Poor old Ma Barker

The myth of Ma Barker as the ruthless killer leader of the gang is just that, a myth. It was started by Hoover when his G-men gunned her down when they laid siege to the house where her son was holing up. To deflect possible criticism, Hoover put out the story of Ma Barker wielding a tommy gun and shooting it out with the Feds. To anyone that knew her the story was laughable. She was a dotty old woman who spent all her time doing jigsaws and doting on her sons. She couldn't have fired a gun if her life depended on it, and as for planning robberies and heists, she wouldn't have had a clue. Sure, she knew her sons werte criminals, but like all mothers she made excuses for them.

Read the true story in Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough.