Ma Barker: America's Most Wanted Mother Cover
Podcast Mentions

Ma Barker America's Most Wanted Mother

Chris Enss

Was Arizona Donnie Clark, AKA Kate “Ma” Barker the mastermind behind the Barker gang terrorizing the Midwest during the early years of the great Depression? Or was she a terrible mother who urged her sons to criminal behavior for her own financial gain? Or does the truth lie somewhere in between. Th...

Podcasts 1
Quotes 5
Behind the Bastards

It was described as the best write-up of the story that the speaker found and was called a fun book, which served as the primary source for the podcast episode.

"

The Dalton's and the James boys were raised by strong defiant mothers who made sure they knew how to use a weapon and fight for what they wanted.

— Episode: Ma' Barker: A Doting Mother And Gangster...

Episode: Ma' Barker: A Doting Mother And Gangster Overlord

It was described as the best write-up of the story that the speaker found and was called a fun book, which served as the primary source for the podcast episode.

"

The Dalton's and the James boys were raised by strong defiant mothers who made sure they knew how to use a weapon and fight for what they wanted.

Members of the Barker Karpis gang who were close to Ma generally kept the women they were seriously involved with away from her. It was a crazy system Alvin admitted years later and often created friction with our women who couldn't understand why we were so careful with her feelings.

She, Ma, attended church regularly dragging her brood after her. George, her husband, went as well. He was a mild, ineffective, quiet man who seemed somewhat bewildered by his domineering wife.

Fred Barker was a braving maniac due to the pain Dr. Moran performed other services for the gang such as laundering some of the kidnap money through his Chicago practice.

Now you're thinking boys, now you're thinking.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.