Myra Maybelle Shirley, more popularly known as Belle Starr, was born on February 5, 1848 in Carthage, Missouri to wealthy innkeeper, John Shirley. Her mother, Elizabeth Hatfield Shirley was descended from the Hatfield side of the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud.
As a teenager, Myra regularly reported positions of Union troops to the Confederates. She was a childhood friend of Cole Younger and after the war was rumored to have borne his daughter, Pearl. However, Belle was married to Jim Reed at the time.
In November of 1873, Jim Reed and two others robbed a wealthy Cherokee farmer of $30,000 in gold coins in the Indian Territory. Belle was named as an accomplice and the couple, along with their two children went into hiding in Texas. It was here her image an outlaw became popularized because she frequented saloons, drinking and gambling. She wore black skirts, high topped boots and a Stetson with an ostrich plume and carried twin pistols around her waist.
The law caught up to Jim Reed near Paris Texas on August 6, 1874 and he was shot to death while trying to escape, leaving Belle as a young widow with two children to support.
Legend of Belle Starr
Putting her children in the care of relatives, Belle became involved with the Starr clan in Indian Territory. Belle immersed herself in the outlaw business, helping to organize and plan robberies and harboring other outlaws from justice. In 1880, Belle married Samuel Starr.
She severed a nine month prison term for horse-thievery in 1882 after being tried by “Hanging Judge” Isaac C. Parker. Belle was a model inmate and upon her release returned to Indian Territory and immediately resumed her outlaw ways.
Belle would be arrested several times over the next few years for charges of robbery, but would be released for lack of evidence. Arrested in 1886 for robbing a post office while dressed as a man, she would once again be released.
Death of Belle Starr
Belle Starr was killed by a shotgun blast in the back on February 3, 1889 near Eufaula, Oklahoma. The identity of the murder was never revealed, though there are several suspects. Edgar Watson, a man known to be feuding with Belle over land he was renting from her; Jim July, her most recent lover with whom she’d recently quarreled with; and her son, Ed, with whom she’d had a strained relationship.
She was buried on her ranch by her daughter, Pearl. Her marble headstone was engraved with images of a bell, a horse and a star, along with an epitaph written by her daughter that read:
"Shed not for her the bitter tear,
Nor give the heart to vain regret;
'Tis but the casket that lies here,
The gem that filled it sparkles yet."
Sources:
<Women in History> Retrieved on 11/24/08.
<FrontierTimes.com> Retrieved on 11/24/08.
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