W. D. Jones

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William Daniel "Deacon" Jones (May 12, 1916(1916-05-12) – August 20, 1974) was a member of the Barrow Gang that terrorized Texas and surrounding states during the early thirties.

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[edit] The Barrow Gang

Jones, whose mother's name was Tookie Josephine Castleberry, was an illiterate sixteen year old (or maybe nineteen year old) from Texas when he joined the Barrow Gang on Christmas eve 1932. Almost immediately after he joined, he took part in the murder of 26-year-old Doyle Johnson, of Temple, Texas on Christmas day. Jones also took part in both the Joplin shootout and the shootouts with law enforcement officers in Platte City and Dexter, Iowa, the latter of which Buck and Blanche were captured. At the time of his arrest, Jones gave a lengthy confession where he claimed he was an unwilling member of the gang and was forced to ride with them at gunpoint and was tied to trees at night. Jones was sentenced to six years in prison for his exploits with the gang.

[edit] After the Barrow Gang

Jones spent the rest of his life as an alcoholic and drug addict.[1] In 1968, Jones outlined his period with the Barrows in a Playboy magazine article [2]. In that same year, he also filed a lawsuit against Warner Brothers, claiming that the film Bonnie and Clyde "maligned" him and damaged his character. [3] There is no record of him having collected any damages.

On August 20, 1974 at 3:55 a.m., Jones, who was attempting to find lodging for a 27-year-old female acquaintance, was killed, shot three times with a 12-gauge shotgun after a friend refused to house the young woman. His last known occupation was that of a truck driver.[4] He was buried on August 22 at Brookside Memorial Park in Houston, Texas.

[edit] Trivia

His father, sister and brother all died of pneumonia within a two day period.[5][6]

In 1950 Jones filled out Social Security forms stating that he was born May 12, 1916. His death certificate lists his birthday as May 10. Since he filled out his Social Security forms himself, while a relative filled out his death certificate, it would be safe to assume that his birthday is May 12.

Many historians feel Jones changed the year of his birth, making himself three years younger than he actually was to make himself a minor at the times he committed his crimes. Marie Barrow remembered Jones as being the same age as L. C. Barrow who was born in 1913.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://texashideout.tripod.com/wd4.jpg
  2. ^ http://www.cinetropic.com/janeloisemorris/commentary/bonn%26clyde/wdjones.html "Riding with Bonnie and Clyde"
  3. ^ http://texashideout.tripod.com/wd2.jpg
  4. ^ http://texashideout.tripod.com/wd1.jpg
  5. ^ http://texashideout.tripod.com/jjobit.jpg
  6. ^ http://texashideout.tripod.com/gpobit.jpg

[edit] External links