jjares reviewed Ma Barker and the Barker-Karpis Gang: The Controversial History of the Criminal Gang during the Great Depression on + 3262 more book reviews
This Depression Era saga is very interesting. I read it in a single sitting because the actions of the gangsters were surprising and varied. I'd always heard that Ma Barker was the ringleader of the gang. The book addresses this fable directly. Members of the gang said that she had nothing to do with the organizing or execution of the crimes. She just offered a home and meals to the various men who were part of the gang. She took care of her sons and their friends and they took care of her.
Some of the members of this gang were on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. What shocked me was that $5000 was offered for each man DEAD. There was no reward offered for a living criminal on the list. I didn't get the impression that these guys were all that smart but they did one clever thing. A doctor was paid to change Fred Barker's face. The surgery was so painful that Fred wanted to be shot dead. Alvin Karpis had the epidermis of his 10 fingers removed by hydrochloric acid (!) and scraping the grooves off of the individual fingers.
The four Barker boys became criminals because of their total lack of "home training." Ma Barker browbeat teachers, administrators, police officers, and police chiefs until the boys thought they were above any law.
Some of the members of this gang were on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. What shocked me was that $5000 was offered for each man DEAD. There was no reward offered for a living criminal on the list. I didn't get the impression that these guys were all that smart but they did one clever thing. A doctor was paid to change Fred Barker's face. The surgery was so painful that Fred wanted to be shot dead. Alvin Karpis had the epidermis of his 10 fingers removed by hydrochloric acid (!) and scraping the grooves off of the individual fingers.
The four Barker boys became criminals because of their total lack of "home training." Ma Barker browbeat teachers, administrators, police officers, and police chiefs until the boys thought they were above any law.
