The morning news., 1889-02-08
BELLE BOYD WAS AMBUsHED.
Assassinated by Unknown Parties
Who Left No Clew.
From ne Nee York TF3rld

FORT SMITH, ARK. Feb. 5.-A Telegram
from kupaula received here tonight con
firms last nights dispatch that Belle Starr
better known as Belle Boyd, had been sho
oF unknown parties, who fred upon he
from ambush, and left 10 clew. The mur
Ger took place Sunday night, on the Choc
taw side of the Canadian river, near he
nome Searching parties of mounted In
dian police are securing the neighborhood
o1t thus far without success. Her husband
James Starr, who was summoned bv tele
graph from this city. announced befor
leaving, that he would Kill the man VIII,
snot his wife, no matter who he was. Th'
neignborhoot of Eufauls j. Era9tlv excite.
over the deed. Notwithstanding the crimi
al notoriety of the woman, she left many
friends, who have determined to aveng'
her death.
Belle Boyd was born at Martinsburg
now IN West Virginia, in 1916, and liveC
there until 1861. Her father was a mer
chant, her mother a handsome woman, o
cd family, and the girls associations anC
education excellent Du-.ur v--i- 80 -'l-
neighboring town Of Winchester, after wal
had been declared, this dashing young
horsewoman heard Of federal movement
which threatened Ter "ceipyed SOuth. ID.
she called it. She galloped by night L
knew. From that time she was attached
10 the Stonewall brigade with more or les
regularity. She rode ac~Osssthe BATTLEFIELD
OF Front Royal, and carried TO jackson dis
patches which sent him in pursuit Of Banks
She had already become the pet and pride
OF the southern army.
She soon became known as "Belle Bovd
the famous rebel spy At that time she
was girl OF strobg a1ulllne features. coal
p nfzlr -.
and the physical strength aud elasticity o.
an Amazon. Martinsburg was most If the
time within the Union lines, aud Belle
Boyd's secret service was of much valre e
the southern commanders. On a particu-
larly daring exT edition she was captu O.
aud sent TO Washington. Here she became
quite as much Of a favOrte with some OF
the young federal officers and some of the
congressman as she had already been with
the soldiers and public men of the south.
She hesitated at nothing to make stroke
for the confederacv. She who had b. her
wlles and smiles captured 50 many Union
secrets was at last prisoner herself.
After remaining some time in the old
Capitol prison in charge Of Willi3 m P.
Wood. she as exchanged for the celebrated
Col Michael Corcoran of tie Irish Brigade,
who had been a confederate prisoner siuce
first Bull Run. After Gettysburg she was
taken prisoner, court-martialed and ordered
shot, but her sen.e7 CO WIS commuted 10
banishment in the south So afterward
jefferson Davis sent her with important
dispatches to Great Britain. She sailed
from Wilmington, y. c., May 8, 1864. The
vessel was captured the adventures taken
TO Boston, court-Inartialed and a second
time ordered shot Pr sldent Lincoln COM
muted her punishment to banishment.
She soon afterward crossed the ocean and
created great selsatlon, when, Aug. 25,
1864 she married her captor, Lieut.. S. W.
Hardinge, in London. Her husband lived
only a few months and the Young widow
made her debut on g stage in England
The war over size retired to private life.
Subsequent to her second husbands death,
about seven years ago, she started out as a
lecturer as means of maintaining her
three children, two of whom are in a con-
vent Soon az erwards size married her
third husband, Mr. High, and made Detroit
her home.
During her marriage to Col. Hammond.
in lS80-S1, who WAS then acting as travelling
salesman, Belle Boyd lived on North Thir-
teenth street, in Philadelphia. She gave
some readings at st. Georges Hall At
that time The eldest of her little girls was
about Is wears old. Subsequently she went
to live in Texas, where she married success
sively Cole Younger. Sam Starr and. Jim
Starr Several years ago she shot at aud
wounded a man there whom she charged
with improper relations W tn her daughter.
Belle Boyd, as she always preferred TO be
called, had hankerlngs after an actress life,
and in 1867 made her first appearance Oh
the American tage with Ben De Bar. After
that she starred two seasons, but without
much success. She abandoned the stage
for the lecture bureau, but re-appeared on
the board, four or five years ago as Daisy
Brown in The Professor" Sae was bold
and dsshing, rather than a beautiful wo-
man, and her chief accomplishment was
perfect mas cry of horse.
For some years she has lived in the Choc-
taw Nation, and has frequently been il
Fort Smith on business and as a witness al
the Unite1 states court. After the death
of her husband, Cole Younger, in Missouri
she marrled d Sam Starr ard lived with him
in the Choctaw Nation. With her husba q
she was in Fort Smith about three years
ago and the two left for home in the even
ing, but on the way home Starr was killed
by al old enemy named Wes.
Soon afterward she married her late hus
bands cousin, James Starr, who was in thi;
city when the telegram announcing heI
death was received. He is a tall, well
formed Indian. with long hair falling down
over lis shoulders. There was bad blood IL
his eve when he heard the news. Without
delay he saddled his horse, provided himself
with quart Of whisky aud struck out on
the run for home, saying somebody was
going t. suffer.
Belle Starr has figured in the United
States court here on seyeral occasions, anc
was once sent to the penitent airy for selling
whisky in the ChoctRw nation. Dressed in
mems clothes, riding in a good saddle anc
armed with brace of formidable pi tols
she has raided, caroused and partic pated il
every known form of outlawry prevalent
in the nation. She rode at pace and with
grace that knew no equal, shot with great
skill, and with it all she was a well educated
and accomplished woman. Many citizen,
of Fort Smith have heard her play on tht
piano, and she was generally recognized a
thoroughly well posted in various other &C
complishments. She has one daughter
named Pearl Younger, a beautiful girl pos
sessing her mothers fire and her robbel
fathers reckless disposition.