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United States > Texas > Texas Department of Criminal Justice > Prison Guard Major Joe Crowson

Prison Guard

Major Joe Crowson

Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas

End of Watch: Saturday, January 27, 1934

Bio & Incident Details

Age: 33

Tour: Not available

Badge # Not available

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: 1/16/1934

Weapon: Rifle; Machine gun

Offender: Both shot and killed

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Prison Guard Major Crowson succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 11 days earlier during an escape attempt at the Huntsville Unit.

He was shot by members of the Bonnie and Clyde Gang as several members of the gang were making a prison escape. Bonnie and Clyde had smuggled weapons inside and were waiting outside with machine guns during the escape.

As Guard Crowson rode up on a horse he was shot and killed. The two prison escapees were executed for the murder approximately one year later.

Guard Crowson is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Lovelady, Houston County, Texas.

The Bonnie and Clyde Gang was responsible for the murder of law enforcement officers in four states - Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas - between 1932 and 1934. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow started their criminal career by robbing banks and quickly became notorious murderers wanted for the murders of nine law enforcement officers.

The two criminals were finally shot and killed in Louisiana when they were ambushed by a task force of Texas and Louisiana officers.

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Related Line of Duty Deaths

		Deputy Sheriff Eugene Clyde Moore Atoka County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma End of Watch: Friday, August 5, 1932 Cause: Gunfire
		Deputy Malcolm Davis Tarrant County Sheriff's Department, Texas End of Watch: Friday, January 6, 1933 Cause: Gunfire
		Detective Harry L. McGinnis Joplin Police Department, Missouri End of Watch: Thursday, April 13, 1933 Cause: Gunfire
		Constable John Wesley Harryman Newton County Sheriff's Department, Missouri End of Watch: Thursday, April 13, 1933 Cause: Gunfire
		Town Marshal Henry D. Humphrey Alma Police Department, Arkansas End of Watch: Monday, June 26, 1933 Cause: Gunfire
		Patrolman Holloway Daniel Murphy Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Texas End of Watch: Sunday, April 1, 1934 Cause: Gunfire
		Patrolman Edward Bryan Wheeler Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Texas End of Watch: Sunday, April 1, 1934 Cause: Gunfire
		Constable William Calvin Campbell Commerce Police Department, Oklahoma End of Watch: Friday, April 6, 1934 Cause: Gunfire

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