The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-12-03
BELLE STARR,

/ filled with flowers. me inscription
reads:
BELLE STARR,
Born in Carthage, Mo-,
Feb. 3, 1S4S.
Died
Feb. 3, 1889.
Shed not for me the bitter tears,
Nor give the heart to vain re-
gret.
IT'S but the casket that lies here
The gem that filled it sparkles
yet.
In this cabin for many years Belle
Starr reigned queen of outlaws, Civ
| ing refuge TO every criminal that
came that way. In return each gave
her share OF his plumber. If any
one in the surrounding country set
his face in the direction OF law and
order, he was marked as enemy of
The lawles frequenters OF the Belle
Starr rendezvous, and many such
were ambushed and killed. Some
more cautious, shut their eyes and
ears to what was going on, and their
| reward was the protection of Belle
| Starts friendship. But this, too was
not without danger. To be suspect
ed of aiding even by silence, the out
lawry at her home was to draw .he
enmitv of the Deputy United States
Marshals that rode the country, am
many oil these officers were no less
| cruel.
Belle Starr was not a wholly
coarse unimaginative woman. She
vas touched by the suffering of the
helpless; she loved to sing the old
"weepers." accompanying herself on
the guitar, and on occasion could
discourse upon subjects that appeal
ed to polite society. But also she
could swear like a pirate. Her ro-
mantle inclinations were shown in
the bright colors of her garments
when she went riding to the towns.
If she ever shed human blood there
Is no authentic record of it. She Wis
tied the families in her vicinity and
won the affection of the women, car
| ing for them in their sickness and
carrying them food. So Belle Starr
is not without her apologists and de-
tenders in that section.
Recently Mrs. Mabel Jones, of Ia
maha, now old woman, who knew
Belle Starr in the old days, was
shown a photograph of Bellies grave.
Tears filled the eyes of the old wo-
nan as she pointed to a sumach
near the grave and said: 81 planted
thai sumach: Belle told me once that
she wanted me to plant a sumach at
her grave when she was put under
ground She was twining red su-
mach leaves on the bride of her ia
ynrite riding horse when she asked
ne to make this promise, saving:
You know, Joe'-she always called
me joel always loved red leaves
of the sumach."
Mrs. Jones has Winchester rifle
which Belle is said to have owned
and for which Belle carried her am
munition, one on each side of her
saddle.
Miss Alice Robertson, postmistress
at Muskegee is the daughter of a
missionary who for years was at the
Tallahassee Mission, north of Musko-
gee. One day Belle rode up to the
mission and asked for lodging, say
ing she was pursued and her horse
was lame and exhausted. Belle re-
NAMED there three days, borrowed
a horse when she departed, leaving
her own until she should return for
it. Several years afterward Miss Rob-
ertson was with her father at Eufau-
la, at an Indian council. Belle Starr
was in town, dressed in gaudy buck
skin dress and hunting shirt, with a
pistol in her belt. The dining-room
at the hotel was crowded at dinner
time, and when Belle entered the on
ly vacant seat was beside Miss Rob
ertson. Belle recognized her and APP
parently was greatly confused by rea-
son Of her garments. After dinner
she went to her room and put on a
plain dress and laid aside her pistol,
and was the prim Of propriety as
long as Miss Robertson remained
there. When Miss Robertson's faith.
or died Belle cried in recalling how
he had befriended her. Miss Robert
son is inclined TO think that Belle
Starr was more sinned AGAINST thar