Bonnie & Clyde

This Day in History: May 23, 1934

Live fast, die young! While that may have been the motto of the legend James Dean, it also is apropos for the legendary Bonnie & Clyde.

Portrait of American bank robbers and lovers
Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, circa 1933

Hulton Archive/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Unlike Dean, the lives of Bonnie & Clyde ended violently. A life of crime and passion followed Bonnie & Clyde as they left behind an image of Robin Hood rather than mass murderers thereby capturing the imagination of the nation. The era was the Great Depression during which time the country was against government, a fact of which Bonnie and Clyde used to their advantage.

For two years, 1932-1934, Bonnie and Clyde captivated Depression-era America.

In some ways it was easy to romanticize Bonnie and Clyde. They were a young couple in love who were out on the open road, running from the "big, bad law" who were "out to get them." Clyde's impressive driving skill got the gang out of many close calls, while Bonnie's poetry won the hearts of many. Although Bonnie and Clyde had killed people, they were equally known for kidnapping policemen who had caught up to them and then driving them around for hours only to release them, unharmed, hundreds of miles away. The two seemed like they were on an adventure, having fun while easily side-stepping the law.
Source: Bonnie and Clyde

Everything ended on this day, May 23, 1934, for the charismatic Clyde Barrow and unlikely criminal Bonnie Parker. 

Instead of being captured, tried, sentenced and punished for their crimes according to a court of law, they were ambushed by four posse members, concealed in the bushes...Gunned down in a whirlwind of riveting bullets numbering a combined total of about 130 rounds.

Their gunfire was so loud, the posse suffered temporary deafness all afternoon.
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

  You've read the story of Jesse James,
of how he lived and died.
If you're still in the need
of something to read,
here's The Story of Bonnie and Clyde.

10 Things You May Not Know About Bonnie and Clyde