May 23 in American History

May 23, 1934 — Bonnie and Clyde are killed

The notorious Depression-era outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and killed by lawmen on a Louisiana road, ending a two-year crime spree that had gripped and appalled the public. Romanticized in the press even as they left a trail of dead officers, they became enduring, cautionary figures of American folklore.

Common Questions

What happened on May 23 in American history?

In 1934: Bonnie and Clyde are killed. The notorious Depression-era outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and killed by lawmen on a Louisiana road, ending a two-year crime spree that had gripped and appalled the public.

Why is May 23 significant?

The notorious Depression-era outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and killed by lawmen on a Louisiana road, ending a two-year crime spree that had gripped and appalled the public. Romanticized in the press even as they left a trail of dead officers, they became enduring, cautionary figures of American folklore.

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