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Ma Barker: Who was this Female Gangster?

Ma Barker, whose real name was Arizona Donnie Clark, was born in Ash Grove, Missouri, to John and Emaline Clark. Ma Barker was a notorious criminal who led a gang that committed bank robberies and kidnappings in the 1930s. Her gang was notorious for its violent crimes and evaded the police for several years. They operated from a string of rented houses in St. Paul, Minnesota, under the protection of the police chief.

1. She married George Barker in 1892

OTB St. Louis-451 (49033925091).jpg , , via Wikimedia Commons

The couple had four sons with him, but George was described as “shiftless” and the family paid little attention to their son’s education. Barker’s sons began committing crimes in 1910 and were involved in increasingly serious offences, including robbery and murder.

Herman died in 1927, and Lloyd, Arthur, and Fred were incarcerated in federal and state prisons. George left Ma, either because she had become morally loose or because he could not tolerate his criminal family. Ma lived in poverty from 1928 to 1930 in a shack without a job or husband, but she began living with Arthur W. Dunlop in 1930.

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2. She changed her name after the death of her husband

Ma became known as “Kate” after she travelled with her son Fred and Alvin Karpis, forming the Barker-Karpis Gang. The gang’s most notorious crimes were committed after they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, with the protection of police chief Thomas “Big Tom” Brown. Dunlop was murdered by the gang, who suspected him of being loose-lipped. Brown was demoted and later dismissed from the police force for his involvement with the gang’s escape.

3. She took a major role as a gang leader

Ma Barker’s role within the gang became more prominent during this time as she acted as a liaison between the core members of the gang and their criminal associates in Chicago. With her cunning and street smarts, she was able to help the gang evade detection and launder their ill-gotten gains. However, her leadership within the gang also made her a target for law enforcement.

The FBI agents discovered the hideout of Ma Barker and her son Fred in Ocklawaha, Florida, after Arthur was arrested in Chicago and a map found in his possession indicated their whereabouts. The agents were able to identify the property, which was rented under a pseudonym by the gang, as a country retreat where the mother and sons wanted to vacation.

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4. She was killed by the FBI in her home

FBI LIVE FIRE TRAINING AT FORT MCCOY 160427-A-PP120-048.jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On January 16, 1935, the FBI surrounded the house and ordered the two to surrender, but Fred opened fire, leading to a prolonged shootout with federal agents.

Eventually, both Ma and Fred were killed by the agents, who had not realized that other gang members had already left the hideout. Local people allegedly gathered to watch the events unfolding, even picnicking during the gunfire. After the gunfire ceased, a handyman was sent in to report that there were no survivors inside.

Ma Barker was buried next to her son Fred in the cemetery of the Williams Timber Company in Lake Weir, Florida. Her burial was not celebrated, and there were no public ceremonies or memorials held in her honour. The Barker family did not attend her funeral, and only a few of her friends and neighbours were present. Her grave remains unmarked to this day.

5. She has been greatly been portrayed in filmography

Despite the portrayal of Ma Barker as the leader and criminal mastermind of the gang in films like Ma Barker’s Killer Brood (1960), Bloody Mama (1970), and Public Enemies (1996), historians widely regard this as fictional. Some have even been sceptical that she was involved in the shootout that led to her death.

6. She left a great legacy after her death

Nelson Leigh in Ma Barker’s Killer Brood.jpg , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Karpis has suggested that the story was encouraged by J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI to justify the killing of an elderly woman. After her death, Hoover claimed that Ma Barker was the most dangerous, vicious, and resourceful criminal brain of the past decade. He also alleged that she enjoyed the lavish lifestyle that resulted from her sons’ criminal activities and had multiple lovers.

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7. Her gang engaged in various criminal activities

The Barker-Karpis gang, consisting of Ma Barker’s children, was notorious for a string of criminal activities such as robberies, kidnappings, and murders during the years 1931-1935. However, it remains unclear whether Ma Barker was the mastermind behind their crimes.

While she was aware of the gang’s operations and aided them before and after their criminal acts, there is no evidence that she was involved in planning them. Rather, her role seems to have been that of taking care of the gang members and allowing them to disguise themselves as a family, with her apparent respectability and age providing a cover for their hideouts. As Claire Bond Potter notes, gang members would often send Ma Barker to the movies while they carried out their illegal activities.

In conclusion, despite the public’s fascination with Ma Barker and her criminal exploits, some historians have argued that her role within the gang has been exaggerated. While she may have been a loyal supporter of her sons, she was not the mastermind behind their crimes. Nevertheless, Ma Barker’s legend has persisted and her name has become synonymous with ruthless female gangsters.

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