Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-15

weeks after her marriage her nus
band fed to Missouri, when she
returned to her fathers house, and
he sent her to school in Parker
county, Texas, hoping to prevent
her ever Joining her husband, who
was outlawed. Younger returned
to Texas, sought her out and she
ran away with him again, stealing
horse with which to get away.
They made their way to Missouri,
but soon found the country too hot
Tor them, and again sought the
more congenial climate of Texas.
From that on her companions
were outlaws, and she roved over
the State with them, becoming a
dashing horsewoman and a crack
shot with gun or pistol. stage
robberies and depredatiOns of like
character were common in those
days, and Belle figured in many ex-
PLOTS of criminal nature.
Becoming separated from
Younger, she married a desperate
named James Reed, and while
with him, in 1873, at san Marcos,
Texas, she took hand in robblng
the stage running between San
Antonio and Austin. The robbers
secured from the passengers ana
mail some $1,000. After this rob
berry Reed and his gang were run
so close that they became some
what demorallzed, though the
leader managed to elude the
officers until 1874 or 1915, when he
was killed, a posse having run IN
on him where he was at supper.
Belle drifted then into the In
dian Territory, and for a time
ceased to seek nOtoriety. She
married Sam Starr, son of Tom
Starr, one of the most noted Chero-
kee Indians IN the West. She
soon led Sam into outlawTy, and
her next appearance coRspicuously
before the public was some time In
1884 when they we're both taken
to Little Rock, Ark, tried In the
Federal Court for DEMONSTRATING
and sent TO the Detroit (Mlch.)
peniteDtiary for a term OF one year
each.
Returning to their home, they
continued their criminal practices,
and their place of abode on the "a
madam river, known as Younger s
Bend, became a resort for outlaws,
who we're always safe when under
her care. In 1885 John Middleton,
notorious Texas outlaw, was
making her place his headquarters
and officers from that State made
numerous attempts to dislOdge him.
At this time many robberies were
being perpetrated in that vicinity,
and the people began to make the
place too hot for them. Middleton
and Belle fed towards Little Rock,
and she went to the Ozark noun
tains, where Middleton was to meet
her by less frequented ronte, bat
she never saw him again, as he
was drowned in the POtseau river,
thirty miles above Little Rock,
while attempting to swim the
stream on horseback with three
heavy pistols on his person.
Belle, learning of his death, went
to the place, forced the people to
disinter his body and bury it in
another place. Then she made
them deliver to her the pistols and
other property found on his person
after which she returned to Young
er's Bend, and was soon aiterward
arrested and taken to Little Rock
on charge OF highway robbery,
she having led raid dressed III
male attire.
While attending court in Little
Rock, IN 1856, her husband was
badly hurt in a fight with Indian
officers, and buckling her pistols
about her she mounted her horse
and left for the scene. Through
her keen strategy she effected his
escape and took him to Little Rock,
turning him over to the Federal
offic ers, and succeeded in haylng
him released on bond.
The two started on night ride to
their home in December, 1856, ana
about fifty miles from Little Rock
came to a house where q dance was
in progress. They concluded
to take 1t in, but when they got
INTO the yard Starr vas confronted
by Frank West, one of the officers
who had wounded him. Both drew
their pistols and fred about the
same time, falling dead in their
tracks. Belle also drew her gun,
but the duel WAS over III an IN
slant, and she turned her atten'
ton to her fallen hus band, as there
was no one present upon whom to
wIedk her vengeance. Belle worked
her robbery case so shrewdly that
she was acquitted and returned to
her home, soon afterward marrying
Jim Starr, a cousin of Sam, known
at home az "JIm July"
This noted woman had a daugh
ter by Bob Younger and a son bJ
Reed, who are both living al
Younger's Bend. Pearl Younger
is now handsome young lady
and for two or three years pas
has been the constant companion
of her mother The boy, Ed. Reed
is fast developing into an outlaw
has been shot once, and is now un-
der indictment for horse stealing
!. Belle Starr was woman OF splen
, did address and fair education.
! FORT SMITH, ARK, Feb. B.
John Starr, cousin of Belle Starr
, who was murdered last Sunda.
near her home in the Cherokee
Nation, arrived here this morninI
8 with Il. A. Watson, the ASSASSIN
D Watson was placed in the Unlte'
D Slater Jail. lie is white man, 8
! wears old, and came from Florida