On this date in 1935, Kate “Ma” Barker, matriarch of the infamous family of criminals, died along with her son Fred in a hail of gunfire near Ocala, FL. Far from the Tommy-gun toting outlaw she’s been portrayed as in popular culture, Ma Barker’s role in the Barker-Karpis gang was probably limited to providing logistical and moral (or is it immoral?) support.
On January 8, 1935, her son Arthur “Doc” Barker was arrested in Chicago. When he was searched, he was found to have a map of the area where his brother Fred Barker was hiding out with Ma. On the 16th, federal agents surrounded the house and ordered the Barkers to surrender. A gunfight followed. Both Ma and Fred were killed in the battle. When they entered the house, agents found a Tommy gun still in Ma’s hands. Or so they claimed.
Further reading:
Wikipedia – Ma Barker
truTV – Alvin Karpis: Pursuit of the Last Public Enemy
Find a Grave – “Ma” Barker
FBI – Barker-Karpis Gang
Poughkeepsie Eagle-News, January 17, 1935 – “Fred Barker and Mother Slain in Florida Hideout”
John D.:
Ma Barker…not the BEST role-model for parenting.
Makes a good case for running away (to join the circus) as a child.
Good story.
Roll safe out there.
She was a real Mother of the Year candidate, wasn’t she?
I heard the FL house was for sale some time back?
Looks like it might still be for sale.
http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-08-23/bullets-included-with-this-ma-barkerfbi-shootout-home-for-sale-in-florida/