Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-21
SAM STARR KILLED.
The Notorious Indian Nation Bandit
Wipes Gut in Blood n tirieyous
Insult from Frank West.
Vests Neck Brok,n-starr Shot Through
the Heart-Boiie starr at Hand
by Her Husbana's side.
special 70 Tho Gazette

Special to the Gazette
koRr SMITH, ARK, Dec. 20--News
wds received here to-day OF hi odv
tragedy in the Choc,aw nation, sixty.
i've miles from this city, in which the
notorious sam Starr killed Frank West,
citizen of the Cherokee nation. and
was in turn Killed by West.
A three-year0ld Indian boy named
Folsom, who was standing by, being badly
II not fatally wounded About four
months ago Starr was waylaid bv posle
OF Cherokee officers, who fred on him
and killed his horse, woundlng him IN
four places and capturing him. About four
days afterwards he succeeded In making
his escape. By strategy his wife
got him across the Canadian river, when
he came 20 this place and surrendered 10
the United States authorities, and gave
bond for his appearances 10 answer two
charges of robbing. Ilehad remained there
till last "Wednesday when he and his wife
the notorious Belle Starr, started for their
home on the Canadian river seventy. aye
miles distant, Arriving in the neigh.
borhood OF Oklahoma late Friday niaht
they attended dance near Turk Broth.
ers' store, and there Sam met Frank
West, who was one OF the parties VINO
waylaid and Killed his horse
While the dance was To progress West
went into the yard where there was n
blazing fire anu Sam seeing him there an.
preached with drawn pistol and asked
him why he had killed his horse, or words
TO that effect West denied that he had
done so but al the same time
threw his revolver up and the
two desperate men stood eyeinr
each other for moment when Starr,
quick as a flash, raised his pistol and
fired, shooting West in the neck, but be.
fore the report OF the pistol died
away West fired as he was fal lpp
backwards, the ball entering Starts
right side and ranging
In the direction OF the heart. In his diving
struggle on the ground West hred two
shots, one OF which took eject In tho
cheek Of the Indian boy, passing through
from one side TO the other.
Starr threw his arms around a small
tree and held himself on his feet TIL he
drew his last breath, but never spoke.
Belle was right by him all the tins, BAT
had no occasion to use her pistol. Satur.
day morning she placed his hoty In a
wagon aud took II 20 the home OF his faith.
er, old Tom Starr, IN the Cherokee nation
where 1t was buried. Thus has ended
the career OF one OF the most notorious
men in the Indian Territory, whose name
has for years past been connected with
every crime committed IN the neighbor
hood OF his haunts and his life has
been one Of the most exciting aud
dangerous Imaginable, and yet West
the only man he IL known TO have killed
the many hairorcadth
escapes he has had. During his three
months stay IN this city he conducted
himself in the most quiet and orderly
manner, and one would not fora moment
suspect him from his appearance Of be-
ing the dangerous daredevil man no WAS.
The boy Folsom Is thought TO be fatally
wounded and may be dead ere this.
West was dead before the smoke cleared
away. lie was member OF prominent
Cherokee family. The above account OF
the tragedy was obtained from an eye
Starr has served Que term IN
the Detroit house Of correction.