Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-17
BELLE STARR,S HUSBAND


NEVADA, Mo-, Feb. 16.-The various
publications regarding the famous Belle
Starr. who was recently assassinated in
the Indian territory, are discussed with a
great deal of interest in this county, and
especially in the vicinity of Metz, where
she once lived, and was known by many
yet living in that vicinity. She was then
the wife Of the noted outlaw, Jim Reed,
and with him lived two miles north of
there on Reeds creek, where their daughter
Pearl was born. 1t is doubtful if Belle Starr
was in any manner connected with Cole
Younger as she lived with Reed until a
short time before he was killed in 1877, just
before Younger's Incarceration.
f. NJ. Beed, of the vicinity of Metz, and
a. brother of the outlaw, said today: ''Our
family resided here before the war
Brother Scott and 1.-The oldest boys-cast
our fate with the southern cause in 1861
Soon afterward the Jayhawkers made
things so interesting around here that
mother and the children moved to Car
thage and rented house from John Shir-
ley, who was Belle Starts father. Shirley
was running hotel there at the time, and
was possessed of good slave property
Brother jim, who was then about - years
of age, and Mira Belle Shirley were chill
dren together. Fate threw them together
again at Dallas, Tex, in 1867, where | wit
messed their marriage. They at once re-
turned to their old Missouri home, and
here their first child-Pearl-wa born. In
1868 brother Scott was assasSinated in Ar
kansas by some Shannon boys, between
whom and a family of Fishers there had
previously been some killing done. Broth
er jim went Immediately to the scene of
Scott's murder and allied himself with the
Fishers and participated IN the killing of
two of the Shannons in retaliation. After
this the Arkansas officials hunted him
until he moved to California in 1869, and
from there to Texas in 1876, where his out
laWrey became so notorious that the state
offered reward of $1,000 for his body,
dead or alive, and private corporations
offered three times that amount for his
conviction for special acts. This induced
Morris, who lived near Mckinney, Tex, to
murder him. | knew Morris well. rs he
was our neighbor when we lived in Texas.
He only got the state reward, the private
corporations claiming that they did not
offer a reward for assassination. Morris
Ingratiated himself into Jim's favor as
hunted outlaw and pretended to be his
friend, They stopped at a house near
Paris, Tex, for dinner. Morris prevailed
on him to leave their revolvers on their
saddles, as it might create suspicion
to go in armed. While they were
eating MOTIFS lel2ueu 10 swallow
fly and sckening went out doors. There
he procured the revolvers and returned to
the door, shot brother Jim as he was eat
ing with his back to the door. Morris
finally died with his boots on"
Old Mrs. Reed still lives near Metz, on
Reeds creek. Her face is one which en-
lists the affections and kindest feelings of
all who see her. The Witches of her
hair almost rivals that of snow. She is a
grand old lady, who is honored and re-
spected by her neighbors for her many
virtues as well as for the trials and sor-
rows cruel fate mas placed in her way, all
of which she has borne silently and I'M
complainingly.
The girl Pearl, grown to be beautiful
woman, and her babe spent last spring
and summer near Metz with her grand
mother. Those who saw her during her
visit to this county say they never saw
more gentle, Iadyllke. modest woman.