The Newton Boys: Portrait of an Outlaw Gang

by Joe Newton and Willis Newton

Book Overview

Portrays the misdeeds of the notorious early twentieth-century bank and train robbers. The Newtons' story was made into a movie starring Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, and Julianna Margulies.

"Bonnie and Clyde was just silly kids bound to get themselves killed. We wasn't at all like them. We wasn't thugs. All we wanted was the money, just like doctors, lawyers and other businessmen. Robbing banks and trains was our way of getting it. That...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1880510162
• ISBN13: 9781880510162
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: TX A&m-McWhiney Foundation
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Family Members

Considering The Newton Boys are my relatives I think this book is extraordinary! The detail is play by play as it happened. There is no middle ground. Willis Newton was a scoundrel no doubt but I love him anyway. It can be difficult to read because it is written in the way they use to speak back in the 1900 country. Enjoy! Nancy Newton

Katie's Review of "The Newton Boys"

I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book. In it it gave a fascinating first hand view into how the Newton brothers entered the life of bank and train robbers. The story was written based on a number of interviews with Willis and Joe Newton. The brothers discussed their feelings on how they were viewed, and how when there was ever any robbery, the Newton brothers were the number one suspects. I also enjoyed the humor in which the brothers were able to look back on thier escapades and run ins with the law. Some of the best parts of the book, I think, were when the Newtons described how they outsmarted the law, and escaped from prisons numerous times. The decriptions in the book provided vivid detail into life during the turn of the century. Each brother described in the book had very different interests and tastes, from Willis, a strong headed boy who was smart and determined,to Jess, the lazier of the brothers. In all, this book provided me with new insight into an era that has long since passed, and into the lives of criminals. I thought this book was an excellent read.