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Band on the run - Bonnie's fascinating poetry book from the 'other side'.

Crime Pays - The fascinating and poignant archive of America's most notorious gangster couple have sold for a whopping £150,000 at auction.

The enduring myth of Bonnie and Clyde perpetuated by Hollywood movies led to historic items from their bloody rampage across the wild west fetching high prices over the weekend.

A pump action shotgun they ditched during a famous shoot-out was sold alongside poignant poetry written by Bonnie, and a bitter letter from Clyde to a former gang member.

The weapon, with a 15ins barrel, was recovered by police following a gun fight between the infamous outlaws and the authorities at Joplin, Missouri, in 1933, during which two officers were killed.

Also included in the sale is a gold wristwatch recovered from Clyde's body following his death, a bulletproof jacket found in their car and a no holds barred letter penned by Bonnie, and signed by Clyde, to a hated ex member of the Barrow Gang in prison.

In it, she writes: "Due to the fact that you offered no resistance sympathy is lacking. The most I can do is hope you miss the 'chair'."