folks, I'm retired FBI agent and in touch with many retired FBI fellows but need your assistance on this subject matter. I'm inquiring into a subject many may know about here and would love your experience and info. I'm also inquiring my own people, but anything you can provide will help the "investigation."

We're having a bit of fun filling in the gaps and no doubt you folks may have all the info.

Here's my latest post to my crowd, which I'm sure you folks can assist on and set us all straight.....

(Next is contents of my post to Former FBI )


Well, thanks to many, we have established a "trio" that appears to substantiate the "rumor" of "gunslingers" (in a very broad sense of the word) in the Bureau I had heard about during early clerical days in the late 60's. ( I do note that it would have been logical for the Bureau to hire these guys from pistol teams, since the Bureau just got authorization to carry guns. Disregarding firearms training purposes, the background and further career of guys like Bryce and now others, may deserve another mention. Again, hopefully I'm not repeating something you folks already did).


For those who are interested in this "thread," we've pretty much already identified Jelly Bryce, Jerry Campbell and Clarence Hurt as at least some of the "gunslinger" types hired in 1934. It has been established all came from the OK City PD, were part of a pistol team, and some of the killings before they were in the FBI in 1934 are verifiable with the OKCPD.


According to author K.B Chaffin it does appear that these "hirings" were brought on by Mr. Hoover who was already on the rampage about some agents being killed. Prelim info from the author suggests the Kansas City Massacre was the straw that broke....etc. etc. You get a sense that the Bureau strictly went out to hire men with Bryce's reputation. (Maybe we ought to go back to that idea.......)


The legend of Bryce and his ability with a pistol, coupled with his notches has pretty well be established. An author puts Bryce at the Ma Barker killing, based upon rumor. An Oklahoma PD source again is checking data to see if Bryce can be substantiated being at the Ma Barker shootout. Allegedly, Bryce himself between the PD and the FBI was good for about 19 killings (assuming as they said, he never really wounded anyone).


Campbell and Hurt are a bit lacking in factual data at least here. I do point out that one Oklahoma police source/historian type puts Hurt at the scene of the Dillinger shooting in Chicago. I am checking further with him on this.


An Oklahoma former SA mentions Bryce had a son working in the OC office a while back but no info as to his whereabouts. I am wondering if the son has considerable info left behind by Jelly. As mentioned, Bryce himself died in '74 at a former SA convention.


The main questions we're trying to answer now are the following:


1. How many of these "gunslinger" types were hired in 1934 time period and what departments did they come from? Or, was Oklahoma the beginning, and the end, of the rumor?


2. While on the various PD's, what type of notoriety did they have before joining the Bureau. That is, were they chosen because of how many they left up on "boot hill," or was that coincidental with the fact they were all good with guns?


3. After joining the Bureau, were these men in fact at the various famous shooting scenes, and who else was with them? Noting at this point that obviously Purvis got a lot of publicity, but there appears to be others long forgotten about. (By the way, I'm trying not to go the FOIA route just yet, since some may have this info)


For those interested, I've noted 2 sites below that have a wealth of info about prior Oklahoma gangsters, officers and much more coupled with a discussion board consisting of relatives of Barker, new Bonnie and Clyde photos, and other gangsters from those who have family photos, clippings etc. in their hands too. There are a lot of "new stories" uncovered at some of the sites, coupled with "new books" about old supposed factual accounts.


Stop by these links and take a look. The folks on the Oklahoma Hombres site are attempting to fill in some of the gaps too with regard to Bryce, Campbell and Hurt.


Regardless, whatever you have, send it on in if you haven't.


And by the way, Doc called and said to "forget the good Chili recipes" since they're not FBI related. He said he already ran across someone named "Dinty Moore."


http://www.geocities.com/ezlane2002/Homepage.html


http://oklahombres.org/index.html


cheers
larry wack
68-03