In the earlier years, as members of the "Root Square Gang" in Houston's
5th Ward, Clyde Barrow, Raymond Hamilton and Frank Clause often took to
stealing cars, breaking into local businesses and heisting their small
safes.

Clyde had remained outside in the car to avoid being recognized by Mr.
Bucher who had known Clyde to be a visitor in the past. It was shortly
before midnight when Ray and Frank awakened Mr. Bucher and his wife from
their sleep to come down and open up the shop to "sell them some guitar
strings".

After complaining about how late it was, Mr. Bucher finally relented and
went downstairs to let the men into his shop. After receiving the twenty-
five cent guitar strings they handed Mr. Bucher a ten dollar bill which
required him to open up the safe in order to make change.

As Mr Bucher didn't have his eyeglasses with him he called to his wife,
to come down and turn the combination on the safe. Once the safe was opened,
a nervous Raymond Hamilton pointed his gun at the elderly shopkeeper and
demanded it's contents.

In a moment of panic the gun accidentally went off. The bullet had struck
Mr. Bucher in the heart killing him instantly. The two bandits then ran from
the store after taking about forty dollars and some jewlery.