No, Harvey didn't make the headlines until he was captured and falsely tried for the Charles Urschel kidnapping. But he never wanted to. All Bailey wanted was to get the money, escape and go unnoticed. The bank robbers in the 1920's never wanted to be famous.
By today standards, Bailey would be considered a male chauvinist. He distrusted women and refused to discuss business with them present. Harvey told his men that those were their women, but he was married and his wife was at home taking care of "women" things, like women should be doing.
At least it is safe to say he was faithful to his wife.
He supposedly hated Kathryn Kelly and forced George to leave her in the car when Kelly came to speak to him one day.
Bailey also had a falling out with Verne Miller over his girlfriend Vi Mathis. Harvey told Miller he told Vi too many things and Verne in return told him if she was good enough for him to live with, she was good enough to tell his business to.
After that Bailey did no more business with Miller.
He adapted to prison life easily and said he never suffered any punishments or beatings from guards. Even the guards would smuggle chewing tobacco into him while he was in solitary.
In Alcatraz, Harvey worked in the wood maker shop and laundry. He dabbed in the Catholic faith and helped with projects from time to time.
Back at Leavenworth, he studied up on law and worked to obtain his release from prison. Finding a loop hole that he had been found guilty for conspiracy and not for kidnapping itself, which carried a lesser sentence.
He is quoted as saying once that "The main lesson is that crime don't pay. You have to pay for it."
With the release of Kathryn Kelly in 1958, it gave Bailey hope that he would also win his freedom. Harvey also had the 1933 Kansas prison escape hanging over his head to deal with.
In 1960, Bailey was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution in Seagoville, Texas, the prison with no bars. He was taken to Dallas and allowed to window shop and visit stores.
Although Harvey does not mention this in his book, he was rearrested after his release from Seagoville and returned to the Kansas State prison.
On March 30, 1964, (or as other reports state, 1965,)Harvey was paroled. He moved to Joplin, Missouri and worked as a cabinet maker. In 1966 he married Esther Farmer, the widow of the outlaw Herb Farmer and lived a quiet life, liked by many.
Harvey also teamed up with J. Evetts Haley and wrote his life story, "Robbing Banks Was My Business." Haley did not do Bailey justice, it is a poorly written book and it is tragic that a better one hadn't been written on the outlaw. But it contains interesting information and is worth reading.
Harvey died on March 1, 1979 at the age of 91 in Joplin. Out living most of his counterparts from the golden era of bank robbery. Harvey never gave up hope that he would live to be paroled.
He is buried at the Forest Park Cemetery in Joplin.
Harvey stated after his release that "he may starve, but he'd never steal again."
Bailey In The Early 1970's
Harvey's Leavenworth Mugshot
{Courtesy: Brian Beerman}
Harvey Bailey
{Courtesy: Brian Beerman}
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