Memories of Minden

In April of 1934, my dad, James White was 15 years of age. He wanted to go to Shreveport, LA from Minden, LA. He started walking and hoped someone would come by in an automobile.

Sure enough a Ford stops and offers James a lift. A well-dressed man and woman were going James’ way. Young James suddenly realized with whom he could be riding.

They asked James how people in this area felt about the gangsters, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Young James began to tell them that everyone liked them.

The next question was, “why?” At this point in the conversation, James was thinking very fast and told them what they wanted to hear……”because Bonnie & Clyde were always bringing food and money and helping those that helped them.” The couple seemed satisfied with his answer. They did not carry James the complete distance to Shreveport. James never forgot this bizarre experience.

On May 23, 1934, about 30 days after the two traveling strangers gave James a ride…Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed near Arcadia, LA by the Texas Rangers. Their bodies were displayed in the downtown area of Arcadia. Photos of the pair’s bullet torn bodies appeared in local newspapers. James saw the photos and immediately recognized them as the couple that gave him a ride part of the way to Shreveport one month earlier.

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow

Now the story gets better. James and his younger brother were exploring an abandoned house and found a small booklet of photos. He recognized the photos as those of Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow. One photo was of Henry Methvin, Joe Palmer and Clyde Barrow. Henry and Joe were apparently friends of Bonnie & Clyde.

Henry Methvin, Clyde Barrow and Joe Palmer

It was learned later, that Henry’s dad would be the one to help the Rangers identify the killers. Mr. Methvin did not want his son, Henry, to be in the car with Bonnie & Clyde when the ambush happened.

Another photo was of 1933’s storm destruction in Downtown Minden. This particular photo leads one to believe that Bonnie & Clyde were in Minden shortly after the “Tornado of 1933” that destroyed property and killed residents.

Dad noticed that the Ford he rode in was not the same style Ford that Bonnie and Clyde were in when they died. Apparently the couple changed vehicles often. The price was certainly right.

S. E. Sims aka Sam-the-Butcher, Lake Geneva, with friend
of Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow

S. E. Sims, holding large fish, photo taken in
Lake Geneva, WI

Some stories will lead one to believe that the North
Louisiana area of Minden and Arcadia and the Southern
areas of Wisconsin were considered safe havens for the
gangsters...they would rob a bank and race to the
nearest state line for safety in 1933.

This photo is of an unknown female that was in the
booklet album found that Bonnie and Clyde lost in 1933.

Carl Earl, also a friend of Bonnie and Clyde

I retraced the handwriting on the photos...this person
seems to have worked for the railroad...

My guess was they met while riding a train's freight
car and then good ole' boy, Carl Earl became their
friend in 1933.

This photo was included in the leather bound pocket album found in 1933 that

This may be the same unknown person...as shown in the
standing pose...there is some resemblance to one of the
women in the photo that was labeled "Tinker & Alice"

The Bonnie and Clyde marker is at Sailes per the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce information.

Submitted by Tommy White