Infamous outlaws BONNIE PARKER and CLYDE BARROW's personally owned and used fishing tackle box and fishing equipment pulled from the trunk of their V8 Ford the day of the shooting on May 23, 1934.
The box and its contents come directly from the collection of FRANK HAMER the American lawman and legendary Texas Ranger who successfully hunted down and ambushed Bonnie and Clyde.
The box's provenance is significantly documented as well as attested to by Frank Hamer's son Frank Hamer Jr. in a signed affidavit.
In order to successfully avoid the law, the two relied on their ability to fish to survive. Barrow and Parker were known to fish in the Brazos and Trinity Rivers while hiding from law enforcement. The metal tackle box measures: 14" x 6" x 6.5" and is manufactured by Kennedy Kits of Van Wert, Ohio (lock by Corbin).
PROVENANCE: The reward for Bonnie & Clyde's capture or killing sat at over $26,000. Following the shooting, many of those who pledged money had reneged on their promises, as such each lawman received only $200.23 for bringing the gang's reign of terror to an end. In order to properly compensate the men, authorities allowed them to keep some of the belongings of Bonnie and Clyde.
It is noted in publications such as "Go Down Together" by Jeff Guinn that "Texas Prisons General Manager Lee Simmons had promised Hamer that he could have anything Clyde and Bonnie had in their possession at the time of their killing or capture...Hamer took the guns and the tackle box [from the car]".
The rock-solid provenance is backed by a signed affidavit from the son of the Texas Lawman Frank Hamer Jr. who attests to the authenticity of the fishing tackle box. He goes on to describe both the fishing box and its contents in detail further adding:
"The fishing tackle box was taken from the trunk of the 1934 Ford V8 car used by Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker at the time of the shooting on May 23, 1934".
Tackle box contains eight wooden floats, two reels, a spool of fishing line or twine, three "washers,” eight lead weights and eight brass swivel connectors.
It also contains an artificial flower taken "from Bonnie Parker's Grave Dallas, Texas 1988 as well as a "Notorious Bonnie & Clyde Bullet Car" racing coin.
Sold as is, as shown.