RR Auction Bonnie and Clyde Sowers Raid Archive

Amazing archive of relics and photos related to the ‘Sowers Raid’ conducted by a Dallas Sheriff’s posse on November 22, 1933. Informed of a family gathering that was supposed to take place near Sowers, Texas, the deputies—Millard E. Sweatt, Smoot Schmidt, Ted Hinton, Ed Caster, and Bob Alcorn—lay in wait for the outlaws to arrive. As Barrow approached in a stolen 1933 Ford Model B, he sensed a trap and accelerated past his family's car, at which point the lawmen unleashed a hail of bullets from their Thompson submachine guns, .351 ‘Bullhead’ repeating rifle, and Browning Automatic Rifles. Unable to continue in the decimated vehicle, the gang was forced to abandon and flee on foot, despite wounds to both Parker’s and Barrow’s legs from a bullet that passed through the car. The outlaws escaped, and Sweatt set about collecting relics from the bullet-riddled car, recovering a number of artifacts.

The highlight of this lot is a group of the artifacts recovered by Sweatt from Clyde Barrow’s damaged automobile at the scene. First is a .45 caliber magazine for a Colt M1911 semi-automatic pistol, which exhibits wear consistent with use. Second is a group of seven rounds of live .45 caliber rounds of ammunition, each stamped “F A 32” on the bottom. Third is a group of three ammunition carton remnants, consisting of the bottom of a carton for .45 caliber M1911 rounds from the Frankford Arsenal, and two sides of a box which held Winchester .38 caliber Smith & Wesson rifle cartridges. Included with these is a period ALS to Millard Sweatt’s brother and future chief criminal deputy of Dallas, Allan Sweatt, from Millard’s uncle, Ernest Sweatt, signed “Ernest,” one page on an 8 x 10.5 lined sheet, no date. In full: “Here are the pistols and some other items from the Barrow’s Gang. Thanks again for everything Allan.” The final Sowers-specific item is a vintage glossy 10 x 8 photo of posse members posing with items recovered from the vehicle.

Another item of interest is an original 8 x 8 wanted poster issued for Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, dated May 21, 1934, issued by the Department of Justice Division of Investigation for a violation of the National Motor Vehicle Theft Act, and features individual images of both Parker and Barrow, as well as their physical descriptions, relatives, and criminal records. 

Other items include ten vintage glossy photos, ranging in size from 5 x 4 to 8 x 10, depicting various members of the Barrow Gang and the aftermath of the final, fatal raid undertaken in 1934 and also a fabulous Dallas Sheriff's Department 13 x 11 group portrait depicting Millard Sweatt with his colleagues including posse members Hinton and Alcorn as well as Sheriff Smoot Schmid and Bill Decker. Two members of the Sowers posse—Hinton and Alcorn—took part in this final ambush, and Sweatt duplicated these ten photos from Hinton’s originals. Hinton’s initials are seen in the borders of several of the images. Also present in the lot are three original Sweatt family childhood portraits showing Millard with siblings, ranging in size from 3 x 5 to 4 x 6, one affixed to its original 9 x 13 mount. In overall very good to fine condition. RR Auction COA.

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