Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-18
LAST OF A NOTED FAMILY.
Henry Starr, Desperate, to He Put to
Death in February.

Death in February.
The trial, conviction and sentence of
Henry Starr, the noted desperate and train
robber, will close the career Of family
that has been notorious in the west for its
leadership in all that has been evil, says
Topeka special to the New York Times.
The death Of Henry Starr, next February,
will put an end to q family name that has
been conspicuous since the days when John
Brown was a continual menace along the
eastern border OF Kansas.
The elder Starr, or old Tom Starr, as he
was known. was for many years an out
law, defying the Cherokee Nation, OF which
he was a member, and the United states
government alike. He was a law unto him.
self. Having completed his apprenticeship
under John Brown, Tom Starr returned to
the Indian nation. where he soon contract
ed the habit of killing those who disagreed
with him. This was endured for q time.
but 1t was not long before his neighbors
declared that the habit was not only dis
agreeable. but dangerous. They appealed to
the Cherokee government, which sent out
Its mounted police TO arrest the Independent
man who had set up kingdom OF MS own.
Their ride through the fastEesses of the
country was marked by trail Of blood.
Old Tom picked them OF by degrees, leav-
Ing dozen or more lonely graves in the
ravines and valleys, never failing when
once he had leveled his trusty rife.
The United States government was APP
pealed to. and a detail from the regular
army attempted to do that which had been
tried with such fatal results by the Indian
scouts. After several long rides. In the
course of which old Tom succeeded in pick
ing off several soldiers, the little detachment
returned to camp and abandoned the chase
that gave only death in return for hard
ships.
The Government Gives Up.
The general government refused to take
any further part in the matter. The
Cherokee authorities, being unable to &C.
complish anything alone. compromised the
matter by permitting old Tom to return
to his home unmolested. provided he would
give up his habit Of killing his neighbors.
This he agreed to do, and kept his word by
becoming a good citizen. He was suspected
Va sun using lrusly riAe, uul viliy
strangers were the ones oeslt with, there
was never any troublesome inquiry maze.
he died a few years later, Iamented by All
his neIxhpors wnom he had leIt auves
There came into the fanny the widow
OF man named Clay Wright, who mad
died suddenly in the nils, presumably from
old Toms rinle-Sam starr, a son, marry
ing her. She Immediately became noted as
Belle starr, the female bandit and horse
thief. Her friends were just as numerous
as the Population. as she confined her bust
was generous with her neighbors Her
hberalty led her to give horses to such of
her poorer friends as were unable to leave
their crops to make forays into the section
where choice stock could be secured with
out cost or any special risk. While en-
gagged in this congenial occupation her
husand had some difficulty with United
States ofiicers. He did not follow the plan
were picked of at long range, but stood up
for fair fight. He killed his opponent.
but In doing SO was killed himself, and
Belle was the second time a widow.
Belle Starts Death.
Becoming tired Of commanding the des-
peradoes who focked to her standard, she
Joined her fortunes with those Of a noted
western bandit. known as DOC" Middle
ton. Again Belle was unfortunate. as Mid
dleton was soon after drowned while trying
to swim the Poteau, weighted down with
two pistols and belt filled with cartridges
The officers who were pursuing Middleton
did not find his body until q week later.
Belle sincerely mourned for the space of
q week her lost love, and then she returned
to civilization as found at Fort Smith.
Arkansas. and their Joined her fortunes
with those Of a promising young man named
rowe. She found him too effeminate and
without the formality of q divorce. aban.
doned him and returned to her beloved
territory, where she was married to Jim
Starr. brother-in-law to one Of her former
haSoohuS. ~ WAS OHlS u snort time after
this that she was assassinated as she rode
alone along the mountain base.
Although dead, she yet lives In the person
of her daughter. Pearl, who has not as vet
taken to the road. The family friends I'm
the territory hope that she will show her
blood and become as famous as was her
mother.
Henry Starr. who now lies In the Fort
Smith jail awaiting the death penalty. was
the youngest Of the family now represent
ed by himself and his mother He has
shown himself to be a bold. fearless man. as
willing to rob a train as an individual. and
equally as willing to kill the man who
stood between him and his plumber.
The only member Of the family who
sought responsibility Is Zeke Starr, an nm
Gle OF Henry. who is now treasurer of the
nation.