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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