Albert Lawrence Bates (October 16, 1893 – July 4, 1948) was an American bank robber and burglar during the 1920s and 1930s. 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. He also took part in the kidnapping of oil magnate Charles Urschel in July 1933.
Albert Bates was born on October 16, 1893, to Elizabeth Mary Hughes and Wiley Bates.[1] He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1911 but was arrested for desertion 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 Cañon City for a third burglary conviction on May 10, 1927.[2][3]
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 "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.[2][3][4]
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.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
The ranch was eventually discovered by authorities. Reports vary about detective work by the FBI. 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[8] with Bates being sent to Alcatraz where he was later joined by his partner Kelly. Bates died of heart disease on July 4, 1948,[2][3][4][5][9] and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abSFgenealogy. . Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
^ abcdNewton, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Robberies, Heists, and Capers. New York: Facts On File Inc., 2002. (pg. 30) ISBN0-8160-4488-0
^ abcdWard, David. Alcatraz: The Gangster Years. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2009. (pg. 28-40, 87-88, 338-339) ISBN0-520-25607-7
^ abcNewton, Michael. The FBI Encyclopedia. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2003. (pg. 178) ISBN0-7864-1718-8
^ abOwens, Ron. Oklahoma Justice: A Century of Gunfighters, Gangsters and Terrorists. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 1995. (pg. 116-117) ISBN1-56311-280-9
^Pryor, Alton. Outlaws and Gunslingers: Tales of the West's Most Notorious Outlaws. Roseville, California: Stagecoach Publishing, 2001. (pg. 143) ISBN0-9660053-6-8
^ abPowers, Richard Gid. Broken: The Troubled Past and Uncertain Future of the FBI. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004. (pg. 147-150) ISBN0-684-83371-9
^ abYadon, Laurence J. and Dan Anderson. 100 Oklahoma Outlaws, Gangsters, and Lawmen: 1839-1939. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing Company, 2007. (pg. 191, 194, 206-207, 209) ISBN1-58980-384-1
Further readingedit
Breuer, William B. J. Edgar Hoover and his G-Men. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1995. ISBN0-275-94990-7
DeToledano, Ralph. J. Edgar Hoover: The Man In His Time. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House, 1973. ISBN0-87000-188-4
Hamilton, Stanley. Machine Gun Kelly's Last Stand. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2003. ISBN0-7006-1247-5
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. ISBN0-02-925060-9
Williams, Edward Bennett. One Man's Freedom. New York: Atheneum, 1962.
November 06, 2023
albert, bates, criminal, albert, lawrence, bates, october, 1893, july, 1948, american, bank, robber, burglar, during, 1920s, 1930s, used, number, different, aliases, during, criminal, career, including, george, davis, george, harris, king, longtime, partner, g. Albert Lawrence Bates October 16 1893 July 4 1948 was an American bank robber and burglar during the 1920s and 1930s 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 He also took part in the kidnapping of oil magnate Charles Urschel in July 1933 Albert BatesMugshot 1934BornAlbert Lawrence Bates 1893 10 16 October 16 1893Birmingham Alabama USDiedJuly 4 1948 1948 07 04 aged 54 Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary San Francisco California U S Other namesGeorge Davis George Harris J B King and MagoslyOccupation s Bank robber and burglarCriminal statusDied in AlcatrazConviction s Kidnapping 1933 Criminal penaltyLife imprisonmentBiography editAlbert Bates was born on October 16 1893 to Elizabeth Mary Hughes and Wiley Bates 1 He enlisted in the U S Army in 1911 but was arrested for desertion 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 Canon City for a third burglary conviction on May 10 1927 2 3 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 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 2 3 4 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 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The ranch was eventually discovered by authorities Reports vary about detective work by the FBI 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 8 with Bates being sent to Alcatraz where he was later joined by his partner Kelly Bates died of heart disease on July 4 1948 2 3 4 5 9 and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma California 1 References edit a b SFgenealogy San Francisco Mortuary Records Archived from the original on 6 March 2011 Retrieved 26 February 2011 a b c d Newton Michael The Encyclopedia of Robberies Heists and Capers New York Facts On File Inc 2002 pg 30 ISBN 0 8160 4488 0 a b c d Ward David Alcatraz The Gangster Years Berkeley University of California Press 2009 pg 28 40 87 88 338 339 ISBN 0 520 25607 7 a b c Newton Michael The FBI Encyclopedia Jefferson North Carolina McFarland amp Company 2003 pg 178 ISBN 0 7864 1718 8 a b Owens Ron Oklahoma Justice A Century of Gunfighters Gangsters and Terrorists Paducah Kentucky Turner Publishing Company 1995 pg 116 117 ISBN 1 56311 280 9 Theoharis Athan G The FBI A Comprehensive Reference Guide Westport Connecticut Greenwood Publishing Group 1999 pg 56 ISBN 0 89774 991 X Pryor Alton Outlaws and Gunslingers Tales of the West s Most Notorious Outlaws Roseville California Stagecoach Publishing 2001 pg 143 ISBN 0 9660053 6 8 a b Powers Richard Gid Broken The Troubled Past and Uncertain Future of the FBI New York Simon and Schuster 2004 pg 147 150 ISBN 0 684 83371 9 a b Yadon Laurence J and Dan Anderson 100 Oklahoma Outlaws Gangsters and Lawmen 1839 1939 Gretna Louisiana Pelican Publishing Company 2007 pg 191 194 206 207 209 ISBN 1 58980 384 1Further reading editBreuer 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albert Bates criminal amp oldid 1182520679, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
