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Clyde Barrow Typed Letter Signed with Fingerprints

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:150,000.00 - 200,000.00 USD
Clyde Barrow Typed Letter Signed with Fingerprints

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Auction Date:2017 Jun 24 @ 01:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
TLS signed in pencil, “Clyde Barrow,” one page, 8.5 x 11, 1934. In full: "To Whom It May Concern: I know Frank Hardy, having been with him on several occasions prior to 1930. Since I was paroled by Gov. Ross Sterling of Texas, Frank has not been associated with me in any manner. He is not now nor has he ever been a member of what is referred to by the news papers and public as 'The Barrow Gang.' I have not seen Frank Hardy since leaving the Eastham Farm of the Texas Prison System. That all may know that I have made this statement I am affixing here my signature and fingerprints." At the conclusion, Barrow has applied nine original large ink fingerprints; those along the left edge are most distinct, below which an annotation reads, "Right Th." Paper bears a “Strathmore Highway Bond” watermark. In very good condition, with scattered light creasing and several moderate intersecting folds. Accompanied by a handsome leatherbound presentation folder as well as a faded faxed letter of provenance from 1996, in full: "My name is Marie Barrow. I am the sister of Clyde Barrow. I sold...a typewritten letter about Frank Hardy signed with my brother's signature Clyde Barrow."

On October 16, 1929, Clyde Barrow was arrested with two wanted men, William Turner and Frank Hardy, at the Roosevelt Hotel in Waco, Texas. Weeping before the chief of police, Barrow claimed that Turner and Hardy had picked him up while hitchhiking and he was unaware of their unsavory reputations. Turner and Hardy went along with Barrow’s story, and Clyde was released.

Barrow clearly never forgot what Hardy did for him in that instance, and planned to repay him in 1934 with this statement. Hardy faced trial in November 1933 for the slaying of Doyle Johnson, who had been killed during a Christmas Day (1932) automobile theft perpetrated by Bonnie Parker, Clyde Barrow, and W. D. Jones. The judge declared a mistrial after the jury failed to render a verdict, and Hardy was scheduled to be retried. W. D. Jones was captured soon after, and his statements absolved Hardy’s alleged role in the crime. Hardy was released from prison on December 30, 1933, and the charges against him were to be formally dropped on January 16, 1934. This would explain why Barrow never sent this letter—it was no longer necessary—and why it remained in his family’s possession. Barrow’s intentions are clear, and this is a remarkable example of the unspoken code of ‘honor among thieves.’ Barrow’s autograph is exceedingly scarce and incredibly desirable on its own, and the addition of his fingerprints elevate this to a truly amazing, museum-quality piece.