In a 1934 Fort Worth Star-Telegram article, local undertaker Hugh Moore made a surprising offer: a place for the notorious outlaw Clyde Barrow’s eternal rest.

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Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow dominated newspaper headlines in the early 1930s, with their criminal escapades captivating a nation grappling with the Great Depression. The coverage was extensive, often sensationalized, and frequently embellished to boost newspaper sales. The infamous duo and their gang were well-known in North Texas, having family in the area and committing crimes there.

Arlington undertaker Hugh Moore (1882-1949), who operated the eponymous Moore Funeral Home, extended an offer to Barrow, including a grave, headstone, and guaranteed care of the site for 99 years. While it was likely a genuine gesture, given Moore’s reputation for compassion and diplomacy, one wonders if it was also a clever publicity stunt or satirical commentary wishing an end to their outlaw ways.

In a somewhat prophetic irony, time was fleeting for the young couple, and they were killed less than two months after this article appeared. Moore’s offer went unfulfilled.

“Burial Plat and Tombstone for Barrow Offered”
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fort Worth, Texas – April 3, 1934
Newspapers.com

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 07-05-25