George Kelly Barnes aka George "Machine Gun" Kelly aka George R. Kelly (July 18, 1895 — July 17, 1954 or July 18, 1954) was a notorious American criminal during the prohibition era. His crimes included bootlegging, armed robbery and, most prominently, kidnapping.
George Kelly Barnes was born to a wealthy family living in Memphis, Tennessee. His father was a well-to-do insurance executive. Kelly’s early years as a child were essentially uneventful...
more
George Kelly Barnes aka George "Machine Gun" Kelly aka George R. Kelly (July 18, 1895 — July 17, 1954 or July 18, 1954) was a notorious American criminal during the prohibition era. His crimes included bootlegging, armed robbery and, most prominently, kidnapping.
George Kelly Barnes was born to a wealthy family living in Memphis, Tennessee. His father was a well-to-do insurance executive. Kelly’s early years as a child were essentially uneventful and his family raised him in a traditional household with many brothers and sisters.
He received his early education at Idlewild Elementary and was enrolled at Central High School, the oldest high school in the City of Memphis Public Schools.
His first sign of trouble began when he enrolled into Mississippi State University (MSU) to study agriculture in 1917. From the beginning, Kelly was considered a poor student, having been awarded his highest grade (a "C plus") for good physical hygiene. He was constantly in trouble with the faculty and...
less
