1. (a.k.a Doc, Bob Barker, & Claude Dade)
Arthur Barker
(a.k.a Doc,
Bob Barker, &
Claude Dade)
“Determined and ruthless, and once he started on anything nothing could stop him but death.“ - Henri Young (fellow inmate)

2. Background: Born: April 6, 1899 Aurora, Missouri
Died: January 13, 1939 Alcatraz Island; Gunshot wound
Mother, Ma Barker, was the leader of the Barker-Karpis Gang
The Barker-Karpis gang was one of the longest-lived gangs of the Depression Era
In and out of prison his entire life
He was the one typically called on for violent action
Committed numerous crimes throughout the 20’s and 30’s with his brothers Lloyd and Fred
Never disciplined by his parents
Ma refused to discipline him and flew into a rage when anyone tried to scold them
As a teenager, Arthur was in several reformatories and prisons
His mother was fascinated by crime
From birth, Arthur had watched his older brothers commit crimes and disobey people

3. Crimes: Crime Date Punishment
Involved in automobile theft in Tulsa, Oklahoma
July 4, 1918
Arrested (escaped several times) released 5 months later
Killed night watchman in Tulsa, Oklahoma
August 16, 1921
10 year sentence
Robbed Third Northwestern National Bank in Minneapolis
December 16, 1932
Never caught
Robbed Fairbury, Nebraska bank
April 4, 1933
Kidnapped William Hamm
June 1933
Held up two bank messengers
September 22, 1933

4. Most Recent Crime:
On January 17, 1934, Arthur, along with the rest of the Barker-Karpis Gang, kidnapped Edward George Bremer Jr., a wealthy banker from St. Paul, Minnesota.
Bremer was released after his family paid $200,000 in ransom
The only evidence found was a fingerprint on a gas can left at the crime scene.
The investigators found that the fingerprint belonged to Arthur.

5. Sentence: Sentenced to life in prison Served time in Alcatraz Prison
- Shot and killed while attempting to escape on January 13, 1939

6. Cultural References: Film:
Arthur was depicted in numerous films throughout the years such as Ma Barker’s Killer Brood, Bloody Mama, Public Enemies, and Disney’s Beagle Boys.
Music:
The band Maylene and the Son’s of Disaster was named after Ma, Arthur, and the other Barker boys.
Books:
No Orchids for Miss Blandish by James Hadley Chase had characters based on Arthur and his family.

7. Theory that explains his deviant behavior:
The theory that explains Arthur Barker’s deviant behavior is Behavior Theory. Behavior theory suggests that the person is not born violent, but learns to act violently as a result of their experiences. Arthur Barker was most likely not born deviant, but learned his violent behavior from watching his brothers. All of his brothers were constantly committing crimes as they grew up, so Arthur saw their violent acts everyday. From seeing his brothers participate in violent and criminal activities, Arthur learned deviant behavior and believed that he should act in a violent way and commit crimes. Additionally, Arthur watched his brothers get away with their violent actions. As Arthur and his brothers were growing up, their mother refused to punish them. Ma Barker had witnessed Jesse James rob a train when she was younger and became fascinated by the idea of crime. Even though she never committed a crime herself, she allowed her sons to participate in violent and criminal activities. She also flew into an uncontrollable rage when another adult would try to scold one of her sons. Because Arthur was not punished by his parents for his actions, he learned that it was okay for him to participate in criminal activities.