There are many versions of the Legend of Belle Starr. After her mysterious death on February 3, 1889, many “biographers have claimed to tell the real story of Belle Starr’s life, but in doing so they often contradicted each other†(1). Soon the truth of Belle Starr was hidden by myth only. “Legend has it that Belle Starr served as a scout for the Confederates, fought the Union militia, and dressed as a man to participate in robberies with her husband.†(1). However, because of the legends told about her, she would become an infamous character in America outlaw past. As a teenager, she is said to “go out and take revenge on Union soldiers who killed her brother.†(1). There is also a claim that “Starr’s daughter Pearl was the illegitimate daughter of Cole Younger.†(1). Other stories have insisted that Belle Starr herself participated in the crimes of her first husband Jim Reed, like in the torture of Watt Grayson and his wife, hoping to find $30,000†(1).
It was not until 1997 that Richard Arnott attempted to bring the true story of Belle Starr to the world. “Belle Starr was born on February 5, 1848 and her name was Myra Maybelle Shirley. Belle Starr received her education at the Carthage Female Academy, and was a great lover of the outdoors. She is said to have been teased for being skinny and homely†(1). Belle Starr never served for the Confederates, or brought them information. Even though her family was Confederate sympathizers, she never went to take revenge of her brother’s death. One legend says that Belle Starr became acquainted with Cole Younger, when her father hid them at the Shirley house. However, it was later proven that she and Cole Younger, and even her first husband Jim Reed were childhood friends. (2). It is also believed that Belle Starr and Cole Younger were lovers, but this was never proven. In fact Belle Starr married Jim Reed in 1866. Another myth came forward stating that “Pearl, Belle’s daughter born in 1867, was the illegitimate daughter of Cole Younger (2). It was proven that the only time Younger and Starr saw each other in 1867, Starr was already pregnant with Pearl (1). The story about Belle Starr participating in the crimes on the Grayson family was never proven, and “no member of the Grayson, or who witnessed the robbery ever mentioned a woman dressed as a man, or even a slightly built man.†(1). It is now believed that she did not like her husband’s criminal life. Belle Starr left her husband, who was later shot and killed. “Biographers state that when she went to identify the body, she denied the dead man was her husband, and did not want the men to get the reward money. However it was recorded that the people who identified him were not his wife, but other people who knew. (3). Not a lot was known about Starr for several years, after her husband’s death. Biographers filled in the gaps by suggesting that she was involved in “burning down a store, robbing a bank, being jailed for stealing a horse, eloping with her jailer, and robbing a poker game at gun point.†(3). However none of this was proven or recorded in criminal records or newspaper. She remarried a man named Sam Starr, who was also involved with the Youngers. Belle did not participate in their crimes, and the only thing she is guilty of is giving them refuge at her home. The only crime that Belle is believed to have been involved with was stealing horses, for which she was found guilty, and was sentence to two six month prison terms, and was said to be a “model citizen†(3). Sam Starr was killed in 1886, and Belle would later remarry. However, on February 3, 1889, she was shot and killed. No one, to this day, knows who really shot her. Many believe that it was a man named Edgar A. Watson, who Belle Starr had a fight with regarding her land. Suspects included Pearl Starr, Belle’s son Ed, and Belle’s third husband. (2).
Soon after her death, the legend of Belle Starr was told by Richard Fox, who wrote Belle’s “authentic†biography. The book contained more fiction than fact (3). It is clear that Belle Starr’s life was not full of crime, like we believed. She only wished to live a peaceful life with her children and husbands. However, spending time with criminals and helping them, made her an unusual woman for her time. “Belle Starr was a confederate sympathizer, rancher, convicted horse thief, who associated with outlaws, and made an enduring name for herself as the “Bandit Queen†of the Old West†(1).
Author: Kendall Dumas
Bibliography
[1] Slosberg, Susan. “Starr, Belle (1848-1889).” Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Ed. Anne Commire. Vol. 14. Detroit: Yorkin Publications, 2002. 733-740. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Gale. Boston Public Library. 22 Oct. 2009
[2] “Belle Starr.” Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Vol. 26. Thomson Gale, 2006. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale.
[3] Arnott, Richard D. “Bandit queen Belle Starr.” Wild West 10.n2 (August 1997): 34(8). General OneFile. Gale. Boston Public Library. 22 Oct. 2009
