Vanessa Richardson

For starters, Catherine had so much to gain from his death. In addition to the house, Charlie left her somewhere between $10,000 and $15,000, which would be around $200,000 today. He also had a $1,000 life insurance policy that was meant to go to his parents, but as they'd already passed, Catherine pocketed that too.

For starters, Catherine had so much to gain from his death. In addition to the house, Charlie left her somewhere between $10,000 and $15,000, which would be around $200,000 today. He also had a $1,000 life insurance policy that was meant to go to his parents, but as they'd already passed, Catherine pocketed that too.

Newly single and flush with cash, Catherine returned to her nightlife ways with a vengeance. She became a regular at every jazz club and speakeasy in Fort Worth, and she spent her money with reckless abandon. Fortunately for Catherine, she knew how to keep her pockets lined.

Newly single and flush with cash, Catherine returned to her nightlife ways with a vengeance. She became a regular at every jazz club and speakeasy in Fort Worth, and she spent her money with reckless abandon. Fortunately for Catherine, she knew how to keep her pockets lined.

At some point, she returned to her old schemes, luring unsuspecting businessmen out to abandoned roads to be ambushed by thieves. And that wasn't all she was up to. As much as she loved shopping, she didn't always like to pay. Even though she could afford whatever her heart desired, sometimes it was just more fun to go for a five-finger discount.

At some point, she returned to her old schemes, luring unsuspecting businessmen out to abandoned roads to be ambushed by thieves. And that wasn't all she was up to. As much as she loved shopping, she didn't always like to pay. Even though she could afford whatever her heart desired, sometimes it was just more fun to go for a five-finger discount.

Catherine was flying high, feeling untouchable, but what goes up always comes back down. At some point, while using the pseudonym Dolores Whitney, she was arrested for and convicted of shoplifting. But as ever, Catherine's luck prevailed. She was released on a technicality of some kind and was never required to give back what she stole. It was yet another close call.

Catherine was flying high, feeling untouchable, but what goes up always comes back down. At some point, while using the pseudonym Dolores Whitney, she was arrested for and convicted of shoplifting. But as ever, Catherine's luck prevailed. She was released on a technicality of some kind and was never required to give back what she stole. It was yet another close call.

But it didn't scare her straight. Not even a visit to an actual prison could do that. In fact, jail, it seemed, was a great place to meet men. Around 1927, 23-year-old Catherine paid a visit to her uncles, who were doing time in Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas. There, she made the acquaintance of one of their fellow inmates, the very handsome 32-year-old George Kelly.

But it didn't scare her straight. Not even a visit to an actual prison could do that. In fact, jail, it seemed, was a great place to meet men. Around 1927, 23-year-old Catherine paid a visit to her uncles, who were doing time in Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas. There, she made the acquaintance of one of their fellow inmates, the very handsome 32-year-old George Kelly.

Though they met only briefly, Catherine made quite the impression. George asked Catherine's uncles for her address, and the two started exchanging letters. Initially, their flirtation was based on mutual attraction, but after a while, Catherine realized she and George had much more in common than their looks.

Though they met only briefly, Catherine made quite the impression. George asked Catherine's uncles for her address, and the two started exchanging letters. Initially, their flirtation was based on mutual attraction, but after a while, Catherine realized she and George had much more in common than their looks.

Unlike most of the other gangsters she knew, George seemed like he might be on her level. The son of a middle-class Catholic family, he'd graduated high school and even attended a little college. But just like Catherine, he didn't see the appeal of staying on the straight and narrow. He dropped out before he graduated and had been wheeling and dealing in the criminal world ever since.

Unlike most of the other gangsters she knew, George seemed like he might be on her level. The son of a middle-class Catholic family, he'd graduated high school and even attended a little college. But just like Catherine, he didn't see the appeal of staying on the straight and narrow. He dropped out before he graduated and had been wheeling and dealing in the criminal world ever since.

It was a match made in heaven. But Catherine wasn't the type to wait around for a man. So while penning love letters to George, Catherine started seeing a bootlegger known as Little Steve. He was a big deal in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, which allowed Catherine to return to her old turf. Before long, the couple were running a profitable business together.

It was a match made in heaven. But Catherine wasn't the type to wait around for a man. So while penning love letters to George, Catherine started seeing a bootlegger known as Little Steve. He was a big deal in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, which allowed Catherine to return to her old turf. Before long, the couple were running a profitable business together.

That is until Catherine got a letter that changed everything. In February of 1930, after three long years of nothing but writing, George announced that he was getting out. While she'd found a good partner in Steve, the thought of seeing George made Catherine giddy as a schoolgirl. Of course, she hid those feelings from Steve when she told him that she had a friend who was looking for a job.

That is until Catherine got a letter that changed everything. In February of 1930, after three long years of nothing but writing, George announced that he was getting out. While she'd found a good partner in Steve, the thought of seeing George made Catherine giddy as a schoolgirl. Of course, she hid those feelings from Steve when she told him that she had a friend who was looking for a job.

Katherine stressed that before he landed in jail, George had been running a profitable, multi-state bootlegging operation, so it only made sense for him to join their venture. At some point, Steve agreed, and George made his way to Oklahoma. When Catherine and George finally met in person, the embers that had burned for years grew into full-on flames.

Katherine stressed that before he landed in jail, George had been running a profitable, multi-state bootlegging operation, so it only made sense for him to join their venture. At some point, Steve agreed, and George made his way to Oklahoma. When Catherine and George finally met in person, the embers that had burned for years grew into full-on flames.