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Description
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Charles Barr: The Petting Party Bandit

Early Life

Charles Barr was born in 1903 in Memphis, Tennessee, as the only son of a Baptist minister. In his adulthood, he married a woman named Luada, and the couple resided in Memphis. Barr worked as a chauffeur and house servant for the Van Fossan family, where he was regarded as an honest worker. Despite his stable employment, Barr aspired for a more lavish lifestyle, leading him to turn to robberies.

Crimes

Between January and May 1923, Charles Barr, infamously known as "The Petting Party Bandit," terrorized couples in secluded lovers' lanes around Memphis. His modus operandi involved attacking couples in isolated areas, robbing them, and in some cases, committing murder.

Victims

  • Duncan Waller (19) – January 27, 1923: Shot and killed near Memphis.
  • Ruth McElwaine Tucker – January 27, 1923: Assaulted and shot near Memphis.
  • W. Obe Spencer (27) – May 29, 1923: Shot and killed near Memphis.
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Victims
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Confirmed Victims: (3)
  • Duncan Waller Age: (19), Date of Death: 1923-01-27
  •     ...View 2 additional victims
    Links to Additional Sources (5)
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    Killer's Details

    Charles

    Barr

    1903 Memphis, Tennessee, United States

    August 20, 1926 (aged 22–23) Nashville, Tennessee, United States

    Executed by electric chair

    Male

    Black

    The Petting Party Bandit, The Black Panther

    Murder (x3)

    Death

    3

    January - May 1923

    Tennessee

    July 1924

    Tennessee State Prison

    07/03/2025