Thriller Thursday: Bonnie Elizabeth PARKER (1910-1934) Post #1

I have the PARKER surname in my tree from my 2nd Great-Grand Mother Nettie Mae PARKER. I have heard rumors in the family that Bonnie PARKER might be a distant cousin. Over the next few months I am going to be doing a lot of research to see if there is any truth to this family mystery. In the meantime I will be posting stories of Bonnie's 22 month crime spree.

Bonnie Elizabeth PARKER was born on 01 Oct 1910 in Rowena, Texas, USA. as the second child of Charles PARKER and Emma KRAUSE. She had three siblings, namely: Hubert Nicholas and Billie Jean. When she was 15, She married Roy Glenn THORNTON, son of Wilmer Harrison THORNTON and Florence May MARCY, on 25 Sep 1926. She died on 23 May 1934 in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, USA.

Bonnie PARKER'S first brush with the law occurred in April of 1932. Bonnie PARKER along with Clyde BARROW and Ralph FULTS were entering the Robert H. Brock Store in Mabank, Kaufman, Texas, USA when the were spotted by Police Chief David DRENNAN. The gang fled west in a car that was believed to have been stolen from Tyler, Texas. After a few miles of the chase and the car stalled in mud in Cedar Creek  Bottom west of Mabank, then gang stole two mules and made a five mile run north to Kemp, Texas. Once in Kemp the gang stole another car and turned back to the southeast towards Mabank. After another short car chase the second vehicle gave out the gang continued there run on foot while taking shots at pursuing officers. During the short foot chase Ralph FULTS was shot in the hand and this forced him to surrender. When he surrendered he was checked and found to be carrying an automatic pistol. Bonnie surrendered at the same time and told authorities that she had no part in the gun fight and didn't know what she did during it. She was covered in mud and found to be carrying no weapons. Clyde BARROW was able to escape the authorities this time. Ralph and Bonnie were taken back to the Kemp Calaboose Jail in  Kemp, Kaufman, Texas, USA. During questioning Ralph FULTS used the alias "Jack Sherman" and Bonnie PARKER used the alias "Betty Thornton". When asked about there ability to stay on the mule's during the 5 mile run through the mud they told authorities that they had ridden in the rodeo in Tulsa and that the bucking animal was no obstacle to them. Bonnie was no billed for the crime by a Kaufman County grand jury on 17 Jun 1932 and was released.

 

  

Shannon Richard-Crews © 2013 The Enrichment Tree