Machine Gun Kelly (gangster)

George "Machine Gun Kelly" Barnes (July 18, 1895 – July 18, 1954) was an American gangster from Memphis, Tennessee, active during the Prohibition era. He is primarily remembered for the 1933 kidnapping of wealthy oilman Charles F. Urschel for which he, along with his wife Kathryn Kelly and several associates, collected a $200,000 ransom.

Early Life and Criminal Career: Born George Francis Barnes, he began his criminal career during his teenage years. He earned the nickname "Machine Gun Kelly" due to his fondness for Thompson submachine guns. He engaged in bootlegging and armed robbery throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, operating primarily in Oklahoma and Tennessee.

The Urschel Kidnapping: The kidnapping of Charles Urschel was the crime that brought Kelly widespread notoriety. Urschel was blindfolded and held captive in a ranch house in Paradise, Texas. Crucially, Urschel meticulously documented details of his captivity, including sounds and smells, which proved vital to the FBI's investigation.

Apprehension and Trial: Following the Urschel kidnapping, the FBI launched a massive manhunt. Kelly and his wife were eventually apprehended in Memphis, Tennessee, on September 26, 1933. J. Edgar Hoover famously claimed that Kelly surrendered, shouting "Don't shoot, G-Men! Don't shoot!" although this account has been disputed. Kelly and his accomplices were tried and convicted of kidnapping.

Imprisonment and Death: Kelly and his wife received life sentences. He spent the remaining years of his life incarcerated, primarily at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. While imprisoned, he purportedly bragged about his criminal exploits, further solidifying his legendary status in the annals of organized crime. George "Machine Gun Kelly" Barnes died of a heart attack at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary on his 59th birthday in 1954.