Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-03

winch at the time were of no value"
OF the six great thefts by Belle Starr
and her gang the above was the most
successful in financial point, although
of all others the least sensational.
That of the Dallas and Fort Worth
mail was easily achieved. Not so, how
ever, with the Austin and San Anto-
MO stage, which was accomplished by
herself and husband without any as
sistance. In April, 1872, growing tired
of Dallas society, she sold her piano
and buggy and rejoined her husband,
who had been following the profession
OF highwayman for many years. She
gives in her journal the following ac-
count of the stage robbery:
ave were camped in Woolfolk's yard
in San Marcos when I heard little
school-boy remark to his fellows: Let
us play robbers and pretend to rob the
mail pouch that runs through here to-
night. The suggestion was good enough
for Read and myself, who had not
shared in any adventure for nearly a
month. At shutdown we took the mail
route and rode for five miles, dropping
into creek bottom close to the road.
As the mail coach passed Read caught
the bride of one Of the horses and
halted the team. While he was dis
arming the driver went round to the
door and entered with drawn pistol.
One of the passengers, a young man
who considered himself invincible, said
he wouldn't throw up his hands for any
woman; hearing which I pulled my
second Colts Il always carry one on
either side) and struck him swing
blow on the temple; down he went.
Read had come to the rescue by this
time and though there were five pas
sengers we plucked them to the pin
| feathers.
"Old Bishop Gregg was in the coach
and gave up his watch and $40. To
him we returned his effects, as We
knew he was poor and without income
beyond the charity of his congregation.
We found three pistols among the pas
sengers which they We're too cowardly
to make use Of. Taking with us the
mail sack we finally fastened the
traces, got the driver into his seat, and
bid farewell to the occupants of the
stage coach. On counting the profits
of this little adventure we found a
credit balance Of $25, 000."
Belle Stars journal, from the kill
ing of Nicols, the Sheriff of Dallas
County, till the day of her death,
abounds in incidents of q sensational
character. Among the most novel Of
these is her adventure in Bonham,
Texas, where, disguised as man and
carrying about her person large sum
of money, she was was forced to sleep
with Judge Thurman, afterward Mayor
of Dallas City. The Grayson robbery
was committed five days before this
event, and the guests of the hotel were
busily talking about the bandit
queen and her remorseless manner
Of dealing with the property of
others. Judge Thurman, who had
at one time procured her acquittal
on a certain charge, maintained that
he would know her in any disguise.
But this conceit subjected him to
shameful ridicule on the following
morning, for as it SO happened the
hotel was full and Belle, for lack of
room elsewhere, was forced to sleep
beneath the same coverlet with the
criminal lawyer.
After an early breakfast and having
saddled her horse, she sent upstairs
for Judge Thurman, with the an
nouncement that the bandit queen"
was awaiting him on special business.
After some hesitation the Judge APP
peared and, approaching his late bed
fellow, inquired for Belle Read.
"Come out to the gate" said the
daring woman, "and will show her to
you" Turning suddenly as she laid
one hand on her saddle, she said,
"Fool, look right into my face and you
will see Belief"
The Judge was dumfounded.
$50 home" said she, "and tell the
folks that you have had the honor of
sleeping with Belle Read, the bandit
queen" With these words the plucky
woman leaped into her saddle and
struck westward like blue streak.
Among the many amusing incidents
of Bellies career her journal contains
nons more laughable than the follow
ing: A friend Of hers, poor preacher
of the Methodist Church, residing at a