James Clark (criminal)
Encyclopedia
James "Oklahoma Jack" Clark was a Depression-era outlaw and bank robber.

A protege of bank robber Herman "Baron" Lamm
Herman Lamm
Herman K. Lamm , known as Baron Lamm, was a German American bank robber. He is widely considered one of the most brilliant and efficient bank robbers to have ever lived, and has been described as "the father of modern bank robbery"...

, Clark was a later member of Lamm's team who participated in the gang's final robbery against the Citizens State Bank in Clinton, Indiana
Clinton, Indiana
Clinton is a city in Vermillion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,893 at the 2010 census. The city was established in 1829 and is named after DeWitt Clinton, who served as governor of New York from 1817 to 1823. Many of Clinton's original settlers were immigrants working in coal...

 on December 16, 1930. Although initially escaping with $15,567 in cash, Clark was tracked down with the others and trapped by a posse at Sidell, Illinois
Sidell, Illinois
Sidell is a village in Sidell Township, Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is part of the 'Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 626 at the 2000 census.-History:...

, resulting in the death of Lamm and two other members in the following gun battle.

Along with fellow survivor Walter Dietrich, Clark was arrested by authorities and extradited to Indiana for bank robbery charges and sentenced to the state prison at Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....

. During his time in prison, he and Dietrich became acquaintances with future outlaws John Dillinger
John Dillinger
John Herbert Dillinger, Jr. was an American bank robber in Depression-era United States. He was charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an East Chicago, Indiana police officer during a shoot-out. This was his only alleged homicide. His gang robbed two dozen banks and four police stations...

, Harry Pierpont
Harry Pierpont
Harry Pierpont was a Prohibition era gangster. He is perhaps most noted for being a friend and mentor of John Dillinger....

, Charles Makley
Charles Makley
Charles Makley , also known as Charles McGray and Fat Charles, was an American criminal and bank robber active in the early 20th century, most notably as a criminal associate of John Dillinger....

 and Homer Van Meter
Homer Van Meter
Homer "Wayne" Van Meter was an American criminal and bank robber active in the early 20th century, most notably as a criminal associate of John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson.-Early life:...

.

One of ten prisoners who escaped from the prison (using pistols smuggled into the prison by a recently paroled Dillinger), Clark was recaptured at Hammond, Indiana
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....

after two days and returned to prison where he remained for the rest of his life.
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