Historic Black Town, Boley OK, Fended OFF “Pretty Boy” Floyd’s Bank Robbers

Primary Sources, Black History

Listen to The Gist of Freedom tonight as we talk with Jennifer Nelson a descendant of the historical black town, Boley OK. One of the first nationally chartered black-owned banks, Farmers and Merchants Bank in Boley, Oklahoma, an all-black town successfully fended off “Pretty Boy” Floyd’s Bank Robber's Gang! ON NOVEMBER 23, 1932, three members of Charles A. “Pretty Boy” Floyd’s gang made the worst mistake of their lives. They tried to rob the state’s first nationally chartered black-owned bank Farmers and Merchants Bank in Boley, Ok, an all-black town of proud-walking pioneers. Up to that point, the Floyd gang had been robbing an average of a bank a week, usually without any resistance. Gangster Floyd had warned his gang members against robbing the Boley bank because, the people of Boley all had guns, knew how to shoot them and weren't afraid to use them. Photos: Boley Council Members, Boley Bank, SEMINOLE NEGRO INDIAN SCOUTS _ They didn't heed Floyd's warning and Birdwell and Patterson, armed burst into the bank early that morning. announced they were robbing the bank and warned "don't pull no alarm." The bank's Bookkeeper McCormick, saw the robbers enter. He slipped into the bank's vault, retrieved the rifle and aimed it at Birdwell who was scooping up cash. At the same time, the Bank's president D.J. Turner, was on duty. He loved Boley and was determined to defend it. When the alarm began wailing Birdwell hollered, "Did you pull that alarm?" "Sure I did," Turner answered. Gangster Birdwell shot and Turner fell mortally wounded. McCormick, in turn, shot the second gang member, Birdwell to death. Excerpts taken from Mrs. Betty DeRamus Facebook post