RR Autograph Auction Bonnie and Clyde Conger’s Store Brick

A 4.5 x 2 x 4.5 brick removed from the left side of the front door entrance of Conger’s Furniture Store and Funeral Parlor in Arcadia, Louisiana, where Bonnie’s and Clyde’s bodies were taken after they were killed in the ambush on May 23, 1934, where the autopsies performed. Brick was removed shortly before the building was demolished in the late 1990s. RR Auction COA.

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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.

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=2081

RR Autograph Auctions Bonnie and Clyde Bullets and Photo Archive

Bullets test-fired from the guns of Bonnie and Clyde and crime scene and autopsy photos. In late 2002 the producers of History’s Detectives were contacted by a woman named Cassandra Goss, who claimed to be in the possession of five bullets associated with Bonnie and Clyde. She stated that the bullets had been in her family for two generations and originated from her great grandfather-in-law, J. D. Goss.

Goss was a Dallas ballistics expert who was called in to assist George Lacy (the same George Lacy whose name was printed on seven of the photos) in an analysis of test bullets fired from the guns found in Bonnie and Clyde's car after their deaths. That information was crucial to another case taking place in Fort Worth regarding the killing of two State Highway patrolmen on April 1, 1934, approximately seven weeks prior to the death of Bonnie and Clyde. Ironically the chief suspect in those killings was Bonnie's sister, Billie Mace. Goss was brought in to establish whether or not those test bullets fired from the guns in Bonnie and Clyde's car matched up with bullets found at the scene of the crime. Five .45 shell casings were found at the April 1st crime scene, and Bonnie and Clyde's car was found to have seven Colt .45s among their vast arsenal. On May 31st George Lacy announced that the test bullets matched the bullets found at the crime scene and Billie Mace was released.

Based upon all these facts, it was the conclusion of the show's panel that the evidence strongly suggested that the two .45 caliber bullets were from the group of test bullets fired from Bonnie’s and Clyde's guns—bullets that eventually exonerated Bonnie's sister, Billie Mace.

Included in this lot are one of those .45 caliber bullets, and three .38 caliber bullets (these bullets have solid and credible oral history associating them to Bonnie and Clyde as shown on the TV show). Also included are all 27 of the first generation photographs that originally accompanied the bullets. Aside from having one of the actual guns used by Bonnie and Clyde, this bullet, fired from one of the guns found in their car at the time of their death, represents a direct collectible link relating to the legendary outlaw duo. Nearly equal in significance are the photographs themselves. First generation photographs of Bonnie and Clyde are extremely desirable. Ten of the images picture Bonnie and/or Clyde, including five graphic death shots, three of Bonnie and two of Clyde. The others include members of their gang as well as shots of their bullet-riddled car. Related papers provided by the show's producers, documenting their findings are also included.

http://www.rrauction.com/bidtracker_detail.cfm?IN=52

RR Autograph Auctions Bonnie and Clyde Freak Show Banner

An amazing, and all together totally unique, item in the world of serious Gangster collectibles, an original and authentic early 1930s traveling side-show banner exploiting the antics of criminals, Bonnie and Clyde, and perhaps the onlyone of it's type still in existence upon the face of the planet.

This banner measures 12' x 9', and is a side show banner dated to the early 1930s, or before simply from how the banner is hung. From these dates, side show banners were traditionally hung from having a straight board sewn in at the banners top side to simply hang the banner when arriving to the next location. This is banner is clearly fabricated like this, along with the leather attachment loops, and hardware matching a banner from this time. Soon after freak show banners started attaching corner leather loops which is how they were made until now. The banner was made in the early 1930s. The banners of this type are hand-painted works upon canvas. This banner was manufactured in Kansas, Mo. and illustrated by an artist, “Gene,” who signed the work “Gene,” in his monogram. Emblazoned on the banner in large print is “Crime Wave…Boy & Girl Gangsters. See Inside. The Wages Of Crime Is Death.”

This Crime Wave Bonnie and Clyde banner was originally found by noted freak show banner expert, Bruce Webb. He found the banner in Kansas City, Missouri, nearly two decades ago inside a barn. He professionally unwrapped the piece, and produced what you see now. The banner has never been restored, nor requires a restoration as the rotted left side, and few holes within the piece remain as a natural testament for what it is! Webb did 'treat' the banner to prevent any further damage resulting from insects, or the like, and has made the canvas stable.

The banner being offered here is one of he first ever Bonnie and Clyde roadshow banners to to exploit Bonnie and Clyde when they were still living. Bonnie’s beret is featured on in this banner's art (like the Joplin, Mo. pictures), which could date the banner back to 1933, but the banner could have possibly been manufactured at the very first part of 1934. These dates all are in sync with how this particular banner was constructed.This is why their names are not printed at all upon the poster as the roadshow profiteers were not stupid, because if their names were on it, that might have led to a visit from the gangsters, and the outcome of that visit could have been less than pleasant.

The banner has been on exhibit for the past several months in a freak show banner display held at the Webb Gallery in Waxahachie, Texas. The art style is like that of freak show banners, which are highly sought and collected today.

From the Collection of Thomas Carl Rainone.

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