My Life with Bonnie and Clyde (50 page)

19.
The Red Crown complex was situated near the intersection of Highways 71 and 59 six miles south of Platte City, Missouri, an area known at the time as “the junction.” The tavern, which faced west, housed an office, a soda fountain, and a cafe, as well as a dining room that also doubled as a ballroom.
Upstairs, called “the dome,” there were living quarters occupied by William Searles, the nephew of manager Neal Houser, and Searles’s grandmother. The two cabins, made of brick and joined by enclosed garages, stood just north of the tavern, facing south. Searles interview, April 20, 1983; Searles, letter to Phillips, December 14, 1982. The location, near the present intersection of I-29 and Cookingham Road, just one mile west of Ferrelview, was very rural in 1933. Today the spot where the tavern and cabins once stood is in the shadow of the Kansas City International Airport. Kimsey, letter to Phillips, October 25, 2002. In fact, the Red Crown Tavern and cabins were so close to Ferrelview that gunfire could be heard quite clearly there during the battle local residents still call “the horrible nightmare.” In addition to Searles’s description of the Red Crown complex, others have mentioned a service station attached to the tavern, as well as a screened-in porch. Williams, “The Day Bonnie and Clyde Shot It Out.” For a full account of the Platte City, Missouri, incident, see Phillips,
Running with Bonnie and Clyde
, 141–45.

Eyewitnesses stated that it was Blanche who rented the cabins, paying in advance in silver, no bills. That method of payment mildly interested manager Neal Houser, who decided to keep an eye on the group. Searles interview, April 20, 1983. Although most of the local citizens were primarily concerned with what the ongoing drought would do to their crops, mainly corn, there was a basis for the increased vigilance of people like Neal Houser. Platte County was often used as a dumping ground for the victims of gangland killings emanating from nearby Kansas City. Sometimes the murders occurred there as well. Williams, “The Day Bonnie and Clyde Shot It Out.” That, coupled with the killing of four officers and one bank robber in the parking lot of Kansas City’s Union Station the month before, produced many wary eyes throughout the area.

The garage Clyde chose was the westernmost one, the one to the left as one faced the cabins.

20.
This was Neal Houser, actually the manager rather than the owner. The owner was Emmett Breen, a banker and developer from Parkville, Missouri, who had opened the Red Crown Tavern exactly two years to the day before the shoot-out.
Kansas City Star
, September 17, 1978. Captain William J. Baxter of the Missouri Highway Patrol later testified that he had been made aware of “some suspicious characters” at “the junction.” Baxter, who frequented both the Red Crown Tavern and a filling station–convenience store called Slim’s Castle, situated across the road, checked the license plate—Oklahoma 78-872—of the Barrow car and deduced that the group occupying the Red Crown cabins were outlaws of some kind.
Dallas Dispatch
, February 24, 1935;
Kansas City Star
, July 20, 1933. Local authorities had already been advised to be aware of strangers purchasing medical supplies, particularly burn medicine. When Blanche visited Platte City Drugs, the clerk contacted Sheriff Holt Coffey. By then others, including Neal Houser, had also alerted Coffey. Searles interview, April 20, 1983;
The Landmark
, May 28, 1982.

21.
Blanche probably refers here to the service station at the Red Crown Tavern. However, there was another service station across the road at Slim’s
Castle. Nevertheless, Buck and Blanche occupied the east cabin, to the right as one faced the building, away from Slim’s Castle. Bonnie, Clyde, and W. D. shared the west cabin. The car was parked in the west cabin garage, uncharacteristically facing in. Searles interview, April 20, 1983; Crawford interview, April 19, 1983; Searles, letter to Phillips, December 14, 1982; Crawford, letter to Phillips, December 21, 1982.

22.
In the original manuscript, Blanche wrote “shotgun” here, then crossed it out.

23.
In the original manuscript, Blanche wrote, “And more beer and pay 4 dollars for the cabins” here, then crossed it out.

24.
Houser had indeed gone to Platte City because of his guests. He notified Sheriff Holt Coffey of his suspicions and had probably already spoken to his friend Captain William Baxter of the Missouri Highway Patrol. Eventually Platte County prosecutor David Clevenger got involved. For a number of reasons, authorities in and around Platte City began to suspect the Barrow brothers were at the Red Crown. If that was true, Coffey knew he was at a disadvantage. Considering the deadly and ferocious confrontations with officers in Joplin, Missouri, and outside of Alma, Arkansas, the sheriff understood that he would be completely outgunned by the likes of Clyde and Buck Barrow.

He had been advised of two things, that Clyde Barrow seemed “bullet-proof” and that neither he nor his brother would be taken alive. Many years later, Coffey’s son, Clarence recalled his father’s reaction to news that the Barrow brothers were in his neighborhood: “The look on my father’s face. I’ll never forget that!” he said.
The Landmark
, July 21, 1933;
Kansas City Star
, September 17, 1978.

Coffey had no protective gear, no radios, no weapons to speak of other than “squirrel rifles and a few pistols.” Coffey decided to enlist reinforcements. The Missouri Highway Patrol, only two years old at the time and locally represented by Baxter and his partner, L. A. Ellis, was very cooperative. Such was not the case with Jackson County Sheriff Tom Bash in nearby Kansas City. “I’m getting pretty damn tired of every hick sheriff in the country coming in here and telling me they have a bunch of desperadoes holed up and wanting help. I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do for you,” Bash told Coffey. Coffey argued with Bash and finally the latter decided to lend Platte County one protective shield, one “bullet-proof” car, and a few officers. Coffey suspected that Bash gave in to his demands just to get rid of him. Williams, “The Day Bonnie and Clyde Shot It Out.”

25.
Clyde and W. D. may have gone to Platte City Drugs, but witnesses only remember seeing a woman.
The Landmark
, May 28, 1982. In fact, some described a woman who was undoubtedly Blanche. Platte City Drugs, also called “Louie’s” after owner-operator Louis Bernstein, was a pharmacy and sundries store that also had a counter and served coffee and soft drinks. So it was often populated during that sizzling hot summer with local citizens trying to beat the heat. “Of course none of us thought we knew everyone who traded with Louie’s,” said one patron. “And customers buying bandages and medicines
were a common occurence. But at that we didn’t see many strangers, so you can see how that particular stranger—a rather good-looking gal dressed in a slinky riding habit—attracted considerable attention.” Williams, “The Day Bonnie and Clyde Shot It Out.”

26.
Searles remembered thinking how odd it was to have the shades drawn on such a hot day. Searles interview, April 20, 1983. Indeed, witnesses described newspapers covering the windows.
The Landmark
, July 21, 1933.

27.
Bonnie and Clyde had made a suicide pact. Moon and Huddleston, “Bonnie, Clyde, and Me,” 10. Jones also makes reference to this, noting that one could not live without the other because “That’s all they had, was to love each other.” Jones, interview by Biffle, June 1969.

28.
This was eighteen year-old Vivien Smitson, the night-shift waitress. “Mr. Houser and everyone who worked in the cafe were suspicious,” said Smitson. “Mostly because at least two men and two women were known to be occupying the cabins but only this rather attractive woman ventured out.” Williams, “The Day Bonnie and Clyde Shot it Out with the Law,” Others saw at least one of the men in the cafe with Blanche, during the day when Smitson was off-duty. The man was thought to have been Buck. Crawford, April 19, 1983. However, it was probably W. D. Jones. Blanche described being in the cafe once with Jones when he playfully lifted her onto a set of scales, the same scales mentioned in the text. Jones then started kidding her about her weight. According to Blanche, it was then that she and Jones both turned around to see Sheriff Coffey staring at them. Blanche Barrow interview, November 3, 1984. Smitson only saw Blanche on the night of the shoot-out.

29.
By then, Sheriff Coffey and Captain Baxter had begun to assemble a number of men on the south side of the Red Crown Tavern, including members of the Kansas City police department and other Jackson County officers. Crawford interview, April 19, 1983; Searles interview, April 20, 1983. Two sources list a posse of thirteen, including Sheriff Coffey, Deputy Lincoln Baker, Deputy George Borden, Deputy Tom Hulett, Constable Byron Fischer, and prosecutor David Clevenger from Platte County; Deputy George Highfill, Deputy James Thorpe, Deputy Lyle Smith, and Deputy William Ryan from Jackson County; and Captain William Baxter, Sergeant Thomas Whitecotton, and Patrolman L. A. Ellis from the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Kansas City Star
, July 20, 1933;
The Landmark
, July 28, 1933.

30.
Blanche said the same thing to Holt Coffey, David Clevenger, and Kermit Crawford after her capture. Crawford interview, April 20, 1983.

31.
According to Blanche some of the things to be washed were for Bonnie, which contradicts the idea that Blanche refused to help her, at least then. Blanche Barrow interview, November 3, 1984.

32.
The place was called Slim’s Castle, after owner Charles “Slim” Myers. It was a combination filling station–convenience store managed by Kermit “Curley” Crawford. Jones arrived there at approximately ten-thirty that evening. Crawford waited on him. Jones ordered five sandwiches and five soda pops. Even though Blanche makes reference to beer, Crawford was sure Jones
ordered soda pop. While Crawford was preparing the order, Jones, who had introduced himself as Jack Sherman, kept looking warily toward the Red Crown Tavern. There were a lot of cars parked and people milling around. Crawford knew there was a dance underway and may have mentioned it to Jones. Indeed there was a dance. Coffey and Baxter were waiting for it to wrap up at 11
P.M.
before making a move on the cabins. Jones took the sandwiches and drinks across the street. Crawford interview, April 19, 1983.

33.
The lights were soon turned on again, illuminating the cabins. Crawford interview, April 19, 1983.

34.
This was Sheriff Coffey. Some say he was holding a piece of boiler plate in front of him as a shield and facing the east cabin, the one occupied by Blanche and Buck. His back was to the west cabin, a near-fatal mistake. Crawford interview, April 19, 1983. Other sources say Captain Baxter was with Coffey and that neither had shields. Instead, several Jackson County deputies had shields and they stood around Coffey and Baxter, screening them.
Kansas City Star
, July 20, 1933.

35.
Clyde and W. D. heard Blanche. “That’s the law,” Barrow said. “Get the car started.” Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, Jones, Voluntary Statement B-71, 14.

36.
The weapon was a Browning automatic rifle, a military weapon, one of several stolen from the National Guard armory at Enid, Oklahoma, July 7, 1933.

37.
This was a vehicle described as “bullet-proof” and supplied grudgingly by Jackson County Sheriff Tom Bash. It was driven in front of the west garage door by Jackson County Deputy George Highfill, presumably to block the car inside. Searles interview, April 20, 1983; Crawford interview, April 19, 1983;
The Landmark
, May 21, 1982; Williams, “The Day Bonnie and Clyde Shot It Out with the Law.”

38.
Some thought Clyde Barrow fired the first shot. As Blanche was telling Sheriff Coffey the men were in the other cabin, Barrow leaped up and said, “That’s the law!” He then opened the door slightly, peeked out, grabbed his gun from under the bed and fired first through the narrow clerestory windows on the garage door, then fired bursts from the front door and all the windows. Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, Jones, Voluntary Statement B-71, 14; Blanche Barrow interview, November 3, 1984. Barrow’s first shot grazed Coffey’s neck, knocking him down. Wood splinters and shards of glass from the garage door sprayed the area. The sheriff recovered quickly, dropped his shield, and darted to the Red Crown Tavern. “And then all hell broke loose!” Crawford interview, April 19, 1983.

Coffey thought the gunfire erupted simultaneously from both cabins. He was hit in the neck, shoulder, and little finger. According to his own account, Coffey and Baxter knocked on the door, saying, “This is Sheriff Coffey. Come out. I want to talk to you.” A woman answered, “As soon as we get dressed.” Several minutes later the woman said, “The men are in the other cabin.” Coffey replied, “You’d better come out or we are going to start bombarding.” Then
fire erupted from both cabins simultaneously.
Kansas City Star
, July 20, 1933;
The Landmark
, July 21, 1933; Williams, “The Day Bonnie and Clyde Shot It Out with the Law.”

39.
Clyde was doing the same next door. This was confirmed by Kermit Crawford, manager of Slim’s Castle, who was standing on his driveway across the road from the cabins. He described the first shot from the west garage, then long shafts of flame as gunfire erupted from each of the windows in both cabins. The assembled posse also opened fire. At one point bullets raked across the pavement near Crawford. He quickly moved inside and hurried upstairs, watching the rest of the battle from the roof of Slim’s Castle. Crawford interview, April 19, 1983. Sixteen-year-old Clarence Coffey, son of the sheriff, and eighteen-year-old waitress Vivien Smitson, the one who had just waited on Blanche, decided to step out onto the tavern’s screened-in porch, only a few yards from the cabins, to watch the activity. They had just stepped out there when gunfire erupted. Suddenly large chunks of wood, brick, and tile from the cafe started flying everywhere. “Did we get a good view!” Smitson said years later. The waitress dropped to the floor immediately, but Coffey saw his father go down with the first burst of gunfire. “Daddy!” he screamed. Smitson reached up and jerked Coffey to the floor. By then he was wounded and spraying blood on Smitson. She dragged him into the kitchen where they hid between the counter and the stove. Smitson was struck in the head by a bullet fragment or a piece of debris that embedded itself just under the skin. Though causing her to bleed moderately she never sought treatment. Coffey, however, was wounded in the right arm and back, and grazed on the cheek, and a bullet fragment had become lodged in his scalp. The arm wound was considered life-threatening for some time.
The Landmark
, July 21, 1933;
Kansas City Star
, September 17, 1978; Williams, “The Day Bonnie and Clyde Shot It Out with the Law.” One eyewitness reported that Clarence Coffey was struck in the arm while hiding in the kitchen, that an armor-piercing slug penetrated the wall of the tavern’s kitchen, drilled through the stove, and struck Coffey. Searles interview, April 20, 1983.