Bonnie and Clyde-Legends of America

Bonnie and Clyde were hardened criminals who went on a crime spree committing robberies, kidnapping and even murder. Despite this, by the time they were shot down by authorities the general public had romanticised their story and they had become legends of America.

Clyde Champion Barrow and Bonnie Parker first met in Texas in 1930. Their life of crime together started soon after when Bonnie helped Clyde escape from jail, where he was doing time for burglary. However he was recaptured and the two were parted until he was released in 1932.

They teamed up with William D. Jones in late 1932 and a few months later the gang was joined by Clyde's brother, Ivan M. 'Buck' Barrow and his wife Blanche. Their bold robberies and ability to consistently evade capture kept them in the headlines and forced the police to intensify their efforts to capture them and bring an end the gang's crime spree.

On July 29, 1933, Buck was shot down and his wife captured in a shoot out with the police and a few months later, Jones was apprehended by the sheriff's office. Bonnie and Clyde's crime spree continued with a crime sheet that included, theft, kidnapping a police officer, helping five prisoners escape from jail and murder.

An FBI agent discovered that Bonny and Clyde were hiding out in Ruston, Louisiana where they had a contact named Henry Methvin. Law officials gained information that the criminals were due to arrive in the area after a party and prepared to ambush them.

In the early hours of May 23, 1934, officers hid in bushes along the road where their car was expected. When they sighted the police and FBI, Bonnie and Clyde tried to escape but were killed instantly when officers opened fire on them.

The love the pair had for each other captured the imagination of the general public and although they were hardened criminals, Bonnie and Clyde became legendary figures in the history of America.

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