Description:

(1907 - 1979) American bank robber and kidnapper captured by J. Edgar Hoover in 1936. His bail was the highest ever at the time, and he escaped the electric chair only to serve the longest-ever stretch at Alcatraz, including 17 years in solitary. An interesting signed manuscript titled"Ma Was Always Somebody in Our Lives", 11pp. 4to., from his memoirs,"The Alvin Karpis Story", in which Karpis talks about "Ma" Barker's role in the Karpis-Barker Gang. In part:"...The most ridiculous story in the annals of crime is that Ma Barker was the mastermind behind the Karpis-Barker Gang...If you believe the legends, Ma was the most famous and the most feared woman in the United States at one time, a thief and a killer. She was none of those things. She wasn't a leader of criminals or even a criminal herself...I challenge the FBI to prove otherwise. It's probably too late to rewrite the legend, but I'd like to try..." Karpis continues throughout the document to defend Barker as"...just an old-fashioned homebody from the Ozarks...", while including fascinating details about their crime spree, including their murdering of a West Plains sheriff, as well as the murder of Ma's boyfriend Dunlop for being drunk, abusive, and too talkative. Much more great content. Karpis signs at the conclusion in bold blue ink. Some editor's marks in pencil, coffee stain at the bottom left, else very good.

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April 1, 2020 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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