The first four listed here were all in some way connected to the James-Younger gang, an infamous band of outlaws which included Jesse and Frank James and the Younger gang. The other two are associated with organized crime. What do they have in common? They were all born in Missouri.
- Jesse James
“Jesse James”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - This notorious outlaw was born in Kearney, MO in 1847. He was the leader of the James-Younger gang, who were known for robbing banks and trains and were responsible for several deaths. He was killed by our #2, Robert Ford in 1882 at the age of 34.
- Robert Ford
“Robert Ford” by Unknown - Found at http://www.legendsofamerica.com/PicturePages/PP-Outlaws-10-BobFord.html. Specific image URL: http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-outlaws/BobFord-500.jpg.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons The member of the James-Younger gang who ended up killing Jesse James for the reward money. He himself was gunned down at the age of 30. He was born in Ray County.
- John Younger
“John Younger 2” by Cole Younger. No photo credit. The Henneberry Company 1903 - The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Cole Younger, by Himself by Cole Younger Born in Lee’s Summit in 1854, was briefly a member of the James-Younger gang and an outlaw and murderer who was killed at the age of 22.
- Belle Starr
“Belle Starr full” by Unknown - http://carthagemo.gov/index.asp?Type=B_LOC&SEC={F00C96A1-3EBC-4D9D-8B6F-EAB8825DFF4E}&DE={76856A80-3D4F-4318-B102-30278C59AFD0}. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - Born as Myra Maybelle Shirley, Belle Starr was a notorious American outlaw who grew up with the James brothers, and was involved in crime herself along with her many husbands. She was born in Carthage.
- William “Dint” Colbeck (Egan’s Rats)
“Egans Rats”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikipedia - Born in St. Louis, “Dint” Colbeck was at one time boss of a bootlegging gang in the 1920’s, and was involved in corruption and politics, as well as tax evasion.
- Tom Pendergast
“Tom Pendergast” by Source (WP:NFCC#4). Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - Another crime boss, but Tom Pendergast’s roost was Kansas City. He “ruled” Kansas City from around 1925-1939. He was born in St. Joseph.
And here are two more Missouri-related criminals (or rather, three)…
“Jesse James”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -
This notorious outlaw was born in Kearney, MO in 1847. He was the leader of the James-Younger gang, who were known for robbing banks and trains and were responsible for several deaths. He was killed by our #2, Robert Ford in 1882 at the age of 34.
“Robert Ford” by Unknown - Found at http://www.legendsofamerica.com/PicturePages/PP-Outlaws-10-BobFord.html. Specific image URL: http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-outlaws/BobFord-500.jpg.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The member of the James-Younger gang who ended up killing Jesse James for the reward money. He himself was gunned down at the age of 30. He was born in Ray County.
“John Younger 2” by Cole Younger. No photo credit. The Henneberry Company 1903 - The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Cole Younger, by Himself by Cole Younger
Born in Lee’s Summit in 1854, was briefly a member of the James-Younger gang and an outlaw and murderer who was killed at the age of 22.
“Belle Starr full” by Unknown - http://carthagemo.gov/index.asp?Type=B_LOC&SEC={F00C96A1-3EBC-4D9D-8B6F-EAB8825DFF4E}&DE={76856A80-3D4F-4318-B102-30278C59AFD0}. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -
Born as Myra Maybelle Shirley, Belle Starr was a notorious American outlaw who grew up with the James brothers, and was involved in crime herself along with her many husbands. She was born in Carthage.
“Egans Rats”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikipedia -
Born in St. Louis, “Dint” Colbeck was at one time boss of a bootlegging gang in the 1920’s, and was involved in corruption and politics, as well as tax evasion.
“Tom Pendergast” by Source (WP:NFCC#4). Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia -
Another crime boss, but Tom Pendergast’s roost was Kansas City. He “ruled” Kansas City from around 1925-1939. He was born in St. Joseph.
Serial Killer Couple Ray and Fay Copeland
“Serial Killer Couple Ray and Faye Copeland” by Source (WP:NFCC#4). Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - Guilty of the murder of five drifters at their Missouri farm. At the ages of 76 and 69, they were the oldest couple ever to receive the death penalty.
James Earl Ray
“James Earl Ray” by Federal Bureau of Prisons - http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/celebrity/killers/james-earl-ray. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - The notorious killer of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. He was raised in Missouri from the age of 6.
Do you know of any other criminals who were born in, lived in, or caught in Missouri? Share them in the comments below.
“Serial Killer Couple Ray and Faye Copeland” by Source (WP:NFCC#4). Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia -
Guilty of the murder of five drifters at their Missouri farm. At the ages of 76 and 69, they were the oldest couple ever to receive the death penalty.
“James Earl Ray” by Federal Bureau of Prisons - http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/celebrity/killers/james-earl-ray. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -
The notorious killer of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. He was raised in Missouri from the age of 6.
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