Russell Clark (criminal)
| Russell Lee Clark | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | 1898 Vigo County, Indiana, United States |
| Died |
December 24, 1968 Detroit, Michigan |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Other names | Boobie |
| Occupation | Bank robber and thief |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Criminal status | Paroled for health reasons in 1968 |
| Spouse(s) | Opal "Mack Truck" Long |
| Conviction(s) | Murder (1934) |
Russell Lee "Boobie" Clark (1898-December 24, 1968) was an American thief, bank robber and prison escapee. He is best known as the "good natured" member of the John Dillinger gang and participated in armed holdups with them in a three-month crime spree across the Midwestern United States from October 1933 until his capture in January 1934.
A native of Oaktown, Knox County, Indiana, Russell Clark's criminal career began shortly after his dishonorable discharge from the United States Marines in 1919. He was a partner of Ralston "Blackie" Linton during the early 1920s and together robbed a series of "illicit roadhouses". In 1926, Clark was a suspect in the kidnapping of two West Terre Houte bootleggers and the murder of Joe Popolardo in Danville, Illinois. That same year, both Jack Morrison and Clark confessed to robbing the Bellevue Club in Evansville, Indiana on August 26 but the owner, Charles "Cotton" Jones, refused to press charges and the case was dropped. The following year, Clark went on a crime spree with Frank Badgley and Charles Hovious in northeast Indiana and robbed several banks. Clark was finally caught after his first robbery, from either Huntertown or Fort Wayne, Indiana, and sentenced to twenty years imprisonment on December 11 or 12, 1927.
He spent his term at the state penitentiary in Michigan City and, while there, learned from veteran stick up artists. Clark's bitterness and rebellious attitude led to disciplinary problems with prison authorities. He made three unsuccessful escape attempts and was one of the ringleaders of an inmate strike in 1929. Clark was a popular jokester among inmates and was part of a "clique" which included Harry Pierpont, Charles Makley, John "Red" Hamilton, Homer Van Meter and John Dillinger.
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