(July 18, 1895 – July 18, 1954)

George "Machine Gun" Kelly is probably considered one of the most famous
"gangsters" from the prohibition era. "Machine Gun" was born George Kelly
Barnes on July 18, 1895, to a wealthy family living in Memphis, Tennessee. His
nickname came from his favorite weapon, a Thompson submachine gun. Kelly’s
most famous crime was the kidnapping of oil tycoon & businessman Charles
Urschel in July 1933 for which he, and his gang, earned $200,000 ransom. An investigation by the FBI eventually led to Kelly’s arrest in Memphis, Tennessee
on September 26, 1933. Other crimes committed by Kelly included armed
robbery and bootlegging. He died of a heart attack at Leavenworth Federal
Prison, Kansas on July 18, 1954 – his 59th birthday.

Kelly in his jail cell

September, 1933