Search results
Kate Barker (born Arizona Donnie Clark; October 8, 1873 – January 16, 1935), better known as Ma Barker (and sometimes known as Arizona Barker and Arrie Barker), was the mother of several American criminals who ran the Barker–Karpis Gang during the "public enemy era" when the exploits of gangs of criminals in the Midwestern United States ...
- Samuel Warde
- Ma Barker’s Early Life. Born Arizona Clark on Oct. 8, 1873 in Ash Grove, Missouri, Ma Barker was the daughter of Scotch-Irish parents John and Emaline Clark.
- Barker’s Sons Embark On A Life Of Crime. As they came of age, Ma Barker’s sons turned to a life of crime, as evidenced by Herman’s 1915 arrest in Joplin, Missouri for highway robbery.
- The Barker-Karpis Gang. Things began looking up for Ma Barker in the spring of 1931 when Fred was unexpectedly released from prison on parole. Fred brought fellow prison inmate Alvin Karpis, alias “Old Creepy,” home with him; the two formed the Barker-Karpis Gang and used Ma Barker’s shack as their hideout.
- Ma Barker Dies In A Hail Of Gunfire. On Jan. 8, 1935, Arthur Barker was arrested by FBI agents in Chicago. Authorities found a map belonging to Arthur and were able to determine that the other gang members were hiding out in Ocklawaha, Florida.
Jun 14, 2024 · Ma Barker was the matriarch of an outlaw gang of brothers and allies engaged in kidnapping and in payroll, post-office, and bank robberies in the 1920s and ’30s. The activities of the gang, which included her sons the “Bloody Barkers”—Herman (1894–1927), Arthur, known as “Doc” (1899–1939), and Fred.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Feb 23, 2024 · The legend of fat, matronly Ma Barker and her four gangster sons. J. Edgar Hoover called Ma a "beast of prey", but many historians believe that Ma only cared for her sons and committed no...
- 46 min
- 1.2M
- Biography
Feb 15, 2023 · Learn about Kate Barker, the mother of notorious Depression-era criminals, who was born in Missouri, married a farmer, and became a fugitive. Discover how she went from a rebellious child to a devoted mother, and how she influenced the Barker-Karpis Gang.
- Becky Stephenson
Ma Barker was the mother of four notorious criminals who ran the Barker-Karpis gang in the 1930s. She travelled with the gang across the US and was accused of being the mastermind behind their crimes, but her involvement is disputed.
People also ask
Who was Kate Barker?
Who was Ma Barker?
What is the Ma Barker story?
Why did Fred Barker hide Ma?
PERHAPS NO WOMAN in history has been as tragically misunderstood as Ma Barker, for the uniqueness of her life lies in its very ordinariness—the round of cheerfully accepted duties and the ...
