Ma Barker and the Barker-Karpis Gang: The Controversial History of the Criminal Gang during the Great Depression

by Charles River Editors

*Includes pictures *Includes a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents America has always preferred heroes who weren’t clean cut, an informal ode to the rugged individualism and pioneering spirit that defined the nation in previous centuries. The early 19th century saw the glorification of frontier folk heroes like Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. After the Civil War, the outlaws of the West were more popular than the marshals, with Jesse James and Billy the Kid finding their way into dime novels. And at the height of the Great Depression in the 1930s, there were the “Public Enemies,” common criminals and cold blooded murderers elevated to the level of folk heroes by a public frustrated with their own inability to make a living honestly. Among America’s most infamous “Public Enemies,” perhaps the most unique and controversial was Kate Barker. With her prominent, hawk-tipped nose and plump, doughy face, framed by a classic dark curly coif and frilly day dresses to match, Ma Barker was as non-threatening as they come. Nary a second glance was given to this grandmotherly figure by those who crossed her path, perhaps at most a polite tip of the hat. Of course, as the age-old adage goes, appearances are often deceiving. According to the FBI and portrayals in popular culture, not only was Ma Barker a crass, greedy, and highly manipulative individual who coaxed her sons into the abyss-like vortex of criminality, she was the matriarchal mastermind of one of the most notorious gangs of the Dirty Thirties era. The public devoured the countless articles that their action-packed crimes generated with gusto, but few could compare to the meteoric whirlwind of morbid excitement that erupted when the sensational story of the Ma Barker Gang made its rounds. The Ma Barker Gang, as they were so branded, wasn't a typical band of small-time crooks. Quite the contrary, the unorthodox family-run enterprise was, as described by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, “the most vicious, cold-blooded crew of murderers, kidnappers, and robbers in recent memory.” The gang was as accomplished – and dangerous – as it was elusive, and between 1930 and 1933 alone, they made off with an estimated $3 million. In their heyday, the gang boasted some 25 members, and through it all, the Barker boys remained its core members. Blood, as per the Barker code, would always be thicker than water. The Ma Barker Gang, which was reportedly governed by the middle-aged, misleadingly unassuming, yet apparently ride-or-die mother of the Barker boys, easily warranted a class of its own. The obvious novelty of the alleged gang leader's identity aside, the disturbing fates of the Barker brothers and many of their associates served as a cautionary tale about the dangers and delusions that ensue when one becomes consumed by unbridled avarice and arrogance. But why were the Barker brothers, once innocent young lads, steered so far off the path of righteousness? What was the true depth of Ma's involvement in the gang's laundry list of despicable crimes? How did the once untouchable gang's winning streak culminate in such catastrophic disaster? The pursuit of the Barkers was a piece of what made the FBI a national institution, and alongside similar efforts to bring John Dillinger and Bonnie & Clyde to justice, the “G-Men” became the symbol of law and order in the early 1930s. The FBI’s dissemination of information about Ma Barker all but cemented her notorious reputation, but in the decades since, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover has become a controversial figure himself and modern historians have reached different conclusions about Ma Barker’s involvement in the gang’s criminal activities.

Genres: True Crime, Biography

71 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2020

About the author

Charles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.

Reviews

[Jerry Jares]

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.

[Gail DiVico]

This is a short audible and very well performed. Like most stories of the 1930's gangs' stories, there are some things that are uncertain. I certainly was never a Hoover fan and still give the benefit of doubt. However, if you are a fan of the 1930's era, I would recommend this listen. It was interesting and presented and did keep my interest.

[Hector R.]

A Real Thriller

Lack of empathy for human lives, each page made adrenaline run through my veins fast. Society in different cultures and geographic territory has it's own versions of Ma Barker-Karpis gang. Scary. A Real thriller recommended.

[Kevin Mac]

Quick, easy read giving information on the Barker's life and crime wave. If you've read other books on early 1930's criminals, this book probably won't add any new information.

[Frank Lewis]

Absolutely terrible!

[Keith Leggott]

Decent enough read

Decent enough read. No great new insight into the gang nor their activities but still a good general overview. Worth a quick read.