BARROW Gang At Caledonia

BARROW, PARKER, JONES, MARSH, MAY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/24/2009 at 22:37:19

Redding Herald
Redding, Ringgold County, Iowa
July 27, 1933

BARROW GANG AT CALEDONIA STORE

The BARROW bandits, three men and two women, two of whom were captured near Dexter Monday, camped for dinner a short distance north of Caledonia Thursday of last week. They have left a trail of murder and robbery from Texas through Oklahoma, Arkanss, missouri and Iowa. Their latest battle before coming into Iowa was at North Platte, Missouri, when they shot their way out of a tourist camp and escaped from a posse of a dozen officers who had demanded their surrender. Some of them were severely wounded at North Platte.

Last Thursday they drove through Caledonia, past the store a short distance, and one man came backand bought a can of gasoline and carried it to the car. He also bought some bandages and groceries. They camped for dinner a short distance north of Caledonia.

After they had gone, a farmer living nearby noticed they had left a fire and he went to investigate and he found they had attempted to burn some bloody clothing. he stomped the fire out and called the sherrif, but nother more was heard until they were captured at Dexter Monday. By their description it is said there is no doubt but what they were the BARROW bunch.

The property 1 1/4 miles north of Caledonia where the BARROW gang stopped belonged to Frank MARSH. He was the one who called the sheriff. Frank's grandson John MAY recalled that when the campers were later identified, there was quite a scare in the family when a stranger came to the house asking for Frank. It wasn't know if the man was a member of the BARROW gang or not.

During the Platte City, Missouri, shoot-out, Buck was wounded and the flying glass injured Blanche's eye. Blanche and Buck were captured at Dexter. Buck died a few days later in a hospital at Perry, Iowa. Blanche went to prison in Missouri. W. D. JONES also went to prison. Bonnie and Clyde met their fate on a rural Louisiana road. The Story of the Barrow Gang can be found on Ringgold County's History Page about Bonnie and Clyde.

SOURCE: genealogical and historical clippings of Norma G. (FOLAND) BECKER

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009