Share this memorial using social media sites or email. But, you can rest assured that their lives were never the same after that bloody day in Sweetwater. In 1948, the living legend was a special guard during a hotly contested Senate race between Lyndon Johnson and Coke Stevenson. Hamer and the Rangers escaped the building, but could not reach Hughes, who had been locked in the vault for his safety. Hamer and Gladys had two sons together; Frank Jr. (1918-2006) and Billy (1921-1945). Five days later, the grand jury refused to indict Frank Hamer for the killing of Gee McMeans. "[16] Hamer also said that he hated "to bust the cap on a woman, especially when she was sitting down, however if it wouldn't have been her, it would have been us. Woody Harrelson plays Maney Gault. and turned to see McMeans pulling a shotgun from the car. Stopping at a gas station in Sweetwater, Frank went in to get a tire fixed while Harrison and Emmett hunted for a restroom. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. He interpreted men in terms of animal characteristics: "The criminal is a coyote, always taking a look over his shoulder."[5]. One is that, just because you have been shot, it doesnt mean that you have lost the fightwhen the threat continues, a smart man keeps fighting. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Fortune (1968). The Johnson and Sims families were prominent ranch families in West Texas and both were used to having their own way about things. Francis Frank Augustus Hamer was a Texas Ranger who garnered immense fame for leading the posse that hunted down and killed the criminal duo, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. She is 10 years younger than Kevin Costner, who plays her husband Frank. Hamer armed with a Remington Model 8 semi-automatic rifle with a special 15-round magazine and his entire posse opened fire putting more than 100 rounds into the suspects and their vehicle. Phillips, ran up to the struggling pair with his shotgun. Hamer slapped the gun down and it went off a second time, hitting him in the thigh. Enter https://www.police1.com/ and click OK. She and her brother had faced charges for Sims's murder in 1916. Phillips was able to approach very close to Hamer with a shotgun. Hamer's wife Gladys, portrayed as sweet and demure in "The Highwaymen" seems to have had a questionable past. With this many gun toters, the stage was set for trouble. Hamer headed a force of 20 ex-Rangers and sheriffs to prevent sabotage and looting. Please enter your email and password to sign in. He posted their names at the top of the Campbell murder warrants, issued against Barrow, Parker, and John Doe (Methvin) later that week. His blow to the 1911 caused it to malfunction, probably causing a failure to feed. Burial. However, he was a lawman of one kind or another for many years and engaged in many shootings. Now, admittedly, Hamer had his hands full, but it appears that he was not aware of the additional threat until the shotgun was fired. [37] The rifle was modified to accept a "police only" 20-round magazine obtained through the Peace Officers Equipment Company in St. Joseph, Missouri. But, you can rest assured that their lives were never the same after that bloody day in Sweetwater. However, he was a lawman of one kind or another for many years and engaged in many shootings. Ida Gladys Johnson Hamer Birth 5 Oct 1890. Using his other hand, Hamer drew a Smith & Wesson Triple Lock and put a .44 Special bullet through the heart of the . His service was brief but eventful while stationed in El Paso, the scene of countless gunfights during the Prohibition era. of Corrections, wrote in his memoir that Hamer was one of two lawmen whom he had in mind. In minutes it returned a no bill, ruling Frank Hamers killing of McMeans was an act of self defense. [33], The lawmen confronted Bonnie and Clyde on a rural road near Gibsland, Louisiana at 9:15a.m. on May 23, 1934, after 102 days tracking them. Francis Augustus Hamer (March 17, 1884 July 10, 1955) was an American lawman and Texas Ranger who led the 1934 posse that tracked down and killed criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. In Case Three, which occurred almost 100 years ago in Sweetwater, Texas, hitmen attempted to assassinate famed Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, who was with his wife Gladys at the time. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Frank Hamers Sweetwater Fight: Lessons Learned, Fightin' Iron: The Origin of Semi-Auto Tactical Rifles, Dapper & Deadly: The Life of FBI Special Agent Jelly Bryce, Stress And Fine Motor Skills | An Official Journal Of The NRA, What Does "Brandishing" a Gun Mean? Phillips ran for it. The route to their home in Snyder took them through Sweetwater. The smart move would have been to avoid going through the town at all. In 1920 Hamer served as a prohibition officer. Frank determined that Phillips did not need to be shot dead, because the man did nothing but ruin a good hat. Now, admittedly, Hamer had his hands full, but it appears that he was not aware of the additional threat until the shotgun was fired. It was at this time that Frank assisted a local Sheriff track and capture some rustlers. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. no long lead-times: sentinel ARV builds available, When criminals were at their worst, Frank Hamer was at his best. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Oops, we were unable to send the email. As this was going on, McMeans henchman, H.E. [1][pageneeded] A less successful incident happened during the Sherman Riot of 1930, however. This reality should also be considered when we are formulating our own personal defense plans. Gladys Hamer ("Hay-mer'), the wife of legendary Texas Ranger Captain Frank Hamer, was not afraid to jump in and help out her husband in a fight. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Today, a jury might get the impression that a person was welcoming the opportunity to engage his enemies. Two guards were shot by the escapees during the breakout, guard Major Crowson fatally. [47], Kevin Costner portrays Hamer in the 2019 Netflix original film The Highwaymen, which was released to theaters for a short run and began streaming in March 2019. Additionally, it is also never a good idea to split your forces when you know a fight might be about to occur. In 1922, he helmed several operations against the Ku Klux Klan and reportedly saved 15 people from being lynched. She and her brother had faced charges for Simss murder in 1916. He entered i Growing up in a devoutly Presbyterian family, he was one of five sons, four of whom became Texas Rangers. The 64-year-old Frank Hamer exited his car and strolled toward one armed group and merely said Git., That task accomplished, he walked calmly over to the second group and ordered, Fall back.. He wrenched the weapon out of McMeans hand and began beating him with it as Phillips approached from behind with shotgun, unseen. For some reason, possibly his pride, Hamer had chosen to ignore the warning about a potential ambush in Sweetwater. Prior to the Bonnie and Clyde incident, Hamer's most famous gunfight is probably the one in Sweetwater, Texas, in 1917, when two assassins ambushed him and his wife, Gladys. While Hamer served as a Ranger on and off throughout his adult life, he often left the agency to work on other jobs, including some in other branches of law enforcement. On Oct. 1, 1917, Frank, Harrison, Gladys and Emmett were driving back from a court hearing in Baird, TX. Hamer retired in 1949 and lived in Austin until his death. Hamer appreciated the fact that Maney was from a "Travis County pioneer family." As neighbors in the Riverside area of Austin, Hamer and Gault became tight, as did their feisty wives, Gladys and Rebecca. As Frank Hamer walked back out of the station, he came face to face with Gee McMeans, who had a .45 ACP pistol in his hand and quickly shot Hamer in the shoulder. Snyder, Scurry County, Texas, USA. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. To use this feature, use a newer browser. [33], State, local, and other sources had pledged money to the Barrow reward fund which brought the pre-ambush total to some $26,000, but most reneged on their pledges. By some accounts, Frank Hamer would survive 50 gunfights in his lifetime. Frank could not defend himself, but not to fear, just as she did that day in Sweetwater Gladys had his back. Simmons persuaded Hamer to hunt down the Barrow Gang. This reality should also be considered when we are formulating our own personal defense plans. The route to their home in Snyder took them through Sweetwater. Hamer and Gault are reluctant to get involved in the case at first, but once they . On Oct. 1, 1917, Frank, Harrison, Gladys and Emmett were driving back from a court hearing in Baird, TX. FREE Grant assistance! In 1917, romance threw Frank Hamer into a first-class Texas feud. Living Room; Master Bedroom; Bedroom Two; Blog Hamer's wife Gladys not only shouted ?Look out!? Not to mention, tactically, it is just not a good idea to walk into a trap when you suspect that it is there waiting for you. Parker, Emma Krause, Nell Barrow Cowan and Jan I. Frank aimed, fired, and killed McMeans with a shot to the chest. Francis Hamer became involved in law enforcement in 1905 while he was employed as a cowboy on Carr Ranch in West Texas. Weve updated the security on the site. Additionally, we see the effects of tunnel vision on our awareness in a chaotic situation. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Francis Hamer is one of the 31 inductees to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. He rose to the rank of senior captain and made Austin his permanent home. Family members linked to this person will appear here. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. This account has been disabled. As Hamer dropped to the ground, stunned, both of his attackers ran to their nearby car. [17], In September 1948, he was called back to Ranger duty to play a small role in the notorious 1948 United States Senate election in Texas. During his career Frank Hamer mastered and carried many firearms, but his personal favorite was Old Lucky, a Single Action Colt 45, C-engraved 4 blued revolver with pearl handles. In 1918, State Representative Jos Toms Canales was helming an investigation into the alleged abuse of the residents of the Rio Grande Valley by several Rangers. Resend Activation Email. Barrow stopped his car at the ambush spot and the posse's 150-round fusillade was so thunderous that people for miles around thought a logging crew had used dynamite to fell a huge tree. She had first been elected after her husband "Pa" Ferguson had been impeached and forced to resign as governor,[16] and at least 40 Rangers resigned rather than serve again under her. Today, a jury might get the impression that a person was welcoming the opportunity to engage his enemies. Had Frank and Harrison Hamer stayed together, Frank might not have been shot at all. Frank had been warned that Gee McMeans would be waiting for them in Sweetwater. An eyewitness account gained widespread newspaper coverage, stating that a drunken Bonnie had emptied her gun into the prone body of Patrolman Murphy at Grapevine, laughing as she fired at the way that his "head bounced like a rubber ball" on the road. In fact, the whole fight might never have happened. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. In 1917, Hamer married Gladys (Johnson) Sims, the widow of Ed Sims of Snyder, Texas; she and her brother, Sidney Arthur Johnson, had been charged in 1916 with murdering Sims. On May 23, 1934, Hamer and his posse gunned down Bonnie and Clyde on a rural road in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The Rangers had to deal with several types of criminals in the area, including arms smugglers, bootleggers, and bandits. Last Updated: April 10, 2020 Hamer married Gladys Johnson while she and her brother, Emmett, were under indictment for killing Gladys ex-husband, Ed Sims. One of Hamer's many Remington Model 8's displayed at the Texas Ranger Museum includes this fine engraved model. All six, however, agreed that Deputy Oakley stood and fired the opening shot from his Remington Model 8, and that his bullet hit Barrow's left temple and killed the outlaw instantly. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Ida Gladys Johnson Hamer I found on Findagrave.com. Hamer was a Ranger off and on throughout his adult life, resigning often to take other jobs. Frank Hamer was not afraid to wade into trouble, but occasionally learned a hard lesson doing so. Frank chose to ignore the warning but he did strap on a second gun, his Smith & Wesson .44 Spl. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, Video: Conn. cop fired for misconduct against driver while directing traffic, Police bodycam released after EMS providers charged with murder of patient in their care, Ohio sheriff: Fitness standards keeping cadets from taking final exam, 5 Tenn. officers fired, 3 suspended after sexual misconduct investigation, New LAPD policy lowers off-duty drinking limit for armed officers, Street Survival II, Tactics for Deadly Encounters, Open the tools menu in your browser. Francis Augustus Hamer (March 17, 1884 - July 10, 1955) was an American lawman and Texas Ranger who led the 1934 posse that tracked down and killed criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. The Rangers dealt with arms smugglers because of the constant unrest in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. He was laid to rest in Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin, Texas next to his personal hero, his son Billy, who was a Marine killed in combat on Iwo Jima. Hamilton's brother Floyd wrote that Henry Methvin was not part of the original "invited" group but fled with them during the general confusion. Phillips was later arrested, as was the entire Hamer party. His knowledge of personal defense was not academic, nor were all of his fights in the line of duty. Olson, p. 252; Plantinga, p. 152; Wolff, Henry Jr., Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, 1948 United States Senate election in Texas, "The Aspermont Star (Aspermont, Tex. His father was a blacksmith and Hamer worked with him while growing up. Gladys was the widow of the legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer, who, along with fellow Ranger Maney Gault, tracked down and killed Bonnie and Clyde in 1934. Buried next to his father, Frank Hamer, the Texas Ranger responsible for tracking down Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. This is a carousel with slides. But Frank pushed Harrisons rifle barrel up and told him not to shoot a man in the back. By the time he accepted the job of tracking down the Barrow gang in 1934, he had worked in law enforcement for nearly three decades. Harrison Hamer, who had just arrived back on the scene, started to shoot the fleeing Phillips. See full bio Born: Stopping at a gas station in Sweetwater, Frank went in to get a tire fixed while Harrison and Emmett hunted for a restroom. Recovering somewhat, Hamer drew his .44 Spl. Later, he worked as a wrangler on a local ranch and became a law enforcement official in 1905 after catching a horse thief. "[23], Hamer examined the pattern of Barrow's movements, discovering that he essentially made a wide circle through the lower Midwest, skirting state borders wherever he could to take advantage of the fact that law officers could not pursue suspects across state lines. Verify and try again. He left one week before Miriam "Ma" Ferguson recaptured the governor's office for a second term. Hamer rejoined the Rangers in 1915 and was assigned to patrol the South Texas border around Brownsville during the Bandit War and La Matanza. Learn more about merges. There was an error deleting this problem. Five days later, the grand jury refused to indict Frank Hamer for the killing of Gee McMeans. That said, the overpowering urge should always be to find a way to avoid trouble whenever it is the least bit possible. Hamer married Gladys Johnson while she and her brother, Emmett, were under indictment for killing Gladys ex-husband, Ed Sims. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. To avoid trouble whenever it is also never a good hat the Klux! Murder in 1916 hitting him in the case at first, but once they brother, Emmett were. 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