Many sources claim Floyd's career in banditry was deeply influenced by his reading books relating to the adventures of Jesse James. Although an attempt to connect Floyd to James makes for a very romanticized bit of storytelling, perhaps there is more to this theory than is offered. Since in those days most news was local, would not Floyd also have been influenced by the adventures of the Price brothers who lived just a few miles from Akins? Between 1918-22 the Price boys, who Floyd was vaguely related to, robbed multiple banks in the area while two of the siblings, George and Charlie, were slain attempting to rob the bank of Eureka Springs, Arkansas while Floyd was a teen. Also, Ed Lockhart and company as well as "Kaiser Bill"and Henry Starr were operating in the district (Cookson Hills) while Floyd was a lad. Seems to me he was probably more influenced by the tales he heard spun down at the country store pertaining to these fellows rather then Jesse James.
This a good point, but one which will never be documented for sure. Old dime novels about Jesse James were around and it is quite possible Floyd read the interesting exploits of this outlaw. Local stories were also around and heard of for sure. However, which if any really influence a young boy to become an outlaw some years later will never for sure be known. Speculation still exists!
I am writing a musical about Charley (Pretty Boy) Floyd. I found a book by Michael Wallis very informative. It appears to be well researched, but was not a terribly engrossing read.
Another book, more like fictional true crime is by Larry McMurtry. I found it more absorbing, but not up to Larry's usual standards.
I am most interested in Charley's relationship with his Cherokee wife, Ruby, and his role as a father. I believe Ruby died in a Norman nursing home not too many years ago. Anyone have information?
I would appreciate any information about her and their child.
Ruby Floyd died on July 29,1970 of cancer and is buried in Bixby, Oklahoma. She had remarried after divorcing Charlie Floyd. Their only son Jack recently died in California. Apparently Charlie was a good father to his son when he was around. You may want to read "The Life and Death of Pretty Boy Floyd" By Jeffery S. King.
BTW do you know Ruby's last name at the time of her death? And do you know where she is buried? I don't believe the place of her death is in either of the books I read.
Is your source the Jeffrey King book or something else? I am ordering the King book today.
Unfortunately, there's never been a truly definitive biography of Floyd and at this late date there probably never will be. Wallis's book and King's are both good as far as they go but have serious flaws too. Wallis's book is a sweeping "life and times " thing that spends way too much time on early 20th Century social history. Also the biographical stuff appears to be based mainly on interviews with Floyd's family and friends and one senses a loss of objectivity there. King's book on the other hand seems based entirely on FBI records and no interviews and it's obvious he never set foot in Oklahoma. One seems intent on proving Floyd's innocence in the Kansas City Massacre, the other on proving his guilt, and neither really gives a whole picture. Both good books but both leave a lot to be desired.
I've never seen any evidence that Fred Barker was ever involved in any of Floyd's robberies. In 1932, when Floyd was at his height in Oklahoma, the Barker-Karpis gang was based in St. Paul and operating mainly in the upper Midwest. There are contemporary accounts which indicate that Floyd may have had some contact with both Fred and Doc Barker however.
It's an old pamphlet on Floyd that's pretty fair as far as it goes. Haven't read it in a long time but there's probably nothing in it that's not already covered in the Wallis and King books.
Patterson Smith in New Jersey or Mike Webb at Crimeweb Collectibles are likely sources to have a copy.
He had been to Atoka Oklahoma and was hitchhiking back to Ada he was picked up by a young man in a 1932 ford coupe and on the way they had a flat he offered to help and was told to stay in the car he got out anyway and looked in the trunk he saw some guns he got back into the car and was let off in Ada after the young man drove away he told the station manager what he saw the station manger told him (that was Pretty Boy Floyed you were a lucky man) Paskell Poindexter
Maybe you fellas can help me? When I was a kid my Grandparents lived near Bolivar MO. On several different times I would be in town at a Western Auto Store Owned by Fred Mathias. The ex sheriff of Bolivar named Killingsworth told a story of being kidnapped by Charlie Floyd, the real reason I have always remembered this story was Sheriff Killingsworth claimed that this took place at the same time as the Kansas City Mass. The Sheriff said that Floyd was not involved in the KC Mass. and that Floyd released him outside of town unharmed. Has any one else heard this story or was he just telling stories to a crowd of kids. Thanks for listening.
Posts: 5 | Location: Kansas City Mo. | Registered: Sun August 12 2007
The sheriff is correct in stating that he was kidnapped by Floyd, and that it happened just prior to the Kansas City Massacre.
The claim by the sheriff that Floyd did not participate in the massacre is another, separate issue. Floyd may or may not have been there. We may never know.
Dee Cordry okhombre@ionet.net Oklahombres.org webmaster
Posts: 132 | Location: Piedmont, OK | Registered: Wed November 12 2003
Just a reminder that the Fall 2007 issue of On the Spot, this one focusing on the life and crimes of Pretty Boy Floyd, is still available at this time and seems to be our most popular issue to date. My personal favorites are Ron Morgan's fine oral histories collected from various old Cookson Hills folks who he interviewed and are no longer around and the excellent piece by Dale Ingram on the murder of legendary lawman Erv Kelley. But the other articles are uniformly good as well and much of the emphasis is on the lesser known aspects of Floyd's career.
My g-grandmother lived in Sallisaw, OK and for some reason, Floyd paid her property taxes. Also, there were times he would bring groceries to her. No one seems to know why, but it is reported that he did things like that. Times were tough back then and she was a widow with 8 kids and 3 grandkids she was raising.
Yes, Choc Floyd was known for helping out his family and friends in need. Unfortunately, his help was with other peoples money, which he stole and from bank holdups he committed.
