The Inman Compendium Message Board

Elmer A. Inman and the Barker Gang

Posted By: George D. Murphey (bgm-24-95-149-123.stny.rr.com)
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2002, at 2:42 p.m.

It is unfortunate when printed material is deemed as true just because
someone printed it. This is true in the case of some material submited by Georgia Chirieleison and found in the documents section of this site.
It is titeled, "Elmer Inman and Ma Barker Gang". The context appears below -

From "History of the Tulsa Police Department"

Chapter 21

The Gangster Era Fred Barker One of the most infamous gangs of the era was that of Ma Barker, and her sons Fred, Arthur, Herman, Loyd and James. Ma Barker, in reality, was Arizona Kate Barker. She married George Barker whom she left in Missouri when she came to Tulsa and took up residence at 401 North Cincinnati Avenue.

As youths, the Barker brothers and seventeen other youths comprised the Central Park gang at Sixth Street and Peoria Avenue. The group perpetrated small-time robberies and burglaries. As they grew to adulthood, their crimes expanded to bank robbery, kidnapping and murder.

Ma Barker's house was a stop-over place for many criminals. She became the matriarch of the criminal group and ruled with an iron fist. Although she was credited for masterminding all of their crimes, the brains who actually planned each venture was Elmer H. Inman.

Elmer Inman

Other gang members included Glen Leroy Wright and Raymond Karpavioz, who shortened his name to Alvin Karpis. He often used the alias of George Haller. Karpis stayed at 6 East Haskell Street. The Tulsa officers raided Karpis' residence and Barker's home but the suspects eluded them after a gun battle.

The above is actually from a book by Ron Treckel, a retired Tulsa policeman. Where Mr. Trekel got the information from to form the conclusion that Elmer Inman was the brains behind the Ma Barker Gang is beyond me. Funny that the 57 page FBI files found on the web under the Karpis - Barker Gang makes no mention of Elmer. Also no articles from papers of that time make the claim. I believe that this is how myths get started. Elmer was a small time jewelry thief, and stold a car once. He spent time at the Kansas State Pen in Leavonworth, Kansas. While there he was a chauffer for the warden, Julian K. Codding (my great - grandfather) he ran off with and married LaVona Codding. There are articles that can be found on this from Sept 28, 1921 - June 14, 1922 in The Arkansas City Daily Traveler.

All research and documents that I have concerning Elmer A. Inman just
don't support Mr. Trekels claim. The claim is not truth!

Messages In This Thread

Elmer A. Inman and the Barker Gang -- George D. Murphey (bgm-24-95-149-123.stny.rr.com) -- Saturday, 21 December 2002, at 2:42 p.m.

Re: Elmer A. Inman and the Barker Gang -- Mike Koch (164.58.0.162) -- Wednesday, 16 February 2005, at 1:43 p.m.

Re: Elmer A. Inman and the Barker Gang -- pat smith (ear5300-1-async-p154.earlsboro.ok.mbo.net) -- Wednesday, 11 May 2005, at 8:34 a.m.

Re: Elmer A. Inman and the Barker Gang -- Rick Mattix (69-18-20-107.lisco.net) -- Sunday, 20 March 2005, at 2:40 p.m.

Re: Elmer A. Inman and the Barker Gang -- M. Koch (164.58.0.162) -- Wednesday, 30 March 2005, at 10:43 a.m.

Re: Elmer A. Inman and the Barker Gang -- janet (adsl-65-65-38-63.dsl.fyvlar.swbell.net) -- Friday, 20 May 2005, at 9:57 p.m.