Saturday Morning Writer's Clinic

Brad Dison, author of a new book titled The Trap: The Untold Story of Sheriff Henderson Jordan and the Final Pursuit of Bonnie and Clyde will discuss it at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 17, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and is open to the public. There is no registration. 

According to Dison, “Sheriff Henderson Jordan’s role in ending the crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde has been overlooked or ignored,” he said. “On the rare occasion that he is portrayed in films or documentaries, he is depicted as an insignificant character. Since 1934, we have accepted the notion that Frank Hamer located the outlaws and led the ambush against them.”

Henderson Jordan was the sheriff in Bienville Parish, when he learned that Bonnie and Clyde were hiding somewhere within the jurisdiction that he had sworn to protect. It was he who tracked the gang to their hideouts, who set the trap to capture them, and who led the ambush posse that ended their crime spree in a hail of gunfire.

Dison spent nearly a decade sifting through F.B.I. files, newsreels, newspapers, photos, telegrams, filmed interviews, and true crime magazines to separate fact from fiction. While detailing the gang’s many crimes including theft, burglary, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, terrorism, torture, and murder in a play-by-play fashion, The Trap analyzes the events in Henderson Jordan’s life which led to the final pursuit of Bonnie and Clyde and the legal battle which followed.

Brad Dison is an author and historian. Brad earned a bachelors degree in history from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, and a masters degree in history from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. Dison has published articles in scholarly journals and is the author of a weekly newspaper column titled "Remember This?" He received the Overdyke Award for historical research and writing.

Program inquiries should be directed to Chris Smith, Adult Programming, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.

Media inquiries should be directed to David Johnson, Marketing and Engagement, at 504-849-8826, or djohnson@jplibrary.net.