the card lists the institution as the Wichita Falls Police Department, a received date of October 5, 1934, and notes the crime as "Investigation—Released." Additionally, the card features a physical description and brief criminal history consisting of an "Internal Revenue" charge in June 1934. In overall very good condition, with horizontal creases and paperclip impressions to both. The common law wife of Joe Chambless, Praytor was one of 23 indicted on charges of harboring and concealing the late Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Others charged included the mothers of the two bandits, Cumie Barrow and Emma Parker, former gang member Henry Methvin, Marry Pitts, L. C. Barrow, Blanche Barrow, Billie Mace, and Lillian McBride. Both McBride and Praytor were dismissed when the case first opened, for lack of evidence.
FBI Science of Fingerprints Book:
Rare book: The Science of Fingerprints. Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office, 1973. Paperback, 5.75 x 9, 198 pages. In very good to fine condition, with toning to cover and bottom right corner folds to first several pages.
