Description:

(CLYDE BARROW AND BONNIE PARKER) MARY O'DARE CONFESSION
MARY O'DARE 'The Washerwoman', girlfriend of Barrow Gang member RAYMOND HAMILTON (1914-1935). Mary was the sister of local criminal and early partner of Clyde – O'Dell Chambless. When Hamilton was imprisoned at the Eastham prison farm north of Huntsville, Texas, Bonnie and Clyde raided the farm to free him and four other prisoners on Jan. 16, 1934. One of the other escapees, Joe Palmer, mortally wounded guard M.J. Crowson which led to a shoot to kill order against Barrow and Parker. Simmons hired ex-Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, who formed a six-man posse to execute this order. After a quarrel between Bonnie and Clyde, O'Dare had suggested that Bonnie put something in Clyde's drink to knock him out, and they would take his money and leave. Bonnie immediately told Clyde. Clyde also observed through a rearview mirror that Hamilton was putting some of their robbery money in his pocket. Hamilton left the Barrow Gang after the fight about Mary O'Dare and was recaptured by authorities on April 25, 1934. He was in prison when the pair were ambushed and killed by Hamer's posse on May 23, 1934. An important typed D.S. signed 'Mary Pitts' four times (her married name) with holograph corrections, 4pp. 4to., Wichita Falls, Aug. 3, 1934, a little over two months after Bonnie & Clyde were gunned down. O'Dare signs a full confession, witnessed by an FBI agent and Texas State Police Inspector. The 19-year-old Pitts details her time spent with Hamilton and the Barrow Gang during the early months of 1934, in part: '...The latter part of Feby 1934, I first contacted Raymond Hamilton through his brother Floyd…[who] picked me up at the American Hotel…[and] told me that Raymond…would like to see me…After coaxing me to go along and telling me that Raymond wanted to do something for my brother O'Dell Chambless, who is now confined in the penitentiary at Huntsville for bank robbery, I packed up…The next morning about ten o'clock two cars were ready at Floyd Hamilton's house…One of the cars was driven by L. C. Barrow and the other one by Floyd Hamilton…We sat in the cars until we saw a black V8 Ford come along containing Raymond Hamilton, Henry Methvin, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow…Raymond Hamilton introduced me to Clyde Barrow. Bonnie Parker was drunk and had passed out, and I did not meet her until that same night…After being with the boys about two weeks, including Bonnie Parker, they took me in their car to Wichita Falls, and dropped me off on the road, I went to my mother's house and remained there two days. Henry Methvin, Raymond Hamilton, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow came back in a V8 Ford coach and picked me up. We went through Oklahoma, and other States until we reached Terre Haute, Indiana…Raymond and I rode the bus and train and returned to Beaumont, Texas…After meeting Raymond I got in his car and drove off on some dirt road and spent the night. The next day in the morning after leaving me out on the road about four and one half miles, he told me he was going to town to get breakfast. I noticed him returning very fast in the car. He picked me up and went on and got stuck in the mud and were pulled out by a man. Then we went on and had a wreck. I was knocked unconscious, broke my jaw and cut my nose and head. The next thing I know we were in a car going through Mexia, Texas. There was some woman sitting in the back seat I heard the woman asked Raymond which bank he robbed. He said the bank at West, Texas…We exchanged cars…We had stolen a paper on the road and noticed that two highway police officers had been killed and they suspicioned us or Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker…This was on Monday following Easter Sunday…Then we found out about a killing at Miami, Okla in which the paper stated that Raymond was with Clyde and Bonnie Parker who were suspected of doing the killing…From St. Louis we went by train to Baton Rouge, La…I left him at the depot, and returned to Dallas by bus…In the meantime Raymond robbed a bank at Lewisville, Texas and got caught and was sent back to the Huntsville Penitentiary…I last saw Raymond when he was tried at Huntsville for killing a guard when he escaped from Eastham farm on January 16, 1934. Raymond was sentenced to death…Raymond Hamilton and two others, Joe Palmer and Blackie Thomson escaped from the death cells on July 22, 1934. I do not know anything about the escape and have not seen or heard from Raymond since his escape...' Much more detailed content. Pitts signs at the conclusion, and adds her signature to the bottom of the preceding three pages. In fine condition. Sold with O'Dare's mug shot, 5 x 3.25 in., Dallas, Apr. 30, 1934, with her description penciled on the verso, along with a letter from her attorney to a Dallas Justice Department official discussing her bond. Three pieces.
Ex-lover Raymond Hamilton would be sent to the Texas electric chair the following year.

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April 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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