On the morning of February 2, 1889, Belle and her husband Jim traveled out of town for Jim's trial for horse theft. Although Carver initially denied Lauras pleas to join the gang at first, he eventually relented. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. In 1883, Belle and Sam were convicted of stealing horses. Briartown, Muskogee County, Oklahoma, USA. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. She carried two guns and had no problem threatening people with them, yet there is no evidence that she ever shot anyone. When Laura was eventually arrested after her involvement in Greath Northern train robbery in 1901, the Chief of Detectives Desmond noted of her I wouldnt [sic] think helping to hold up a train was too much for her. While she did consort with infamous characters, historians suggest her renegade reputation surpasses her actual criminal activity. She associated with famous outlaws, like Frank and .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Jesse James, and was arrested several times. Later returning to Texas, Reed was involved with several criminal gangs. This marriage, however, would be the death of her. She managed to remain on the land, however, when she married her late husband's adopted son, Jim Starr. This is a carousel with slides. Failed to delete flower. Rather, some historians suggest that she wanted to live a life of quiet domesticity. Her parents moved into Carthage and her father became a prosperous innkeeper and slave holder. In 1886, her beloved husband Samuel Starr was killed in a gun fight and for the last two-plus years of her life, gossips and scandal sheets linked Belle to a series of men with colourful reputations, including Jack Spaniard, Jim French and Blue Duck. Younger admitted that he did visit the Shirleys in Texas, but in 1864, not 1866. Belle threatened to reveal his whereabouts to the Florida authorities if he refused to leave. She was closely associated with Holliday in the days leading up to the Gunfight in the O.K. Myras older brother, John Allison Bud, was born to the Shirleys in 1842, and a younger son, Edwin, in 1850. Her death resulted from shotgun wounds to the back and neck and in the shoulder and face. Starr was a only few hundred yards away from her friends' home when she was shot, and subsequently fell off her horse. She would use her money liberally to bribe the freedom of any gang members who were captured. In 1880, Belle wed Sam Starr, who was Cherokee and part of the Starr gang. The couple often harbored on-the-lam outlaws in their home. As reported by Legends of America, Belle and Jim Reed were accused of committing robbery, theft, and even torturing a older Native American man to learn where he hid an estimated $30,000 worth of gold. As reported by History, the couple were reputed thieves, who reportedly traveled throughout Dallas and the surrounding region stealing livestock and cash. A crack shot, she used to ride sidesaddle while dressed in a black velvet riding habit and a plumed hat, carrying two pistols, with cartridge belts across her hips. [9] Two years later, she gave birth to her first child, Rosie Lee (nicknamed Pearl). Shots rang out, and the woman known as the bandit queen was thrown from her horse. On February 3, 1889, two days before her 41st birthday, Belle was killed. Clayton. Belle left her children with her mother while she rode the outlaw trail. In 1889, July was arrested for robbery and summoned to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to face charges. Resend Activation Email. All of its members eventually met a bloody end. She also enjoyed cooking and often "traded recipes with neighbors.". For the robbery, Pearl cut her hair and dressed as a man and stole over $400 from the stagecoach passengers a small fortune at the time. She associated with the JamesYounger Gang and other outlaws. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Watson was tried for the murder but was acquitted due to lack of evidence. WebBelle Starr was shot to death on February 3, 1889, near Fort Smith, Arkansas just before her 41st birthday. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Myra Belle Shirley, better know as Belle Starr earned her title as Queen of the Wild West. The wanted and pursued outlaws from Missouri, Cole, Jim, Bob and John Younger and Jesse James used the Shirley home as a hideout. He went outside to confront West, and in the ensuing shootout, both men died. She was also known for her elaborately plumed hats. They got into trouble soon after their release which led to a downward spiral that ultimately cost Belle her life. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Originally from Hungary, Mary Katharine Haroney more commonly known as Big Nose Kate to her clients travelled to Kansas at age sixteen to seek her fortune as a prostitute. Who Is Suspected Pentagon Leaker Jack Teixeira? Sorry! The Shirleys lived in Missouri, where Mays father John owned a successful farm on the outskirts of Carthage. After her release from prison, Belle Starr resumed her outlaw ways, and Judge Isaac Parker resumed his quest to put her out of business. Enter a date in the format M/D (e.g., 1/1), https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/belle-starr-murdered-in-oklahoma, This Day In History: 02/03/2005 - Gonzales becomes first Hispanic U.S. attorney general, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper die in a plane crash, Jacques Cousteaus The Silent World is published, Alberto Gonzales becomes first Hispanic U.S. attorney general, New England Patriots win first Super Bowl, President Clinton ends trade embargo of Vietnam, Marine jet severs ski-lift cable in Italy, Early American mass murder changes common perceptions of crime, Klaus Fuchs arrested for passing atomic bomb information to Soviets. Belle later became associated with their crew, the James-Younger gang who became legendary for their robberies of banks, trains and stagecoaches in at least ten different states. Learn more about managing a memorial . Try again later. This novel still is cited as a historical reference despite its artistic license and lack of historical accuracy. Dave Farris. However, another story says that there were no witnesses and that no one ever was convicted of the murder. However, the nearby Younger Bend School stands today near Porum, Oklahoma and was constructed by Belle to ensure that her daughter and the Indians received an education. However, it is clear that she was part of the Starr gang and participated in various crimes. Belle Starr's reputation as an outlaw gained national attention when she was featured in the Police Gazette. Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr better known as Belle Starr, was a notorious American outlaw queen. Pearl Hart was a Canadian-born outlaw of the American Old West who committed one of the last recorded stagecoach robberies in the United States and became notorious for the shocking heist. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. After Sams death in a shootout in 1886, Belle married horse thief, Bill July. Belle Starr from tree Maierson Family Juanita Belle Starr found in 3 trees View all. Belle became the mastermind behind the gang who were unrivalled in the Wild West at stealing horses. WebStarr herself was murdered February 3, 1889, at the age of 40, close to her Oklahoma cabin in the Cherokee Nation. When Belle Starr was shot to death in 1889, a newspaper declared her to be "a most desperate woman." Movies. However, when she arrived at the friends' home, her son had already left. There she met a young Cherokee named Sam Starr, who eventually became her common-law husband and new criminal partner. The Starrs managed to elude capture for nearly a decade, but in 1883 they were arrested for horse theft and both served five months in the Detroit federal prison. In 1886, she eluded conviction on another theft charge, but, on December 17, Sam Starr was involved in a gunfight with his cousin Law Officer Frank West. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Reed and his family fled from the law numerous times before he was killed in 1874. In 1883, Belle and Sam were arrested by Bass Reeves, charged with horse theft and tried before "The Hanging Judge" Isaac Parker in Fort Smith, Arkansas; the prosecutor was United States Attorney W.H.H. Kate began the next several years acting as Hollidays sidekick and even broke him out of jail in 1877 by starting a fire and pulling a gun on the prison guard. based on information from your browser. Placed in a homemade casket constructed of pine boards, she was conveyed to an open grave dug close to the front door by six Cherokee Indians. Soon after her death a story began to circulate about folks in the area seeing a ghost in the exact likeness of Belle Starr. Try again later. An investigation was made into her death and several suspects were questioned, including a neighbor she had quarreled with named Watson, her husband July, her son Ed, and even her daughter Pearl. She was found guilty and served nine months at the Detroit House of Corrections in Detroit, Michigan. Many of the women taking advantage of this freedom found their livelihoods through unladylike ventures like gambling, larceny or prostitution, professions that brought them in close contact with gangs that roamed the frontier. A pianist, Belle grew up in a household with her parents and their other children, including much older half-siblings from her fathers first marriages. In a contradictory account after her arrest by the Marshall, "Belle proved to be a loud and unruly prisoner."[11]. [8], Following the war, members of the Reed family also moved to Texas and, according to Collin County marriage records, James C. Reed and Mira [sic] M. Shirley were married there on November 1, 1866. Her murderer is still unknown. Riding her mare, Venus, and sporting velvet skirts and plumed hats, Belle played the role of a bandit queen for several years. Sams horse was killed, and another bullet narrowly grazed Sams head. She married outlaw Jim Reed and lived in the Oklahoma Indian Territory at the home of outlaw Tom Star, a Cherokee. Later, he became a salesman for a Dallas saddle and bridle maker. Reach Jonita Mullins at jonita.mullins@gmail.com. After escaping conviction on another charge of horse theft, Belle was aghast to learn that Sam had almost been killed in an altercation with his enemy, Officer Frank West. Irregular bands of Jayhawkers and Red Legs laid waste to Missouri communities in support of the Union. Verify and try again. In 1889, Belle was shot several times with a shotgun while riding home from a neighbours house in Oklahoma. When son Bud joined QuantrillsRaiders, John Shirley was a proud father. The women in the area dressed her in her finest black velvet riding attire with boots and adorned her with her expensive jewelry. A Texas man wanted over the fatal shooting of five neighbours, including an eight-year-old boy, could be anywhere now, police have said. cemeteries found in Porum, Muskogee County, Oklahoma, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Born in Knickerbocker, Texas, Laura Bullion worked as a prostitute in Fannie Porters famed brothel in nearby San Antonio. Because of his mother's death, Eddie's trial was postponed until July 1889. However, she also liked to flaunt her status as a rich girl and liked having an audience. However, in the fall of 1882, Parker got lucky when Belle was caught red-handed as she attempted to steal a neighbors horse. The next ten years were a financial success for the Shirleys, who had two more sons. Jim continued his criminal career until he was shot dead by a lawman named John Morris in 1874. Belle Starr was known as an infamous outlaw in the Wild West the western edge of the expanding United States in the second half of the 1800s. In 1866 the James-Younger Gang robbed their first bank in Liberty, Missouri, and fled with $6,000 in cash and bonds. In contrast, Sam was incorrigible and assigned to hard labor. WebShe didnt live to see it, mysteriously murdered on Feb. 3, 1889, two days shy of her 42nd birthday. Belle Star, a true London Legend, Maestro of the Electric Ballroom, incredible drummer, cool gentleman, DJ, and beautiful person, has passed away in his sleep, on April 1st, 2023. After she fell off her horse, she was shot again to make sure she was dead. To use this feature, use a newer browser. The two fled to California with their young daughter Pearl and before long, a second child came along, who they named Edward. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Her vivacious presence and inventive use of stage On the evening of December 17, 1886, Belle and Sam Starr were attending a Christmas party when Sam got into a shootout with an old enemy named Frank West. On her way home, someone ambushed and fatally wounded her with two shotgun blasts to her back. In Texas, Belle began her life-long pattern of associating with men of questionable character. Apparently, Belle had caught July fooling around with a young Cherokee girl, which had led to much discord in the marriage. Several times his Deputies had brought Belle in to face various charges like rustling or bootlegging. [3] In the 1860s, Belle's father sold the farm and moved the family to Carthage, where he bought a livery stable and blacksmith shop on the town square. WebThe death of Belle Starr. Splitting up, Jesse and Frank James andthe Youngersfled to Texas, where they met up with Myra Shirley. Try again later. You have permission to edit this article. If she thought this would be the end of her troubles, she was proven tragically wrong. (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, December 16, 1896, Page 6, Image 6", "Kansas City daily journal. Legend says she was shot with her own double-barrel shotgun.[4]. There is a problem with your email/password. She was arrested and convicted on a charge of stealing horses in 1883 along with Sam. She decided that outlaws were no longer welcome at her farm. Please reset your password. Perhaps it is no surprise that Belle became a hardened criminal since she was surrounded by outlaws for her entire adult life. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Belles children have also been mentioned as suspects. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Belle was a relatively obscure figure outside of Texas for most of her life, but her legend gained attention due to the writings of Richard K. Fox who is best known for writing the National Police Gazette and dime novels. They lived in a one thousand acre plot of land in Fort Smith, Arkansas which soon became a hideout for outlaws such as Jesse James. Pearls first foray into crime however came when she fell into hard financial times when the mine closed causing her to lose many of her brothels mining clients. May Shirley received a classical education and learned piano, while graduating from Missouri's Carthage Female Academy, a private institution that her father had helped to found.[4]. But, it wasnt long before the outlaw life caught up with Reed, and in August 1874, Reed was killed in a gunfight by a member of his own gang. [12] Both men were killed, and Belle's life as an outlaw queenand what had been the happiest relationship of her lifeabruptly ended with her husband's death. Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Easy Travel Organization Tips You Will Love, Bidwell-Bartleson Party Blazing the California Trail. A few weeks after Belles death, a deputy on Julys trail mortally wounded him. Starr responded by threatening to turn Edgar in to the authorities. Perhaps the horse is Venus, said to be Belles favorite; its likeness was carved on her tombstone. Authorities believed that Watson might have ambushed Belle and he was thus arrested on suspicion that he'd committed the act. Please reorganize this content to explain the subject's impact on popular culture, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture, "Truth Dims the Legend of Outlaw Queen Belle Starr", "L.A. Then and Now: Truth Dims the Legend of Outlaw Queen Belle Starr", "Belle Starr the Bandit Queen: How a Southern Girl Became a Legendary Western Outlaw", "Police Officer Frank West, United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Division of Law Enforcement, U.S. Government", "Indian chieftain. For example, it was claimed that she was Jim Reeds partner in crime. HistoryNet reports Belle's husband and her son, Eddie, were arrested and charged with horse theft. Sam Starr was killed in 1886, and Belle went on to live with Bill July on Cherokee land. Frank Eaton had been the last person to dance with Belle Starr when Edgar J. Watson, one of her sharecroppers and clearly intoxicated, had asked to dance with her. But the frontier was also home to female outlaws who were very different to the helpless dames typically portrayed in the standard Hollywood Western film. Best Known For: Belle Starr gained notoriety as an outlaw on the western edge of the United States in the mid-1800s. [14][16][17][18] These rare images taken in the 19th century reveal the female outlaws who held their own when it came to criminal behaviour on the old American frontier. All Rights Reserved. The rest of Ettas life and identity is shrouded in mystery. After Belle The raids had taken their toll on Shirleys businesses, and after Buds death, the Judge gave up, sold his Missouri property, and moved his family to a farm near Scyene, Texas, a small settlement southeast of Dallas. WebBelle Starr atop a horse in Fort Smith, Arkansas, 1886. Belle's illegal enterprises proved lucrative enough for her to employ bribery to free her colleagues from the law whenever they were caught. Although she was formally charged on at least two occasions, Belle's specific involvement in Sam's crimes remains a point of controversy, as some sources suggest she actually stayed home while her husband committed the crimes. When most people think of outlaws, they picture characters like Jesse James or Billy the Kid. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Edit your search or learn more Arizona, U.S., County Coroner and Death Records, 1881-1971 Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries View Name Bell Stan [ Belle Starr] Belle was devastated and apparently began a brief relationship with an outlaw named Jack Spaniard until he went on the run after murdering a U.S. Belle was estranged from her son Ed and rumors speculated she may have had an incestuous relationship with him and routinely beat him with a bullwhip. She was 41 years of age. Thats the reason why he had to move to California, but the family had to flee once again when Jim was arrested for attempting to use counterfeit cash. Folk Figure. She had been attending a dance. In 1883, Belle and Sam were both arrested, charged, and convicted of horse theft in Michigan. [2] Belle Starr claimed that Pearl was the daughter of the outlaw Cole Younger. Her killer then finished her off, and Belles body had shotgun wounds to the neck, back, shoulder, and face. In reality, Belle Starr was tough, a necessity to survive in the Old West, but she wasnt the female Jesse James. WebFind a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/975/belle-starr: accessed ), memorial page for Belle Starr (5 Feb 18483 Feb 1889), Find a Grave Belles son was arrested for horse theft in 1889 before becoming a Deputy in Fort Smith. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Though suspects included an outlaw with whom she was feuding, a former lover, her husband, and her own son, the killer of Belle Starr was never identified. In 1880, she married Sam Starr, a member of the infamous Starr clan, in a tribal ceremony. However, her life changed dramatically when the Kansas-Missouri Border War broke out. GREAT NEWS! You can always change this later in your Account settings. May was reputed to have supported her brother in these efforts, perhaps as a spy, but without any evidence, exactly how and to what extent is obscured by the much-embroidered and heavily disputed Belle Starr legend. Whilst for many female settlers who made the trek west with their families, their lot was in raising children, running a household, establishing schools and churches, and occasionally, warding off Indian attacks. His third wife, Eliza, was on the Hatfield side of the feuding Hatfield and McCoy families. Tis but the casket that lies here, Unfortunately for them, their case was heard by the legendary hanging judge Isaac Parker who had sentenced 88 people to death. Biography reports Belle and Sam had both gained a reputation as outlaws. Suspects with apparent motive included her new husband and both of her children as well as Edgar Watson, because he was afraid she was going to turn him in to the authorities as an escaped murderer from Florida with a price on his head. They could run businesses, own land, and engage in politics or crime if they wanted. Belle Starr was born Myra Maybelle Shirley on her father's farm near Carthage, Missouri, on February 5, 1848. When Belle Starr declined, he later followed her. At first it seemed a clear cut case against Edgar Watson. a story of her supposed exploits. Neighbors found her body and carried her to her cabin where a few days later she was buried. Poole. The Wild Bunch, also known as the Oklahombres, were known for robbing banks and holding up trains. Amid the resulting argument, Pearl left home and moved in with her grandparents. WebBelle Starr (1941) photos, including production stills, premiere photos and other event photos, publicity photos, behind-the-scenes, and more. Shortly thereafter, Eddie left home and did not return. On December 17, 1886, Sam Starr got into a gunfight with an old nemesis Frank West during a friends Christmas party. As a teenager, Pearl became fascinated with the cowboy lifestyle and whilst operating a tent brothel near a local mine in Arizona, she developed a fondness for hard liquor, cigars and morphine. WebBelle was devastated and apparently began a brief relationship with an outlaw named Jack Spaniard until he went on the run after murdering a U.S. Belle Starr. In 1886, Belle again lost a husband to violent death when Sam Starr was killed in a gunfight with an old enemy. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Belle became the mastermind behind the gang who were unrivalled Although she had a number of older half-siblings, she was particularly close to her half-brother John, whose nickname was Bud. Belle was arrested twice more, but was never convicted again. Most of her family members called her May. As with the lives of other famous outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James, fanciful accounts printed in newspapers and dime novels made Belle Starrs harsh and violent life appear far more romantic than it actually was. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The outlaw Belle Starr is killed when an unknown assailant fatally wounds the famous Bandit Queen with two shotgun blasts from behind. Her father was the black sheep of a well-to-do Virginia family who had moved west to Indiana, where he married and divorced twice. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? But with no evidence, he was acquitted. She was a bright student with polite manners and a talent for playing the piano. She was the daughter of John Shirley and his third wife, Elizabeth Hatfield Shirley. Before Reed's death, Belle had returned to her parent's farm, leaving the marriage. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. After serving their time, Belle and Sam returned to Youngers Bend. At the start of the Civil War, her parents were southern sympathizers and supporters of Confederate troops in Missouri and continued with Raider William Clarke Quantrill. As reported by HistoryNet, Starr attempted to renege on the rental agreement. In addition to gaining a reputation for her criminal activity, Belle was known for her elegant sense of style. One of these outlaw bands, seeking refuge, stayed at the Shirley house one night. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Drag images here or select from your computer for Belle Starr memorial.
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