The Non Shorpy Web All Stars.

[TPD166]

Frank Hamer did not commit suicide. After he "retired" from the Texas Rangers (he maintained a "Special Ranger" commission afterwards) he did primarily private security work for oil companies, but was recalled for special assignments. Most notably he was appointed a special investigator for the Texas prison system in 1934 and tasked with stopping Bonnie & Clyde (a TX prison guard had been killed in an escape they helped commit). Hamer was able to track, and eventually trap, Bonnie & Clyde in Louisiana. He was also called into service by the Governor during the infamous 1948 Senate election involving LBJ and a disputed ballot box in Jim Wells County. Hamer did take the loss of his son at Iwo Jima very hard and began drinking for the first time in his life. Though changed by his son's death, Hamer continued to work steadily after the war until he suffered heat stroke on a job in East Texas. He died of a heart attack in 1955.

It seems there was another officer involved with the Bonnie & Clyde incident that committed suicide, but it was not Hamer.

TPD,

Wasn't Frank Hamer the Ranger from that era who committed suicide late in his life?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

...It seems there was another officer involved with the Bonnie & Clyde incident that committed suicide, but it was not Hamer.

I was thinking of FBI Agent Melvin Purvis noted for leading the manhunt for such outlaws as Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, and John Dillinger. He died at his home from a gunshot wound to the head in 1960 that was fired from a weapon that was his retirement gift, & ruled a suicide.

 

[hatophile]

I was thinking of FBI Agent Melvin Purvis noted for leading the manhunt for such outlaws as Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, and John Dillinger. He died at his home from a gunshot wound to the head in 1960 that was fired from a weapon that was his retirement gift, & ruled a suicide.

+1

 

[TPD166]

That may have been who I was thinking of as well.

I was thinking of FBI Agent Melvin Purvis noted for leading the manhunt for such outlaws as Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, and John Dillinger. He died at his home from a gunshot wound to the head in 1960 that was fired from a weapon that was his retirement gift, & ruled a suicide.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

FBI agent Melvin Purvis

With J. Edgar Hoover

 

[carouselvic]

Crowded Bus Ride in 1865 - London

 

[Redfokker]

At a logging camp in Washington 1911 and 1914. Looking good even by a stump!

1914

 

[BobHufford]

Hat makers at the cooperative garment factory, Hightstown, New Jersey. 1936.

 

[BobHufford]

Repairing cowboy boots in boot shop. Alpine, Texas. 1939.

Stitching pattern on uppers of boots. Boot shop, Alpine, Texas. 1939.

Bootmaker lining up a pair of boots. Cowboy boot shop, Alpine, Texas. 1939.

A customer trying on a pair of boots in bootmaking shop. Alpine, Texas. 1939.

 

[BobHufford]

Christian County (Missouri) Sheriff L.E. "Buff" Lamb in 1965.

A little bit later.

Election flyers.

http://ccheadliner.com/news/mozark-...cle_d8b3ff06-84d9-5f6c-a1db-db4298713c80.html

My former roommate mis-spent his youth in this county and had a few run-ins with "Buff" and his famous 5-cell flashlight.

 

[BobHufford]

San Augustine, Texas. Jim Halber, the sheriff of San Augustine County, Texas. 1943.

San Augustine, Texas. Sheriff Jim Halberd ready to leave for work in the morning. 1943.

San Augustine, Texas. Sheriff Halberd talking with a prisoner in the county jail. 1943.

San Augustine, Texas. Sheriff Halberd cleaning his gun in his office. 1943.

 

[Bamaboots]

Bob, I believe those photos came from this fellows shop, German immigrant G. Kurt Lange. In operation from 1911-1959.

 

[Bigger Don]

San Augustine, Texas. Sheriff Halberd cleaning his gun in his office. 1943.

She hands him a revolver, he performs a little on-the-fly gunsmithing and ends up cleaning a semi-automatic using nothing but his bare hands.

 

[BobHufford]

Deputy sheriff at county fair, Gonzales, Texas. 1939.

Sheriff of adjoining county talking to cashier in bank. San Augustine, Texas. 1939.

 

[BobHufford]

White River N.F. Rio Blanco County, Colorado. Govt. hunters in camp [between 1909 and 1932].

 

[BobHufford]

Filling up at The Lake of the Ozarks.

 

[hatophile]

San Augustine, Texas. Jim Halber, the sheriff of San Augustine County, Texas. 1943.

San Augustine, Texas. Sheriff Jim Halberd ready to leave for work in the morning. 1943.

San Augustine, Texas. Sheriff Halberd talking with a prisoner in the county jail. 1943.

San Augustine, Texas. Sheriff Halberd cleaning his gun in his office. 1943.

Oh honey, don't forget your gun today!

 

[RJR]

White River N.F. Rio Blanco County, Colorado. Govt. hunters in camp [between 1909 and 1932].

Great picture.

 

[buler]

Early tight homburg curl. Fridtjof Nansen. Explorer, humanitarian, 1922 Nobel Peace Prize winner and hat wearer.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Brigadier General John T. Hughes, Confederate States of America