Lot 375
[Bonnie and Clyde] 1933 "Sowers Raid" Archive From Clyde Barrow Gang Investigator. Millard Edgar Sweatt joined the Dallas County Sheriff's Department in 1931 and while working under the command of legendary Sheriff Richard A. 'Smoot' Schmid (alongside future Dallas Sheriff J.E. 'Bill' Decker) participated in the apprehension of Depression-era outlaws such as the Hamilton brothers, 'Huron' Ted Walters, and members of the notorious Barrow Gang - the latter pursuit lasting until the deadly 1934 ambush of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow by a task force which included Dallas County Sheriff Deputies and Sweatt's lifelong friend, Ted Hinton.
On November 22, 1933, Millard Sweatt was a member of the Sheriff's posse that surprised Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker during a family picnic outside of Sowers, Texas, and was credited with collecting the accompanying relics from Parker and Barrow's disabled automobile.
Earlier the same year, Millard E. Sweatt reportedly assisted in organizing an Old West-style "showdown" between Clyde Barrow and Sheriff Smoot Schmid. Accepting a challenge issued by Barrow himself, Sheriff Schmid showed up ready for a gunfight at the appointed hour, but Barrow failed to appear.*
Millard Sweatt ascended through the ranks of the Dallas Sheriffs Department until, coinciding with the election of Bill Decker as Sheriff in 1949, he was promoted to Chief Criminal Deputy -second in command of Dallas law enforcement.
After retiring from his distinguished career at the Dallas Sheriff's Department, Millard Sweatt became Chief Investigator for Dallas District Attorney, Henry Wade. It was from his office in Dealey Plaza that - exactly 30 years and one day after he raided Bonnie & Clyde - that Millard Sweatt witnessed the assassination of President John Kennedy and its aftermath: the open limousine carrying Kennedy passed directly beneath his office window and Sweatt made a comment about the size of Jackie Kennedy's feet just before the first rifle shot rang out.* The responsibility of building criminal cases against Lee Harvey Oswald and, ultimately, Jack Ruby, then fell in large part to Millard Sweatt. (*Data confirmed by the son of Millard E. Sweatt, an executive within the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.)
Included in this archive are the following items:
2 - .45 caliber Colt ammo magazines abandoned at Sowers, Texas
15 - .45 caliber ammunition rounds (live) abandoned at Sowers, Texas
4 - .38 caliber ammunition rounds (live) abandoned at Sowers, Texas
5 - Ammunition carton remnants abandoned at Sowers, Texas
1 - 1933 dated Texas automobile license plate abandoned at Sowers, Texas
1- 8x10 portrait taken after Sowers Raid of senior officers Sheriff Smoot Schmid and Ted Hinton
1 - 1933 Dallas County Sheriff group portrait with Millard Sweatt, Bill Decker, Ted Hinton, Bob Alcorn, Sheriff Smoot Schmid.
6 - Antique childhood portraits of Millard Sweatt and family including brother, Deputy Allan Sweatt
1 - May 1934 Wanted Bulletin for Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow
1 - Dallas Police Department's official "Master" of Buck Barrow's 8x8 inch booking card with mugshot
13 - 4x5 inch snapshots of Barrow Gang & Police provided to Sweatt by posse member Ted Hinton
5 - 8x10 portraits of Barrow Gang fatal ambush aftermath given to Sweatt by posse member Ted Hinton.
1 - Handwritten letter from Ernest Sweatt of Dallas transferring possession of Barrow Gang relics to Millard Sweatt's younger brother, future Chief Criminal Deputy Allan Sweatt.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 20,000.
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