Original subtitles

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE. OPEN THE DOOR.

Narrator: PLUNGED INTO THE LAWLESSNESS

OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION...

Millwee: THESE CRIMINALS DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO PRISON.

THEY WERE GOING TO BE HUNG.

[ MACHINE-GUN FIRE ]

Narrator: ...OKLAHOMA CITY IS FALLING PREY

TO SOME OF THE DEADLIEST GANGSTERS

AMERICA HAS EVER SEEN...

THEY WANTED TO OUTGUN THE COPS, AND THEY HAD THEM OUTGUNNED.

FREEZE!

[ MACHINE-GUN FIRE ]

Narrator: ...UNTIL A COURAGEOUS LAWMAN, DELF "JELLY" BRYCE,

ARMED WITH AN AMAZING GIFT...

OKAY. LET'S SEE YOU TRY.

...STEPS UP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Millwee: HE COULD DRAW A GUN IN 2/5th OF A SECOND.

HE SAID, "IT'S EITHER ME OR THEM, SON."

JELLY BRYCE WOULD KILL

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 19 AND 38 MEN IN HIS CAREER.

Narrator: JELLY BRYCE DRAWS FIRST...

[ GUN COCKS ]

...AND SHOOTS LAST.

Millwee: THAT TAKES A HERO.

HE WAS THE REAL DEAL.

Narrator: AS AMERICA RISES AS A NATION...

VIOLENCE REIGNS.

A FEW BRAVE SOULS FACE THE DANGER,

FIGHTING TO CREATE JUSTICE FROM CHAOS.

THESE ARE THE STORIES OF AMERICAN LAWMEN.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

Owens: THERE'S ALL THIS MYSTIQUE

ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE JELLY BRYCE KILLED.

YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE IN THE 400 OR 500 PAGES

OF HIS FBI FILE THAT ARE MISSING.

THE THING ABOUT BRYCE WAS,

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, HE WAS ALL IN.

IT WAS A VIOLENT TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY,

AND HE WAS CREATED OR FORMED BY HIS TIMES.

Millwee: I WOULD REFER TO JELLY AS MY SECOND FATHER.

I HAD A GREAT DAD, AND, UH --

BUT JELLY TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE A LAWMAN.

IN 1895,

THERE WERE ESTIMATED FOUR VEHICLES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, ALL OF A SUDDEN,

YOU'VE GOT 30 MILLION CARS, BANG, OVERNIGHT.

THE AUTO-THEFT SQUAD --

AS HE DESCRIBED IT,

90% OF THE PEOPLE YOU ARRESTED HAD A GUN.

JACK.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY CHIEF OF POLICE HAD THIS VISION --

IF YOU COULD CUT DOWN THE NUMBER OF AUTO THEFTS,

YOU COULD CUT DOWN THE NUMBER OF OTHER CRIMES.

THIS CAR BETTER BE IN AS GOOD AS CONDITION AS YOU SAY.

OH, SHE'S A BEAUT.

BUT, UH... JUST A LITTLE HOT.

THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE KIND OF CARS I BUY.

CAR THEFT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR BANK ROBBERIES.

THE GANGSTERS WANTED TO STEAL THE LATEST FORD MODEL,

'CAUSE IT WAS FASTER THAN WHAT THE COPPERS HAD AT THE TIME.

OH, YEAH.

THIS IS THE ONE I WAS LOOKING FOR.

Owens: BONNIE AND CLYDE WROTE LETTERS TO HENRY FORD,

COMPLIMENTING HIM ON HIS NEW V-8 ENGINE

BECAUSE THE COPS JUST COULDN'T KEEP UP.

SO THEY'RE A MORE VIOLENT CLASS OF CRIMINAL,

AND THEY'RE NOT YOUR BASIC CAR THIEF.

THEY'RE A BANK ROBBER STEALING A CAR.

THE CAR'S IN GREAT CONDITION.

STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR.

OFFICER, IT'S MY CAR.

SORRY, JACK. I'M NOT BUYING.

Owens: THEY WERE MORE LIKELY ARMED,

MORE LIKELY TO VIOLENTLY RESIST, MORE LIKELY TO KILL YOU.

Conti: AND IN THIS ENVIRONMENT NOW,

WE STILL DON'T REALLY HAVE

THE MODERN VERSION OF THE LAWMAN.

[ GUN COCKS ]

WHEN YOU LOOK AT JELLY BRYCE'S EARLY LIFE,

NOBODY IN HIS FAMILY WAS A MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT HE HAD A FASCINATION WITH FIREARMS FROM A VERY EARLY AGE.

[ GUN UNCOCKS ]

Owens: HIS SISTER HAD ALWAYS TOLD THE STORY

ABOUT HIS FATHER PUTTING HIS OLD .38 REVOLVER IN THE CRIB

AND LETTING HIM TEETHE ON IT AS A BABY.

[ BOTTLE CLINKS ]

Conti: HE SPENT HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS

JUST SHOOTING AND SHOOTING AND SHOOTING.

ONE, TWO, THREE...

Conti: NOW, HE WASN'T TRAINING HIMSELF FOR COMBAT.

HE WAS SHOOTING 'CAUSE HE LOVED TO SHOOT.

IT WAS A COMPULSION. HE WAS DRIVEN TO DO THIS.

HE WOULD TIE A STRING AROUND THE NECK OF A BOTTLE

AND HANG IT FROM THE BRANCH OF A TREE.

AND JUST HE SET IT SWINGING BACK AND FORTH.

BUT HE WOULDN'T AIM AT THE BOTTLE.

HE'D AIM AT THE STRING.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ BOTTLE CLATTERS ]

HE WAS A PRODIGY AT IT.

HE WAS BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

THE MORE HE PRACTICED, THE BETTER HE GOT.

HE GOT TO BE PHENOMENAL.

[ BOTTLE CLATTERS ]

HE TOLD PEOPLE THAT HE FELT

THAT HE COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE BULLET LEAVING THE GUN,

AND HE COULD ACTUALLY SEE THINGS MOVING IN SLOW MOTION.

WHEN HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL,

HE APPARENTLY HAD NO ITCHING TO BE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Conti: LIKE MANY OF US AT THAT POINT IN YOUR LIFE,

YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND YOUR WAY.

YOU'RE FIGURING OUT WHERE YOU'RE GONNA GO,

WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BE.

HE HAS DECIDED TO GO TO COLLEGE AND GET SOME KIND OF A DEGREE.

BUT HE'S LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE, YOU KNOW?

NOW, THIS IS JELLY BRYCE'S MOMENT WHERE FATE INTERVENES.

Owens: AT THAT TIME,

THE OKLAHOMA SHERIFFS AND PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

PUT ON PISTOL MATCHES.

EXCUSE ME, SIR.

YEAH?

I WAS WONDERING IF I CAN COMPETE.

YOU HAVE TO ASK YOUR DEPARTMENT HEAD.

I'M NOT IN A DEPARTMENT.

Conti: HE MEETS CLARENCE HURT,

THE NIGHT CHIEF AT OKLAHOMA CITY P.D.

LISTEN, KID, THIS IS A SERIOUS COMPETITION.

I CAN SHOOT.

HONEST.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

HENDRICH, WILLIAMS, TAKE A BREAK.

Man: YES, SIR.

Conti: THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BRYCE

THAT MAKES HURT WANT TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

WILLIAMS...

SIR?

...STICK THIS TO THE TARGET.

YES, SIR.

OKAY, LET'S SEE YOU TRY.

Owens: HE WAS VERY MUCH HIS OWN MAN, EVEN AT 20.

HE WASN'T INTIMIDATED BY ANYBODY,

REGARDLESS OF THEIR POSITION OR TITLE.

YOU MIND IF I JUST DRAW AND FIRE?

I SHOOT BETTER THAT WAY.

[ LAUGHS ]

DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, KID.

HERE'S THIS BABY-FACED KID,

AND HE IS HANDLING THE PRESSURE LIKE THERE IS NO PRESSURE.

LET'S SEE HOW YOU DID.

Conti: HE FIRES SO QUICKLY

THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE ONLY ONE OR TWO ROUNDS HAVE BEEN FIRED,

BUT HE FIRES SIX SHOTS FROM HIS REVOLVER.

HE'S THAT FAST.

HE BROUGHT FIREARMS SKILLS THAT NOBODY ELSE HAD.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

DELF BRYCE, SIR.

WELL, BRYCE,

LOOKS LIKE WE DO NEED YOU ON OUR TEAM.

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO COMPETE.

NO. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. WE NEED YOU ON THE FORCE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

THREE WEEKS LATER, HE BECAME AN OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE OFFICER.

HE WAS THROWN RIGHT INTO THE FIRE, SO TO SPEAK,

BY CLARENCE HURT

AND HAD TO PROVE HIMSELF VERY FAST,

BECAUSE HERE HE'S THE YOUNG KID COMING IN,

AND SO HE HAD TO LEARN QUICK.

[ TIRES SCREECHING ]

HANDS UP. TURN AROUND.

Owens: I THINK HE FOUND OUT

THAT IT JUST FIT HIM LIKE A HAND IN A GLOVE.

GET IN. GET IN.

YOU KNOW, "THIS IS FOR ME. I'M GOOD AT IT.

WHY NOT KEEP DOING IT?"

Millwee: THE CAR-THEFT SQUAD

WAS THE COVETED POSITION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE ACTION WAS.

[ TAP ] GET HIM OUT OF HERE.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES TO WORK

IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

AS A YOUNG DETECTIVE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

HE HAD SEEN SOME POLICE OFFICERS KILLED.

Owens: THERE WAS STILL A LOT OF THE WILD-WEST MENTALITY.

THERE WERE GUN FIGHTS IN THE STREETS.

AND THEY NEEDED SOME SOUTHWEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

WHO COULD HANDLE THESE GANGSTERS

AND WOULD KILL THEM WITHOUT GETTING KILLED THEMSELVES.

[ ENGINE CRANKS, STOPS ]

[ GUN COCKS ]

[ ENGINE CRANKS, STOPS ]

[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]

Conti: THIS IS THE PART

WHERE BRYCE MAKES THE COMPETE TRANSITION.

HE'S STILL A COUNTRY BOY.

HE HAS NEVER ENGAGED A HUMAN BEING LIKE THIS.

HE'S NEVER INJURED OR KILLED ANYBODY.

[ ENGINE CRANKS ]

[ ENGINE STOPS ]

SIR, I'M GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU TO STEP OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

OFFICER...JUST, UH...

UNSTICKING THE CHOKE HERE, AND I'LL BE ON MY WAY.

JUST -- JUST STEP OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT. I'M COMING OUT, OFFICER.

[ GROANS ]

THE LEGEND WAS THAT HE KILLED THE GUY.

HE DIDN'T KILL HIM. HE SHOT HIM IN THE ARM.

[ GROANS ]

AND THE GUY DIDN'T GET A SHOT OFF.

-YOU SON OF A BITCH. -TAKE THE GUY IN THE CAR.

I'LL KILL YOU.

I'LL KILL YOU, YOU SON OF A BITCH.

[ GROANS ]

Millwee: THIS IS WHAT HE TOLD ME.

"I DON'T REMEMBER PULLING MY GUN."

THAT'S HOW FAST IT WAS.

HE SAID, "IT WAS JUST INSTINCT. IT WAS ME OR HIM."

Man: [ GROANS ] MY ARM! MY ARM!

HE NEARLY SHOT IT CLEAN OFF!

YOU ALL RIGHT?

I'VE NEVER SHOT A MAN BEFORE.

IT WAS EITHER HIM OR YOU.

THE FACT THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN HIS FIRST SHOOTING

WITHIN LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS

NO DOUBT BROUGHT IT HOME TO HIM

THAT, YOU KNOW, "MY LIFE DEPENDS UPON THESE KILLS."

IT WAS A GOOD SHOOT, KID.

**

I THINK HE RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY WAS HE A GOOD SHOT

BUT NOW HE'S A GOOD SHOT WHEN SOMEONE'S SHOOTING BACK.

HE WHO SHOOTS FIRST, SHOOTS LAST.

**

POLICE OFFICERS WOULD BE HIRED, THEY'D COME ON,

THEY WOULD BE GIVEN THE EQUIPMENT,

INCLUDING THE FIREARM,

ASKED IF THEY UNDERSTOOD HOW TO WORK THE GUN.

USUALLY GUYS WOULD SAY "YES" EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T,

BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE

THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE A GUN.

NO TRAINING AT ALL.

Owens: BRYCE MADE IT A POINT

TO PERFECT HIS FAST DRAW AND HIS MARKSMANSHIP.

Millwee: JELLY BRYCE

DEVELOPED A TECHNIQUE FOR SHOOTING A HANDGUN

THAT WAS CONSIDERED BY MOST IN HIS ERA AS JUST CRAZINESS.

Conti: HE PRACTICED LIKE A MADMAN, RELIGIOUSLY.

SOMETIMES FOR EIGHT HOURS AT A WHACK,

HE WOULD STAND IN FRONT OF A MIRROR

SO HE COULD WATCH HIMSELF DO THE PRESENTATION,

SHOULD HE COULD ELIMINATE ANY EXTRANEOUS MOVEMENTS.

Owens: HE COULD BRING THE GUN OUT

AND JUST BARELY CLEAR THE HOLSTER.

HE'D START FIRING FROM WAIST LEVEL.

AND THAT'S THE QUICKEST WAY TO BRING THE GUN INTO ACTION

WHEN YOUR LIFE IS THREATENED.

BRYCE HAD A LUCKY GUN. IT WAS A SMITH & WESSON.

IT HAD IVORY HAND GRIPS.

IT WAS ENGRAVED.

YOU DEVELOP A SPECIAL ATTACHMENT TO A GUN LIKE THAT.

AND IT SAVED HIS LIFE SEVERAL TIMES.

THAT'S OUR CAR.

SHOULD WE GO?

NO. LET'S WAIT THEM OUT. WE'LL GET THE WHOLE GANG.

BRYCE AND FARIS WERE PARTNERS IN AUTO THEFT.

THEY FOUND THE STOLEN CAR AT A ROOMING HOUSE,

AND THEY STAKED IT OUT.

Millwee: YOU'D JUST HAVE TO WAIT.

SOMETIMES YOU'D BE IN A CAR,

PISSING IN A CAN, LITERALLY, NOT TO BLOW YOUR COVER.

Owens: IT'S MOMENTS OF BOREDOM, MOMENTS OF TERROR.

**

THE THREE MEN WERE ROY GAGE, JACK VAUGHN, AND EARL JOHNSTON.

Man: HERE WE GO.

GOING FOR A DRIVE, ARE WE, GENTLEMEN?

I WOULDN'T.

LET'S GO. HANDS AGAINST THE CAR.

PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE CAR.

HANDS AGAINST THE CAR.

Burke: BECAUSE OKLAHOMA WAS A POOR PLACE,

THE LOCAL CITY BUDGET

DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN IT TO EVEN BUY HANDCUFFS.

Bryce: ALL RIGHT.

YOU TAKE THE THREE OF THEM IN HERE, AND I'LL TAIL YOU.

Conti: IT COMES DOWN TO THIS.

THERE'S MORE CRIMINALS THAN THERE ARE POLICE.

THEY WANT TO TAKE THE CRIMINALS BACK.

THEY ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE STATION.

LET'S GO. GET IN THE CAR. COME ON.

-LET'S GO. LET'S GO. -LET'S GO!

I GOT THEM.

LET'S GO.

KEEP AN EYE ON THEM.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

Owens: THEY HAD TO GO NINE BLOCKS.

THEY PUT ROY GAGE DRIVING THE CAR,

JACK VAUGHN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT,

EARL JOHNSTON BEHIND THE DRIVER,

DETECTIVE FARIS BEHIND THE PASSENGER.

AND THEN BRYCE WAS IN THE POLICE CAR FOLLOWING THEM.

Millwee: THE BAD GUYS OF THAT ERA

HAD THE MIND-SET THEY WERE NOT GOING BACK TO PRISON.

PRISON LIFE -- YOU SERVED HARD TIME.

TAKE THE WHEEL!

[ GRUNTING ]

GET THE GUN, ROY! GET IT!

[ GRUNTING CONTINUES ]

JOHNSTON, YOU COWARD! HELP HIM OUT! DO SOMETHING!

GET THE GUN!

[ GRUNTING CONTINUES ]

[ GRUNTING ]

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

BRYCE PULLS AROUND THEM...

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

...PARKS THE CAR...

[ GRUNTING ]

HE JUMPS ON THE RUNNING BOARDS IN ORDER TO SAVE FARIS.

Owens: THERE'S FOUR PEOPLE IN THERE,

AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIRE THREE SHOTS IN THERE

AND NOT HIT YOUR PARTNER.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ GUNSHOT ] AAH!

AAAAH!

AAAAH!

[ MAN GROANS ]

Owens: THE THEATER

THAT THEY FINALLY ROLLED TO A STOP IN FRONT OF

HELD 2,000 PEOPLE,

AND THEY'RE POURING OUT ONTO THE STREET.

IT'S A CIRCUS ATMOSPHERE.

Conti: THE ROBBER IS DYING.

AND HE SUPPOSEDLY LOOKS UP AT BRYCE,

WHO WAS ALWAYS A SHARP DRESSER.

THAT'S WHERE THE TERM JELLY BEAN COMES FROM.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT KILLED BY A JELLY BEAN LIKE YOU.

THAT'S HOW HE SUPPOSEDLY GOT THE NICKNAME "JELLY" BRYCE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID OVER THE YEARS --

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM --

THAT HE SEEMED TO FEEL BAD

ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS HE HAD TO DO.

Millwee: I ASKED HIM ONE TIME, "HAVE YOU HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING?"

AND HE SAID, "I'VE NEVER HAD A MOMENT OF UNREST

ABOUT THE MEN I'VE KILLED.

IT WAS EITHER ME OR THEM, SON.

WHEN THE BAD GUY MAKES THE CHOICE,

PUT HIM IN THE GROUND.

AND THEN DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP OVER IT."

Burke: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF OKLAHOMA

WAS CHANGED DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

IT BECAME A TIME OF DESPERATION.

AND, OF COURSE, THAT FED CRIME.

YOU HAD A HUGE RISE IN BANK ROBBERIES.

THE '30s HIT,

AND WE'RE AVERAGING AT LEAST A BANK ROBBERY A WEEK.

SO, YOU'VE GOT THAT GOING ON, AND YOU'VE GOT PROHIBITION.

[ BOTTLES CLINKING ]

Burke: BOOTLEGGING IS RUNNING RAMPANT.

IT'S CREATING MORE CRIME.

[ BOTTLES CLINKING ]

Owens: CRIMINALS OF THE DAY

TYPICALLY ARM THEMSELVES WITH .38 REVOLVERS.

THEN THEY GOT INTO THE SHOTGUNS, THE MACHINE GUNS --

THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUNS.

READY?

FREEZE! [ MACHINE-GUN FIRE ]

THEY WANTED TO OUTGUN THE COPS, AND THEY HAD THEM OUTGUNNED.

**

YOU'VE GOT CRIMINALS TAKING MILITARY-CLASS FIREARMS...

...WEAPONS OF WARFARE.

THEY'RE USING THEM ON THE STREET.

[ GUN COCKS ]

THE FIRST THING YOU'D NOTICE ABOUT JELLY BRYCE WAS HIS EYES.

THEY COULD LOOK RIGHT THROUGH YOU.

THEY WERE DEAD MAN'S EYES --

SOMEONE WHO HAD TAKEN LIVES...

AND HAD LIVED TO DEAL WITH IT.

Owens: IT WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TIME

TO BE A LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE 1930s WAS AN ESPECIALLY ACTIVE DECADE HERE.

WE LOST NINE OFFICERS IN THE LINE OF DUTY THAT DECADE.

HOLD ON. GIVE ME A SECOND.

Owens: IT DOESN'T GET ANY MORE IMPORTANT

THAN PEOPLE WHO KILL PEOPLE,

AND YOU'RE THE ONLY JUSTICE THEY'RE GONNA GET.

BRYCE... THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER SHOOTING.

THIS IS WHY WE NEED YOU.

JELLY TOLD ME ONE TIME

THAT THE WORST EXPERIENCE FOR HIM

WAS DOING A DEATH NOTIFICATION OF A FALLEN OFFICER.

LET'S GO.

"THE LOOK ON THEIR FACE," HE SAYS,

"YOU'LL NEVER FORGET IT.

NO MAN SHOULD HAVE TO GO TELL ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE

THAT HE GOT KILLED ON THE JOB."

Owens: OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, AND MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS

SEEMED TO BE A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR A GREAT MANY

OF THE WORST HOME-GROWN CRIMINALS OF THE '30s.

BONNIE AND CLYDE

KILLED THEIR FIRST LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

IN OKLAHOMA.

THE BARKERS LIVED OUT BY TULSA

AND GOT THEIR FIRST ARREST FROM THE TULSA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

"PRETTY BOY" FLOYD

KILLS SEVERAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AROUND HERE.

MOST OF THEM HAD DONE ONE OR MORE PRISON TERMS,

AND THEY HAD USED PRISON

AS A WAY OF GETTING A GRADUATE DEGREE IN CRIME.

Millwee: BUT I WITNESSED HIM SHOOT A HANDGUN SO FAST

THAT IT WAS VERY HARD TO DISTINGUISH,

'CAUSE HE COULD JUST RAPID-FIRE SO FAST.

YOU HAD TO BE FASTER THAN THE BAD GUYS,

'CAUSE THEY ALREADY KNEW THEY WERE GONNA KILL YOU.

Burke: IT WAS A NEW DAY IN THE 1930s.

YOU HAD THIS NEW BREED

OF EXTRA AND ULTRA-VIOLENT CRIMINAL.

Owens: WILBUR UNDERHILL GOT ARRESTED FOR AN ARMED ROBBERY,

GIVEN FIVE YEARS.

HE GOT OUT, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY COMMITTED

A ROBBERY AND A MURDER IN OKMULGEE, OKLAHOMA,

FOR WHICH HE WAS SENTENCED TO OKLAHOMA STATE PENITENTIARY

FOR LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

HE ESCAPED IN 1931.

WITHIN A MONTH, HE KILLED A WICHITA, KANSAS, POLICE OFFICER

AND WAS RE-ARRESTED,

GIVEN ANOTHER LIFE SENTENCE IN KANSAS.

Conti: I'VE KNOWN CRIMINALS WHO HAD A CODE.

THEY WOULD DO SO MANY THINGS,

BUT THEY WOULDN'T CROSS ANY LINES.

AND YOU HAD THOSE TYPES OF CRIMINALS THAT YOU DEALT WITH.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SOCIOPATH.

LET'S GO.

SOMETHING'S MISSING.

THEY DON'T FEEL EMPATHY FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY CAN KILL SOMEBODY AND FEEL NOTHING ABOUT IT.

DON'T SAY A WORD.

LET'S GO. COME ON!

-COME ON! LET'S GO. -EASY.

KEEP MOVING! LET'S GO.

UNDERHILL, BY ALL ACCOUNTS,

APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A SOCIOPATH.

HE WAS JUST A MAD MAN.

OPEN IT.

Owens: HE WAS A THRILL KILLER.

HURRY UP.

ESCAPING FROM PRISON,

HE KNEW IT WASN'T A CASE OF GOING OUT AND SAY,

"PUT UP YOUR HANDS."

IT WAS GONNA BE A FIGHT TO THE DEATH.

**

Burke: UNDERHILL HAD KILLED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE,

SO OKLAHOMA WAS GRIPPED WITH FEAR

BECAUSE HARDLY EVER DID HE COMMIT A CRIME

IN WHICH SOMEBODY WASN'T WOUNDED OR KILLED.

Owens: AFTER HE ESCAPED FROM THE KANSAS PENITENTIARY,

BASICALLY EVERY COP IN THE COUNTRY WAS LOOKING FOR HIM,

ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA.

BRYCE. IT'S UNDERHILL.

SON OF A BITCH IS AT IT AGAIN.

Millwee: UNDERHILL, THE WAY DELF BRYCE DESCRIBED HIM,

HAD A BLOODLUST.

HE ENJOYED KILLING.

HE'D GUN DOWN A POLICE OFFICER IN COLD BLOOD

JUST TO SEE HIM DIE.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

[ GUN COCKS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

UNDERHILL WANTED PEOPLE TO SUFFER.

HE WANTED TO TERRORIZE THEM.

[ GASPING ]

[ GASPING CONTINUES ]

FOUND ANOTHER BOTTLE, BOYS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME AND WENT IN THE SO-CALLED UNDERHILL GANG

AS HIS ASSOCIATES,

BECAUSE HE PROBABLY FRIGHTENED SOME OF THEM.

THEY JUST SAID, "YOU KNOW,

THIS GUY'S JUST TOO FAR OUT THERE."

CHEERS.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

DIDN'T YOUR MOTHER TEACH YOU ANY MANNERS?

SHUT UP.

Owens: PUGH AND O'DONNELL

WERE REPUTED TO BE ASSOCIATES OF UNDERHILL,

AS WELL AS BONNIE AND CLYDE.

SO, THIS POLICE OFFICER, RIGHT?

HE'S WALKING THROUGH MY HOTEL ROOM, SNOOPING AROUND.

SO, I SAY, "OFFICER, YOU'RE ONE NOSY BASTARD."

[ LAUGHTER ]

NEXT THING YOU KNOW,

HE'S COMING AT ME WITH HIS CLUB, SO BAM! BAM! BAM!

THREE TIMES IN THE HEAD.

[ CHUCKLES ]

WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS,

HE COMMITTED AT LEAST TWO ARMED ROBBERIES,

AT LEAST NINE BANK ROBBERIES.

HE WAS NICKNAMED THE TRI-STATE TERROR.

EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING FOR HIM.

HE WAS PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE.

THE LOCAL SHERIFFS, THE CITY POLICE CHIEFS

RECOGNIZED THAT THEY COULD NOT CATCH THIS GUY.

SINCE HIS ESCAPE,

UNDERHILL HAS TERRORIZED OKLAHOMA.

HE'S HIT BANKS IN KINGFISHER, IN TYRONE,

IN HASKELL, OKMULGEE.

IF WE DON'T ACT FAST, MORE PEOPLE ARE GONNA DIE.

IT HAD TO BE THE FIRST JOINT TASK FORCE

AMONG THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

GENTLEMEN, WHEN WE ENCOUNTER HIM,

WE HAVE GOT TO BE PREPARED.

IF YOUR MEN ENCOUNTER UNDERHILL,

YOU'RE GONNA WANT THEM CARRYING THOMPSONS.

OUTLAWS IN THE TRI-STATE

GOT FIREPOWER LIKE YOU NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

FULL ARMED, WELL-TRAINED AGENTS

IS WHAT YOU NEED TO STOP A MAN LIKE UNDERHILL.

HE SAID HE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HE WAS REALLY GETTING TO THEM.

UNDERHILL WAS READY TO GO DOWN IN A BLAZE.

AND SO, WHEN THEY GOT THE TIP

THAT UNDERHILL WAS IN SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA,

IT WAS THE SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE WHO SAID,

"WE NEED BRYCE AND HURT."

YOU MEN FOLLOW ME. YOU BOYS COVER UP FRONT.

COME ON.

THE IDEA WAS TO TAKE HIM DOWN

IN AS CONTROLLED A MANNER AS POSSIBLE.

SO, THEY WENT IN VERY, VERY EARLY, EARLY IN THE MORNING.

OH-DARK-THIRTY.

THEY'VE GOT THE HOUSE SURROUNDED.

AND HE SAID, "A [BLEEP] DOG STARTED BARKING."

[ DOG BARKING ]

[ CLOCK TICKING ]

[ BARKING CONTINUES ]

Man: WILBUR UNDERHILL!

WE HAVE THE HOUSE SURROUNDED!

COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR!

Millwee: THIS WAS ON THE CUSP OF THE WILD WEST.

YOU MATCHED THE LEVEL OF FORCE OR WEAPONRY

IF NOT BETTER THAN WHAT THE BAD GUYS HAD.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

TAKE COVER!

[ MACHINE-GUN FIRE ]

A WITHERING HAIL OF GUNFIRE.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

MACHINE GUNS, SHOTGUNS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

[ GROANING ]

[ MACHINE-GUN FIRE ]

GET THE TEAR GAS!

[ GROANING ]

[ CLATTERS ]

[ GROANING CONTINUES ]

[ GAS HISSING ]

[ GROANING CONTINUES ]

Conti: GAS IS BILLOWING INTO THE HOUSE.

IT'S A VERY UNFRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.

YOUR EYES CLOSE, YOU'RE TEARING,

YOU'RE COUGHING, YOU CAN'T BREATHE.

[ MACHINE-GUN FIRE ]

OHH!

[ GROANS ]

Millwee: JELLY GAVE IT TO HIM WITH THE THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN

AND HIT HIM THREE OR FOUR TIMES.

AND HE SAYS HE THOUGHT HE WAS DOWN.

HOLD YOUR FIRE!

Millwee: IF THEY HAD A BAD GUY CORNERED,

HE WAS ALWAYS, WITHOUT EXCEPTION,

THE FIRST ONE THROUGH THE DOOR.

HAVING GONE THROUGH THAT DOOR

MANY TIMES IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER,

IT'S A FRIGHTENING MOMENT.

IT'S PURE FEAR.

BUT JELLY WENT THROUGH THAT DOOR EVERY TIME.

[ COUGHING ]

[ COUGHING CONTINUES ]

WHERE IS HE?

HE'S NOT INSIDE.

HE'S GONE.

LET'S SEARCH THE AREA!

**

WELL, THE MANHUNT MOVES TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

[ DOOR CREAKS ]

WHEN YOU'RE IN A SHOOTING WITH ANOTHER OFFICER,

IT CREATES A BOND.

You take that side. I'll go around here.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW THIS GUY'S GONNA STEP UP

WHEN THE BULLETS ARE FLYING.

SOMEHOW, WOUNDED 13 TIMES,

UNDERHILL MADE IT 16 BLOCKS.

[ GUN COCKS ]

[ WHEEZING ]

I GUESS YOU GOT ME.

SOMEBODY GET AN AMBULANCE!

Conti: WHEN HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL

AND THEY'RE PATCHING HIM TOGETHER

AND THEY THINK HE'S A DEAD MAN, NO WAY HE'S GONNA LIVE,

UNDERHILL'S QUESTION IS,

"HOW FAR IS THE HIGHWAY FROM HERE?"

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

HE LIVED FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND HE DIED.

BRYCE.

IS IT TRUE THAT YOU TEETHED ON A .38 IN THE CRIB?

IT WOULD EXPLAIN A LOT, NOW, WOULDN'T IT?

[ CHUCKLES ]

Millwee: SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA,

REALLY BECAME, I THINK, THE IMPETUS

FOR MR. HOOVER TO BECOME AWARE OF THIS IDEA

THAT HE DID NOT HAVE MEN IN THE FBI

WHO KNEW HOW TO SHOOT GUNS.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

THEY WERE ACCOUNTANTS AND LAWYERS.

HE NEEDED GUNMEN.

HERE.

WHAT'S THIS?

A BUREAU APPLICATION FORM.

HE LIKED MR. HOOVER.

HE LIKED HIS VISION FOR WHAT THE FBI STOOD FOR.

I'M HONORED, SIR.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNDERHILLS

HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, THOUGH.

THERE'S A LOT OF UNDERHILLS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

AND THAT'S WHY THE BUREAU NEEDS YOU.

YOU'RE THE BEST DAMN SHOT I'VE EVER SEEN, BRYCE.

THINK ABOUT IT.

I WILL.

EXCUSE ME, MA'AM. ARE YOU THE OWNER?

MY DAUGHTER'S THE OWNER.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PUGH.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

DIDN'T YOUR MOTHER TEACH YOU ANY MANNERS?

SHUT UP.

AND THEY WOULD ALSO BE LOOKING FOR RAY O'DONNELL,

WHO WAS AN ASSOCIATE OF WILBUR UNDERHILL.

SO, I'M AT THE GAS STATION THE OTHER DAY THERE, BOYS.

I SAID, "BOY, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

O'DONNELL WITH TWO 'L's.'"

[ LAUGHTER ]

THEY HEAR THAT PUGH MIGHT BE IN TOWN

AND HE MIGHT BE STAYING AT THIS HOTEL.

THEY TALK TO THE MOTHER OF THE WOMAN WHO OWNS THE HOTEL.

SHE'S SICK TODAY, I'M AFRAID.

IS SHE HERE?

YES. SHE'S TAKEN A ROOM.

COULD YOU TAKE ME TO HER, PLEASE? IT'S VERY URGENT.

[ SIGHS ]

ALL RIGHT. SHE MAY NOT EVEN BE IN HERE.

Owens: THE WREN HOTEL

WAS WHAT YOU WOULD THINK OF AS A FLOPHOUSE --

YOU KNOW, PLACES WHERE YOU CAN RENT ROOMS BY THE HOUR,

BRING A PROSTITUTE.

THEY CATER TO UNSAVORY CHARACTERS A LOT OF TIMES.

CRIMINAL ELEMENTS COME IN, THEY LAY LOW THERE,

THEY SET UP, WHATEVER.

IT'S RIGHT HERE.

THANK YOU.

IN THE ROOM IS NOT PUGH.

IT'S RAY O'DONNELL.

HE'S IN THERE WITH THE DAUGHTER.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

[ KNOCKING CONTINUES ]

OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE. OPEN THE DOOR.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

OPEN UP!

MA'AM, OPEN THAT DOOR.

[ KEYS JANGLING ]

HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE HIS GUN OUT AT THE TIME.

IN THE FACE OF A POINTED, LOADED GUN,

FINGER ON THE TRIGGER,

WHAT DO YOU DO?

[ GASPS ]

**

[ GUNS COCK ]

[ DOOR UNLOCKS, KEYS JANGLE ]

[ GASPS ]

THE FACT THAT SHE'S COMING BACK OUT

ALERTS THEIR SENSES THAT SHE HAS SEEN SOMETHING.

THERE'S THIS GUY WHO'S GOT THE DROP ON HIM.

Conti: YOU'VE GOT O'DONNELL

POINTING A LARGE MUZZLE OF A PISTOL RIGHT AT YOU.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

HE DOES WHAT HE DOES.

[ WOMAN CRYING ]

Conti: BRYCE WAS SO QUICK

THAT O'DONNELL NEVER EVEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY

TO PRESS THE TRIGGER.

Owens: THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEAT OF COMBAT SHOOTING.

IT'S PHENOMENAL.

Millwee: HE DESCRIBED IT LIKE THIS.

"IF YOU HAVE TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT,

YOU'RE GONNA BE A DEAD MAN.

YOU JUST HAVE TO GO WITH YOUR TRAINING, YOUR INSTINCTS,

AND TAKE THE PERSON DOWN."

**

PUGH.

WAS WONDERING WHEN YOU'D SHOW UP.

Millwee: IN THAT ERA, AND THEY WERE ALL ARMED

AND THEY'RE ALL WILLING TO KILL YOU.

WHAT HAPPENED TO O'DONNELL?

DEAD.

"WHEN IT'S YOU OR THE BAD GUY, YOUR JOB'S TO GO HOME."

THAT'S WHAT JELLY BRYCE SAID.

YOU WANT TO JOIN HIM?

'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR HAND OFF THAT GUN,

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

IF THEY WANT TO DIE, THEY'VE MADE THAT CHOICE.

THEY JUST MADE IT FOR YOU.

GET HIM OUT OF HERE.

Owens: THEY CALLED IT THE BRYCE EFFECT

BECAUSE THE GUY WOULD IMMEDIATELY GIVE UP.

BECAUSE HE'D FIGURE BRYCE WAS GONNA KILL HIM.

J. EDGAR HOOVER HEARD THE STORY ABOUT PUGH.

JELLY IS HIRED BY THE FBI TO BECOME A SPECIAL AGENT.

LOOSEN UP. LOOSEN UP.

STIFF IS SLOW. BE COMFORTABLE.

DELF BECAME THE SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE IN OKLAHOMA CITY,

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

IF THEY HAD A BAD GUY CORNERED THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR,

THEY CALLED HIM AND WAITED FOR HIM TO ARRIVE.

HE HAD MANY MORE GUN FIGHTS.

Owens: WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE COMBINATION

OF DRAWING AND FIRING,

THERE'S NO PEER.

HE'S LIKE THE MODEL OF THE IDEAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

[ GROANS ]

Millwee: DURING THE ERA OF THE GANGSTER,

IT TOOK REAL LAWMEN LIKE JELLY BRYCE

TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THESE MEN DOWN.

AND IT TOOK COURAGEOUS MEN LIKE JELLY BRYCE

TO TAKE THE RISK TO DO THE JOB THE RIGHT WAY.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE UP STORIES ABOUT JELLY BRYCE.

HE WAS THE REAL DEAL.

THERE WE GO. BOTH EYES ON THE TARGET.

Millwee: I THINK ONE OF HIS MOST PROUD ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE FBI

WAS CREATING THE SHOOTING TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NEW AGENTS.

I DRAW. MY EYES STAY ON THE TARGET.

Owens: THEIR DRAW AND THEIR FIRING STANCE...

[ GUNSHOTS ]

...IS AN EXACT COPY OF BRYCE'S.

Burke: HE PERHAPS SAVED MANY, MANY LIVES

BY TRAINING A WHOLE GENERATION OF LAWMEN.

HE WAS SO PROUD OF THAT,

BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT WOULD HAVE A LASTING, LIVING LEGACY.

FOR JELLY BRYCE, IT WASN'T ABOUT JELLY BRYCE.

-NICE. -IT WAS ABOUT THE BUREAU.

IT WAS ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

JELLY BRYCE HELPED MOLD WHAT THIS DEPARTMENT IS TODAY.

Owens: HE HAD GONE TO A MEETING

OF THE SOCIETY OF FORMER SPECIAL AGENTS OF THE FBI

AND HAD A HEART ATTACK DURING THE NIGHT.

Millwee: HE DIED IN HIS SLEEP.

IT WAS GOD WELCOMED HIM TO HEAVEN

AND SAYING, "JELLY, GOOD JOB.

I PUT YOU ON THE EARTH FOR A REASON,

AND YOU DID MY WORK -- GOOD AGAINST EVIL."

THAT WAS JELLY BRYCE.