Posted on 08/11/2012 7:17:39 PM PDT by nickcarraway
She was a real person who lived a life that was portrayed and exaggerated in film. Belle was a fast-living, hard-driving woman who became known as the "Bandit Queen."
When Belle Starr was shot to death in 1889, a newspaper declared her to be “a most desperate woman …” Her killer was never identified. Many suspected her son, whom Belle had recently beaten for mistreating her horse. Her unsolved murder was a fitting end to a life that was a whirlwind of violence, crime and legend.
She was born Myra Maybelle Shirley in 1848 and at the age of 16, moved to the north Texas town of Scyene. She kept company with notorious criminals including Jesse James. She married three times to three different outlaws and even spent time in prison for stealing horses.
Though she was ruthless to her enemies, she had a great capacity to make friends and she even mingled with the Dallas elite during the brief periods when her gunfights and thievery gave way to respectable living.
But it was only after her death, at age forty, that her legend grew. The National Police Gazette invented new stories about her and her embellished reputation continued to inspired popular novels and western films, long after her death.
Stories circulated depicting Belle as an elegantly dressed woman riding a black mare in a feathered black Sombrero and toting a Colt 45 pistol that she called “my baby.”
Instead of being remembered as a desperate criminal, she became a romantic symbol of the disappearing American West, known as: “Belle Starr, the Bandit Queen.”
Wow, big hair!
As a real Starr from Texas/Dallas, she was not related.
That said, as a kid was always asked if i was related to Belle or Bart.
The name Belle Starr brings back fond memories of a time I spent in Dallas at an electronics school when I was with Texas Instruments. Belle Starr was the name of a large country nightclub - long neck beers, dancing and beautiful women.
I wonder if Bart Starr is her grandson?
I wonder if Bart Starr is her grandson?
Belle Starr was quite interesting. My understanding is that during her prime she continually changed her place of residence depending on what “law” was pursuing her. My grandmother was named after her, having been born about 15 years after Belle’s death. She was reported to frequently use Indian territory (known as Oklahoma Territory in 1889, and Oklahoma in 1907) as a safe house. The legends still abound around the Robber’s Caves areas near Wilburton. She constantly moved among Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Indian Territory. The US Marshalls could not go into the sovereign “country” given to the Indians.
Yes, she was very interesting! Thank you for posting this article.
Gwjack
She moved to TX because her home town was burned to the ground during the Civil War.
Her father was a well-to-do inn keeper before the war. Her mother was a Hatfield.
Cole Younger was a childhood friend, and thought to be the father of one of her kids.
Her daughter turned to prostitution to bail out a brother, iirc, and became a successful proprietress of a number of brothels.
Perhaps Belle should have stuck to her roots, and gone into the hospitality biz?
It’s probably not relevant, but I have the equivalent of a baseball trading card that features Belle Starr; I guess they circulated near the end of the Civil War or perhaps shortly after.
And not to be picky (and when someone says that you KNOW they’re being picky — so just forgive me): anyway, prior to 1907 statehood, what is now Oklahoma was divided into 2 parts. The Eastern part of the state was known as Indian Territory; the western part of the state was known as Oklahoma Territory. They were two distinct legal entities. Can’t remember the name of the John Wayne movie, but it involves a young girl who insists on tagging along with him to find her father’s killer. Anyway, they go into Indian Territory to find the killer; I believe she encounters him in Ft Smith Arkansas, which is right on the border.
That was True Grit, and also starred Glen Campbell. Good movie.
Belle Starr was one butt-ugly woman.
Thanks for your posting about the separation between Indian Terr. and Oklahoma Terr.
It reminded me that one reason she frequented the Indian Terr. was because she was married Sam Bass, an Indian and outlaw, IIRC.
Which one was Belle?
There were some marshalls under Judge Parker out of Ft Smith that certainly went after the criminals in Indian Territory.
almost all of the women were ugly by our standards back then.
Some were ok after a few beers but for the most part they looked like a mud fence.
almost all of the women were ugly by our standards back then.
Some were ok after a few beers but for the most part they looked like a mud fence.
Great. Next I’ll probably read that Santa Anna, who led the Mexican troops at the Alamo, ended up in an office in New York City’s Staten Island where he ran a business selling tires made from chicle.
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