Volney Davis
Encyclopedia
Volney Curley Davis was an American bank robber and Depression-era outlaw. A longtime Oklahoma bandit, he was the boyfriend of Edna Murray
and an associate of both the John Dillinger
and Alvin Karpis
-Barker
gangs during the 1930s.
at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Davis was an early member of the Oklahoma-based "Central Park Gang" during the 1920s, where he first met the Barker Gang, and committed his first major robbery with Arthur "Doc" Barker when they burglarized St. John's Hospital
in Tulsa. The night watchman, Thomas J. Sherrill, was killed during the robbery. Barker was arrested about 5 months later for the murder; however Davis evaded authorities for nearly a year before he was captured. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the robbery. In February 1923 (or January 1925), he briefly escaped from the state penitentiary in McAlester
, participating in a mass escape with several other convicts by using ropes and a ladder to climb over the wall, but was recaptured almost two weeks later.
Seven years later Davis applied for a 20-month "leave of absence" from the prison which was granted on November 3, 1932. Such leniency was common in Oklahoma during that time, even with such a criminal record as his, although Alvin Karpis
later claimed that the state's decision was influenced by a $1,500 bribe. He was scheduled to return to the prison on July 1, 1934, but Davis went on the run instead. A month after his release, he reunited with girlfriend Edna Murray
who herself had escaped from prison for a third time. The couple joined the Alvin Karpis
-Barker Gang who were then at the peak of their success and in the midst of a major crime spree. Davis and Murray were later implicated in the kidnapping of St. Paul banker Edward Bremer who was successfully ransomed for $200,000.
In April 1934 Davis was visited by John Dillinger
at his home in Aurora, Illinois
. Dillinger had recently fled from a bank robbery, and had brought with him a wounded John "Red" Hamilton
. He agreed to hide Hamilton in his home and, with Murray, looked after him until he died of his wounds at the end of the month. Davis later helped Dillinger bury Hamilton in an unmarked grave.
Davis and Murray were never charged with the holdups he committed while part of the Karpis-Barker Gang, however they were indicted for the Bremer kidnapping on January 22, 1935. A little over two weeks later, Davis was captured in St. Louis by federal agents on February 6 but escaped from federal custody the next day. He had been traveling under escort to stand trial in St. Paul when their plane was forced to land in Yorkville, Illinois
. Once on the ground, Davis knocked out a guard and escaped in a stolen car. He evaded capture for nearly four months before being traced to Chicago by the FBI and arrested by Agent Melvin Purvis
on June 1. He was eventually returned to St. Paul where he was convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Like the rest of the Karpis-Barker Gang, Davis was sent to Alcatraz where he spent the next several decades. He did not participate in the escape attempt organized by Arthur Barker in 1939. There are claims that he became involved in a violent fistfight with Karpis which he won. By the time of his release, however, he was in poor health, and lived in Oregon until his death in 1978 after a long illness.
Edna Murray
Edna "Rabbits" Murray was a Depression-era outlaw and partner of Volney Davis during the early 1930s. Although popularly known to the press as the "Kissing Bandit" for her habit of kissing male robbery victims, she was known in the underworld as "Rabbits" for her skill as an escape artist.Her...
and an associate of both the 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...
and Alvin Karpis
Alvin Karpis
Alvin Francis Karpis , nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile, was an American criminal known for his alliance with the Barker gang in the 1930s. He was the last "public enemy" to be taken.-Early life:Karpis was born to Lithuanian immigrants in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and was raised in Topeka,...
-Barker
Ma Barker
Kate "Ma" Barker was the mother of several criminals who ran the Barker gang from the "public enemy era", when the exploits of gangs of criminals in the U.S. Midwest gripped the American people and press...
gangs during the 1930s.
Biography
Born in Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma, Volney Davis's criminal career began in 1919 when he was sentenced to three years imprisonment for grand larcenyGrand Larceny
Grand Larceny is a 1987 thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Marilu Henner, Ian McShane, Omar Sharif and Louis Jourdan.-Plot summary:...
at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Davis was an early member of the Oklahoma-based "Central Park Gang" during the 1920s, where he first met the Barker Gang, and committed his first major robbery with Arthur "Doc" Barker when they burglarized St. John's Hospital
St. John's Hospital
St. John’s Hospital, founded in 1875 by the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, has 457 licensed beds and is a primary teaching hospital for the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine . St...
in Tulsa. The night watchman, Thomas J. Sherrill, was killed during the robbery. Barker was arrested about 5 months later for the murder; however Davis evaded authorities for nearly a year before he was captured. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the robbery. In February 1923 (or January 1925), he briefly escaped from the state penitentiary in McAlester
McAlester
McAlester might refer to:* McAlester, Oklahoma, an American city in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma* Miles D. McAlester, Union general in the American Civil War* McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester, Oklahoma...
, participating in a mass escape with several other convicts by using ropes and a ladder to climb over the wall, but was recaptured almost two weeks later.
Seven years later Davis applied for a 20-month "leave of absence" from the prison which was granted on November 3, 1932. Such leniency was common in Oklahoma during that time, even with such a criminal record as his, although Alvin Karpis
Alvin Karpis
Alvin Francis Karpis , nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile, was an American criminal known for his alliance with the Barker gang in the 1930s. He was the last "public enemy" to be taken.-Early life:Karpis was born to Lithuanian immigrants in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and was raised in Topeka,...
later claimed that the state's decision was influenced by a $1,500 bribe. He was scheduled to return to the prison on July 1, 1934, but Davis went on the run instead. A month after his release, he reunited with girlfriend Edna Murray
Edna Murray
Edna "Rabbits" Murray was a Depression-era outlaw and partner of Volney Davis during the early 1930s. Although popularly known to the press as the "Kissing Bandit" for her habit of kissing male robbery victims, she was known in the underworld as "Rabbits" for her skill as an escape artist.Her...
who herself had escaped from prison for a third time. The couple joined the Alvin Karpis
Alvin Karpis
Alvin Francis Karpis , nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile, was an American criminal known for his alliance with the Barker gang in the 1930s. He was the last "public enemy" to be taken.-Early life:Karpis was born to Lithuanian immigrants in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and was raised in Topeka,...
-Barker Gang who were then at the peak of their success and in the midst of a major crime spree. Davis and Murray were later implicated in the kidnapping of St. Paul banker Edward Bremer who was successfully ransomed for $200,000.
In April 1934 Davis was visited by 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...
at his home in Aurora, Illinois
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
. Dillinger had recently fled from a bank robbery, and had brought with him a wounded John "Red" Hamilton
John Hamilton (gangster)
John "Red" Hamilton was a Canadian criminal and bank robber active in the early 20th century, most notably as a criminal associate of John Dillinger.-Prison break:...
. He agreed to hide Hamilton in his home and, with Murray, looked after him until he died of his wounds at the end of the month. Davis later helped Dillinger bury Hamilton in an unmarked grave.
Davis and Murray were never charged with the holdups he committed while part of the Karpis-Barker Gang, however they were indicted for the Bremer kidnapping on January 22, 1935. A little over two weeks later, Davis was captured in St. Louis by federal agents on February 6 but escaped from federal custody the next day. He had been traveling under escort to stand trial in St. Paul when their plane was forced to land in Yorkville, Illinois
Yorkville, Illinois
Yorkville is a city located in Kendall County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,189 at the 2000 United States Census and is estimated to be 16,505, . It is the county seat of Kendall County...
. Once on the ground, Davis knocked out a guard and escaped in a stolen car. He evaded capture for nearly four months before being traced to Chicago by the FBI and arrested by Agent Melvin Purvis
Melvin Purvis
Melvin Horace Purvis, Jr. was an American law enforcement official and Federal Bureau of Investigation agent. He was given the nickname "Little Mel" because of his short stature...
on June 1. He was eventually returned to St. Paul where he was convicted of kidnapping and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Like the rest of the Karpis-Barker Gang, Davis was sent to Alcatraz where he spent the next several decades. He did not participate in the escape attempt organized by Arthur Barker in 1939. There are claims that he became involved in a violent fistfight with Karpis which he won. By the time of his release, however, he was in poor health, and lived in Oregon until his death in 1978 after a long illness.