“MA’ BARKER, NOTORIOUS WOMAN CRIMINAL By R. M. FOX DURING THE gangster era in America nany tough criminals and gunmen com- yeted for the doubtful distinction of being -nown as Public Enemy No. 1. These in- luded John Dillinger, “Legs” Diamond, ‘Baby Face” Nelson and other choice scoun- jrels. But Edgar Hoover, the head of the federal Bureau of Investigation, awarded he title to none of these. He picked out | quiet, grey-haired women of about sixty, cnown as “Ma Barker,” and described her is possessing the most vicious, dangerous nd resourceful criminal brain that Am- rica had produced for many years. Charles Dickens the novelist invented a ‘haracter named Fagan who used to train soys as criminals in London’s underworld. 3ut never in his wildest flight of imagina- jon could Dickens have created such a haracter as this respectable looking old ady who planned bank robberies, hold-ups ind kidnappings. Ma Barker was the brains nf a gang with the widest ramifications, yperating in many cities. Born on a Missouri farm, “Ma” Barker, who was christened Arizona but was known is Kate, lived an uneventful life till she yrew up and married a young farm labour- sr. She regularly attended the Presbyterian church and reared a family of four boys. The boys were wild from the beginning, always in trouble. Neighbours complained and the police arrested them for pilfering. Ma Barker stormed down to the police sta- tion and into court. She got them off light- ly, but she did not try to reform them. She abused them for getting caught, and advised them how to proceed next time. Her four boys became the nucleus of a criminal gang. They went to prison and met other criminals. These people drifted into the Barker home when they were re- leased. George Barker, the husband, de- cided to stay honest and went away when he found he could not influence his family. Soon Ma Barker was known as a leader in the criminal world. She arranged rob- beries for her “boys,” now much more num- erous than her own family. She told them to keep their own counsel and advised them to have nothing to do with drink or women. This fierce little old lady acted as a dictator and would have no rivals. Her method was to rent an apartment in some strange town and make inquiries about the local bank. A pleasant little old woman would enter the bank and ask questions about a small bill she wanted changed. She B. C. MOTORISTS HAVE HITLER'S NUMBER COL, 7, B. C. motorists are getting used to the idea of one number plate on their cars, and the saving in metal is just another nail in Hitler’s coffin. Here we see Vivian Talbot and Frank Briers, enthusiastic workers for Victoria's Salvage Corps, with a two-ton load of cancelled and relinquished plates which they have just hauled away from B. C. Police headquarters. SUMMER EDITION —Photo by Victoria Daily Colonist. would find out just when the most business was done and when most cash came in. The numbers of the bank staff, the general lay- out and the possibility of police protection all these things she noted down for the information of the gang. She was an expert at what was described in the underworld as “casing the joint.” But besides the actual preparation, which often included photographs, Ma Barker excelled in the drawing up of “getaway charts.” Always she went over the ground in the actual motor to be used in the rob- bery. She marked every turn and twist in the road and recorded the best speed at each point. Her road tests were made in wet weather and fine. She left nothing to chance. After several rehearsals, when she PEDERSON'S GENERAL STORE Fresh Meats, Dry Goods and Small Hardware ZEBALLOS, B.C. ZEBALLOS LUMBER CO. LTD. Lumber Shingles Wood Sawdust Zeballos, B.C. Feballos Pharmacy PRESCRIPTION SPECIALISTS ZEBALLOS, B.C. Page Forty-three