The Resume

(July 18, 1895-July 18, 1954)
Born in Memphis, Tennessee
Birth name was George Kelly Barnes
Bootlegger turned bank robber and kidnapper
Tried under the 'Lindbergh Law' that made kidnapping a federal offense (October 12, 1933)
Sentenced to life in prison

Why he might be annoying:

He was a small-time criminal whose publicity-savvy wife, Kathryn, turned him into 'Public Enemy Number One.'
He was arrested by the FBI while hung over from a recent drinking binge.
He boasted he would escape from Leavenworth and then break out his wife, prompting a transfer to Alcatraz.
At Alcatraz, his constant boasting about crimes he never committed led other inmates to call him 'Pop Gun' Kelly.

Why he might not be annoying:

He allegedly talked Kathryn out of killing their kidnapping victim, oilman Charles Urschel, on the grounds that it would be 'bad for future business.'
Urschel, despite having been blindfolded, was able to provide so many clues - particularly the times planes flew overhead - that the FBI was able to determine he had been held at the ranch of Kathryn's parents.
He became a model prisoner at Alcatraz and served as an altar boy in the prison chapel.
He wrote several remorseful letters to Urschel.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 12]
• Criminals
• I am from Tennessee
• I Died in 1954 (Ranked: 59)
• I Died in Jail
• I Died on My Birthday (Ranked: 59)
• Imprisoned at Leavenworth
• Men Destroyed by Women
• My Mug Shot is on The Smoking Gun
• My Nickname is Part of My Name [A-L]
• P.C.'s and Mac's
• Profiles 23001-23250 (Ranked: 23170)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 23 Votes: 65.22% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 37 Votes: 32.43% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 222 Votes: 53.15% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 115 Votes: 70.43% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 27 Votes: 59.26% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 38 Votes: 65.79% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 43 Votes: 60.47% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 27 Votes: 66.67% Annoying