Albert Bates (criminal)
Encyclopedia
Albert L. Bates was an American
bank robber and burglar during the 1920s and '30s. He used a number of different aliases during his criminal career including George Davis, George Harris and J.B. King. He was the longtime partner of George "Machine Gun" Kelly
and participated in the kidnapping of oil tycoon Charles Urschel in 1933.
and sent to the military prison
on Alcatraz where he stayed for 15 months. Albert Bates was first arrested in Nevada for burglary on March 28, 1916 and was sentenced to serve 1 to 15 years at the state prison in Carson City. He was paroled on November 13, 1917 and was out for less than half-a-year when he was arrested for burglary in Ogden, Utah
on April 22, 1920. He was convicted on August 3, 1921 and sentenced to five years at the Utah state prison where he remained for five years.
Bates would continuously be in trouble with the law throughout his criminal career, particularly as a young man, and was imprisoned in the Colorado state penitentiary in Canyon City
for a third burglary conviction on May 10, 1927.
By the time of his release on July 17, 1930, again being granted parole, Bates had become a hardened criminal. He soon joined up with bank robber George "Machine Gun" Kelly
, who had been released from Leavenworth a month before Bates, and together robbed their first bank in Denton, Texas
with several others on February 6, 1932. Seven months later, he and Kelly teamed with Eddie Bentz
to rob a bank on Colfax, Washington
of $77,000 in cash and bonds on September 21. He and Kelly, this time with Eddie Doll, hit another bank in Tupelo, Mississippi
for $38,000 on November 30, 1932. This robbery was one of many wrongly attributed to Pretty Boy Floyd
by authorities.
With violent shootouts between outlaws and law enforcement on the rise in 1932 and 1933, Bates and Kelly began considering kidnapping. They may have been encouraged by the successful 1933 kidnapping of brewer William Hamm for $100,000 as they soon began planning the kidnapping of Charles Urschell, a wealthy oil tycoon in Oklahoma City
. On July 22, 1933, Bates and Kelly abducted Urschell from his home at gunpoint and drove him to a Texas ranch owned by Kelly's in-laws. They eventually received a $200,000 ransom and Urschell was safely released on July 31.
Bates and Kelly split up while the FBI took over the investigation. The ranch was eventually discovered by authorities, reports vary between detective work by the FBI or a tip received from local authorities, and federal agents raided the ranch on August 12 arresting three of Kelly's in-laws and a visiting Harvey Bailey
. Bates was arrested the same day in Denver for passing stolen checks. Although Kelly would evade authorities for another month, Bates and the rest involved in the Urschall kidnapping were convicted in federal court on September 30, 1933. All were sentenced to life imprisonment a week later with Bates being sent to Alcatraz where he was later joined by his partner Kelly. Bates died of heart disease on July 4, 1948, and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery
in Colma, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bank robber and burglar during the 1920s and '30s. He used a number of different aliases during his criminal career including George Davis, George Harris and J.B. King. He was the longtime partner of George "Machine Gun" Kelly
Machine Gun Kelly
George Kelley Barnes , better known as "Machine Gun Kelly", was an American gangster during the prohibition era. His nickname came from his favorite weapon, a Thompson submachine gun. His most famous crime was the kidnapping of oil tycoon & businessman Charles Urschel in July 1933 for which he,...
and participated in the kidnapping of oil tycoon Charles Urschel in 1933.
Biography
Albert Bates was born on October 16, 1893 to Elizabeth May and Wiley Bates. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1911 but was arrested for desertionDesertion
In military terminology, desertion is the abandonment of a "duty" or post without permission and is done with the intention of not returning...
and sent to the military prison
Military prison
A military prison is a prison operated by the military. Military prisons are used variously to house prisoners of war, enemy combatants, those whose freedom is deemed a national security risk by the military or national authorities, and members of the military found guilty of a serious crime...
on Alcatraz where he stayed for 15 months. Albert Bates was first arrested in Nevada for burglary on March 28, 1916 and was sentenced to serve 1 to 15 years at the state prison in Carson City. He was paroled on November 13, 1917 and was out for less than half-a-year when he was arrested for burglary in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
on April 22, 1920. He was convicted on August 3, 1921 and sentenced to five years at the Utah state prison where he remained for five years.
Bates would continuously be in trouble with the law throughout his criminal career, particularly as a young man, and was imprisoned in the Colorado state penitentiary in Canyon City
Canyon City
Canyon City may refer to:*Cañon City, Colorado*Canyon City, Chilkoot trail*Canyon City, Oregon*Canyon City, Yukon*the settlement formerly named Canyon City, British Columbia is now Gitwinksihlkw, British Columbia...
for a third burglary conviction on May 10, 1927.
By the time of his release on July 17, 1930, again being granted parole, Bates had become a hardened criminal. He soon joined up with bank robber George "Machine Gun" Kelly
Machine Gun Kelly
George Kelley Barnes , better known as "Machine Gun Kelly", was an American gangster during the prohibition era. His nickname came from his favorite weapon, a Thompson submachine gun. His most famous crime was the kidnapping of oil tycoon & businessman Charles Urschel in July 1933 for which he,...
, who had been released from Leavenworth a month before Bates, and together robbed their first bank in Denton, Texas
Denton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
with several others on February 6, 1932. Seven months later, he and Kelly teamed with Eddie Bentz
Eddie Bentz
Edward Wilhelm "Eddie" Bentz was an American bank robber and Depression-era outlaw. He was associated with several high-profile public enemies during his criminal career including Harvey Bailey, Albert Bates, George "Machine Gun" Kelly and Baby Face Nelson...
to rob a bank on Colfax, Washington
Colfax, Washington
Colfax is the county seat of Whitman County, Washington, United States.The population was 2,805 at the 2010 census.It is situated amidst wheat-covered hills in a valley at the confluence of the north and south forks of the Palouse River. U.S...
of $77,000 in cash and bonds on September 21. He and Kelly, this time with Eddie Doll, hit another bank in Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
for $38,000 on November 30, 1932. This robbery was one of many wrongly attributed to Pretty Boy Floyd
Pretty Boy Floyd
Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd was an American bank robber. He operated in the West South Central States, and his criminal exploits gained heavy press coverage in the 1930s. Like most other prominent outlaws of that era, he was killed by law enforcement officers...
by authorities.
With violent shootouts between outlaws and law enforcement on the rise in 1932 and 1933, Bates and Kelly began considering kidnapping. They may have been encouraged by the successful 1933 kidnapping of brewer William Hamm for $100,000 as they soon began planning the kidnapping of Charles Urschell, a wealthy oil tycoon in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
. On July 22, 1933, Bates and Kelly abducted Urschell from his home at gunpoint and drove him to a Texas ranch owned by Kelly's in-laws. They eventually received a $200,000 ransom and Urschell was safely released on July 31.
Bates and Kelly split up while the FBI took over the investigation. The ranch was eventually discovered by authorities, reports vary between detective work by the FBI or a tip received from local authorities, and federal agents raided the ranch on August 12 arresting three of Kelly's in-laws and a visiting Harvey Bailey
Harvey Bailey
Harvey John Bailey , called "The Dean of American Bank Robbers", had a long criminal career. One of the most successful bank robbers during the 1920s, walking off with over $1 million during that time, Bailey is almost forgotten today.- His career :Born in West Virginia, Bailey robbed his first...
. Bates was arrested the same day in Denver for passing stolen checks. Although Kelly would evade authorities for another month, Bates and the rest involved in the Urschall kidnapping were convicted in federal court on September 30, 1933. All were sentenced to life imprisonment a week later with Bates being sent to Alcatraz where he was later joined by his partner Kelly. Bates died of heart disease on July 4, 1948, and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma
Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, California is an American Roman Catholic cemetery operated by the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Established in 1887 on of a former potato farm, it is the oldest and largest cemetery established in Colma to serve the needs of San Francisco...
in Colma, California
Colma, California
Colma is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 1,792 at the 2010 census. The town was founded as a necropolis in 1924....
.
Further reading
- Breuer, William B. J. Edgar Hoover and his G-Men. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1995. ISBN 0-275-94990-7
- Butler, Ken. More Oklahoma Renegades. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing Company, 2007. ISBN 1-58980-464-3
- DeToledano, Ralph. J. Edgar Hoover: The Man In His Time. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1973. ISBN 0-87000-188-4
- Hamilton, Stanley. Machine Gun Kelly's Last Stand. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2003. ISBN 0-7006-1247-5
- Kirkpatrick, Ernest E. Voices from Alcatraz: The Authentic Inside Story of the Urschel Kidnapping. San Antonio: Naylor Company, 1947.
- Powers, Richard Gid. Secrecy and Power: The Life of J. Edgar Hoover. New York: Free Press, 1987. ISBN 0-02-925060-9
- Williams, Edward Bennett. One Man's Freedom. New York: Atheneum, 1962.