HUNTSVILLE
"Doin' time"
On April 21, 1930 Clyde Barrow became prisoner #63527.
The harshness of life behind prison walls would soon
take it's toll on the young Texan. He was assigned to the
Eastham Prison Farm north of Huntsville to begin a fourteen-year sentence.
EASTHAM CAMP 1 - DORMITORY 1930
It was here, behind the furthest column that Clyde had killed his first man,
a vicious building tender named Ed "Big Ed" Crowder. The 6' tall 200 pound Ed
had been preying upon the young Clyde Barrow who decided that he wasn't going
to take it any more. His separation from Bonnie, the wait for a reduction in his
sentence, the heavy workload in the fields and witnessing a young inmate being
murdered by an older convict left Clyde feeling hopelessly despondant. Unaware that
his mother's attempts to obtain an early parole for him were successful, he had
a fellow convict chop off two of his toes with an axe. This way he could get a
break from his duties on the farm while recovering in the prison infirmary. The youthful
Barrow was granted an early parole and he left the prison on February 2, 1932 on crutches.
Ed "Big Ed" Crowder
June 26, 1927 Crowder news article
May 6, 1929 Crowder news article
October 30, 1931 Crowder news article
October 30, 1931 Crowder news article
Aubrey Scalley had taken the blame for Clyde Barrow's revenge attack on Ed Crowder.
Scalley later received a Conditional Pardon from Governor Shivers in December of 1953
IN THE JAILHOUSE NOW
Sung by: Otis Spradling
EXTERNAL LINK
VINTAGE POSTCARD
