Pueblo chieftain., 1921-08-21

crime, which was holding up the rail-
way station agent at Nowata. The two
youthful bandits obtained $500. Short
ly afterward the two were arrested and
held for trial
Jumped His Bond.
STAIRS bond vas fixed at $1,000,
which lie gave and which he jumped
when his trial was called. He began
living UP to his reputation. He staged
other robberies, and few months later
killed Floyd Wilson. a railroad de-
tectivc, who was searching for Starr.
This, it is said, was the only time he
ever took life.
Starr was now marked man, with
a price on his head, and at that he was
only youth OF 10 He vas sought all
over the Territory by numerous depu-
tics, but did not leave the vicinity OF
Nowata. He was known everywhere,
went to dances, to the festivities
throughout the ec-atrysidc, and while
he danced volunt or friends took Up
their station outside the door to warn
him OF the approach OF his hunters
Then followed the robbery of the
railroad station and two stores at Co
heau, a little town on the Missouri,
Kansas & Texas Railway. In March
OF 1898. with Frank Chaney. he robbed
his first baak at Caaey. Kan, town
two miles north of the Oklahoma line.
This haul netted $4,000, and the wild
spirits OF the Territory beg,n to gaths-
TO Starr and CLANCY
To show his contempt for the United
States marsltals, Starr fitted ort a
chuck and ammunition wagon and drove
openly about in his depredations,
ramped near towns. told passc-s-by who
he was and dared :he authorities to take
him.
The famous Pryor Creek robbery,
where the gang held up NJ. X & T.
passenger train as it stood at the sta
ton, was a siege that lasted more than
an hour and melted more than $4,000
The bandits drove away in their
chuck wagon and made camp on the
uufenced prairie some 20 miles distant
The hold-up a, Ben,onviile, Ark, just
across the line from Oklahoma, was an
other leisurely affair and nettsd $4,000
in cash from the bank
Captured In Colorado.
By this time STAIRS depredations had
become so notorious that he felt he had
better leave the country. He blde his
gang good-by aad drove overland to
Emporia. Kan. taking with him his
sweetheart whom he planned TO mar
~. They intended 30 make their home
in Mcxi5o. But 1t Colorado Springs.
causht of his guard, Starr was over
powered by detective, who had ,railed
him. arrested and imprisoned. He was
returned to Fort Smith, Ark, for trial.
He was indicted on the charge of
murder for the killing OF Wilson, and
for thirteen separate robherics and hold
ups. He was convicted Of first degree
murder and sentenced to be hanged
His attorneys appealed and the case
was remsndcd for new trial from the
United States Supreme Court He was
tried again and again convicted and sen
fenced 10 be hanged, and the case wen.
up a second time to the Supreme Court
While waiting for the court to render a
decision he was tried on the thirteen
counts for robbery and convicted
pnrdonrd nv Roosevelt.
Tried again under a new Judge. on
the charge Of murder, he was found
guilty OF msuslaushtcr and sentenced
10 thrcr years in prison He received
ar additional ten years for tho rohheries
he had committed. and in 1905. after
having been confined for four and a
half year, in the Fort Smith jail, he was
sent to Columbus, o., to serve out his
lj years sentence.