The People vs. Ma Barker

J. Edgar Hoover described Ma Barker as the "most vicious, dangerous, and resourceful criminal brain of the last decade." Were these allegations true or was Hoover just trying to justify her shooting death by FBI agents? Some close to her say she was just an overly permissive mother.

Be a member of the "jury" as we try the case against Missourian Ma Barker.  Library staff will act as the  "prosecutor"  and "defense lawyer."

Ma Barker was born as Arizona Donnie Clark in Ash Grove, Missouri in 1873.  Her infamous sons were members of the Barker-Karpis Gang and engaged in robbery and general mayhem during the depression gangster era of John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Baby Face Nelson.