Original Vintage Wanted Poster dated July 8th 1938 Irving Charles Chapman Wanted for Bank Robbery and National Motor Vehicle Theft.
The Poster Measures 16” X 10.5”
Contemporary News article on Chapman’s death by police:
“Irving Charles Chapman, native Neshoban, long sought by law enforcement officers in connection with a prison break and bank robberies with which he was charged, was killed at 9:10 o'clock last Sunday night in a gun battle with local and Federal authorities eight miles east of Philadelphia on the Sandtown road. Led by Percy Wylie II, FBI Agent in Charge for Mississippi, a squad of 18 officers, trapped Chapman Sunday night as he left the shack of Dee Baxstrom, negro, in an automobile driven by Alfred Ward, with whom Chapman is said to have been associated lately. Acting on information that Chapman would be in the vicinity of the negro's house that night, a detail of FBI men, Highway Patrolmen and local officers stationed themselves at appointed places.
Eye-Witness Account
Sheriff Will Brantley, one of the group, gave the following account of events both immediately before and during the gun battle that followed soon thereafter: "One group of officers, composed of Agent Wylie and other FBI men, stationed themselves on the north side of the road at the crest of a hill east of the Baxstrom shack. Two other FBI men and myself were stationed across the road on the South side. Another group, including, Deputy Clarence Garrison, Sheriff McDonald of Kemper County and other officers, were stationed on the west end of the road beyond Baxstrom's house.
Car Starts Up Hill
"We had only been located a few minutes when we heard a car drive up to Baxstrom's house, stop two or three minutes, and a car door slam shut. A few minutes later, the auto, a battered 1936 2-door black sedan, known by us to have been previously driven by Ward, labored slowly up the hill.
"When it reached the crest, Agent Wylie and his men across the road turned powerful flood lights on the car and sent up a flare that brilliantly illuminated the entire scene for several minutes.
"At the same time, Agent Wylie shouted, 'Come out with your hands up,' whereupon Ward kick¬ed open the left front door and, lurched backwards out of the car from the driver's seat with his hands up and half-rolled under the car, which had stalled on the hill. It was found later that he was intoxicated.
Firing Begins
"As Wylie repeated his order, Chapman, with an oath, said, 'Start shooting and raised a .38 revolver to the right hand front window, which was broken out, and from which he could plainly see us in the floodlights, sprawled on the grass some 20 feet from the car, and rapidly fired point blank five times in our direction.
"About that time Agent Wylie shouted, 'Fire,' and simultaneousIy the FBI men on my left and right, armed with machine gun and buck-shot gun, opened up in Chapman's direction, as did also the men stationed across the road from us.
"At the command of 'That's enough, boys,' from the FBI chief, the firing ceased and the officer again commanded Chapman, already wounded, to keep his hands up. Chapman had his left hand up, but his right was not and he appeared to be trying to raise his gun again, whereupon Agent Wylie again ordered, 'Fire', and a second charge of bullets sprayed the car from both sides of the road.
Car Ignited
"As the second round of fire struck, Chapman slumped down and at the same time a blaze sprang up inside the car as tracer bullets ignited the seat cushions. As Wylie promptly shouted, 'Get him out of there, he's on fire,' the oflicers rushed in and pulled Chapman from the auto and ex¬tinguished his clothing, which had caught fire on one trouser leg. The seat cushions were also
quickly extinguished.
"Chapman was dead when we pulled him from the car. The body was carried to DeKalb. An ambulance was called and his body removed to Meridian.
"Later, another .38 caliber pistol was found on Chapman's side of the car, from which one bullet had been fired, but no accounting has been made of when or in what direction it was fired."
Baxstrom Under Arrest
Meanwhile, the squad on the west end of the road went to Baxstrom's house and placed him under¬ arrest. It was discovered that two ten-gallon kegs and a blowtorch had been left in the yard after Ward's car had driven up.
When questioned about where he and Chapman had started, Ward is reported to have replied, "We were just riding off to talk a little." According to the Sheriff, he stated that Chapman told Dee before leaving the shack, "I will come back in a little while, and If I don't Ward will be back."
Chapman's death ended a search that has gone on for several years under the direction of the FBI, following his-escape from a Texas prison several years ago after a conviction on a charge of bank robbery. The search had been pressed with redoubled dilligence since January 17, on which date Ralph McNair, Meridian po¬liceman, was seriuosly wounded; and which shooting is said to have been laid by Meridian officers to Chapman.
Chapman, was born in Neshoba County on Dec. 29, 1898, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Chapman, well-known and highly¬ respected citizens. He was for a number of years engaged as road contractor.
