Belle Starr

Belle stopped at the house of some neighbors, the Rowes, on Sunday afternoon. Jackson Rowe’s home was a popular Sunday gathering place for members of the community. She hoped to see her son Eddie, who had been staying there, but he had left before she arrived. There were a number of other visitors, one of whom was Edgar Watson. Soon after Belle’s arrival, Watson left.

Belle ate and chatted with her friends. She was nibbling on a piece of cornbread as she went out the door and headed for Younger’s Bend. The road passed within several hundred yards of the Watson place. As Belle turned onto the river lane, a shotgun blast blew her from the saddle. She attempted to raise herself from the roadway, but a second shot boomed out, striking her in the face and shoulder. Her horse bolted and galloped home. Pearl, alarmed when Belle’s horse showed up riderless, set out at once. Meanwhile, Belle had been discovered by a youth returning home. Pearl and neighbors arrived at Belle’s side before she died, but she was unable to utter any last words.

Investigations of the scene revealed tracks leading toward the Watson cabin, but the trail petered out within a hundred yards or so of the building. The footprints were Watson’s size, and Watson owned a double-barreled shotgun. Several neighbors had heard the shots, but no one had seen anything. Neighbors and friends, including the Watsons, gathered at Belle’s home to pay their last respects. Belle was laid to rest on February 6 in front of the cabin at Younger’s Bend.

July accused Watson of the slaying, as did Eddie. Watson was arrested but subsequently acquitted, since all the evidence against him was circumstantial. Aware of July’s wrath, Watson and his wife decamped upon his release. No other attempt was ever made to identify Belle’s slayer. There were several other potential suspects besides Watson, including July himself. Apparently July had been caught playing around with a young Cherokee girl, and Belle had been making his life hell. He could have killed his wife before resuming his trip to Fort Smith. Just a few weeks after Belle’s death, July was mortally wounded by a deputy who was on his trail.

Belle’s children have also been mentioned as suspects. Eddie had threatened his mother at least once after she had disciplined him with a bullwhip, and Pearl had her own grudge–Belle had interfered with Pearl’s planned marriage and had worked to get Pearl’s daughter placed in an orphanage. But the most likely slayer was Watson, who had the motive and opportunity and was already a known murderer. He eventually returned to Florida, where he was killed in a shootout with a posse.

In summarizing her life for a Fort Smith Elevator reporter about a year before her death, Belle said, ‘I regard myself as a woman who has seen much of life.’ She certainly had seen her share of Civil War guerrillas, postwar outlaw friends and acquaintances on the run. Her grave site is near Eufair Lake, southeast of Porum, Okla. A horse was engraved on her tombstone, along with these words:

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.

Richard D. Arnott, who has attempted to separate fact from fiction in the Old West for many years, writes from Ohio. For further reading: Belle Starr and Her Times, by Glenn Shirley; Hell on the Border, by S.W. Harman; and Starr Tracks: Belle and Pearl Starr, by Phillip W. Steele.

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26 Comments to “Belle Starr”
Belle Starr had a son when she was sixteen. His name was Charles Acton. His daughter Mabel Acton lived in Panama, OK. Charles died in Williams, OK, a few miles from Ft. Smith, AR. His death certificate lists Belle as his mother. According to the book by Glen Shirley, Charles was living in the home with Belle at Younger’s Bend at the time of her murder. He and Pearl picked her up out of the road the day she was murdered. How come none of the books talk about her son?

By Connie ay on Jun 24, 2008 at 1:30 am
Charles Acton was born in 1865. He can be found in the 1900 and 1910 Census in Sebastian Co., AR. Can someone tell me is this the child of Cole Younger’s? This definately fits if she and Cole had an affair in 1864.

By Connie Ray on Jun 24, 2008 at 1:39 am
I’m realated to her an I’m 13 and I want to know more.can u help??

By lindsey on Jul 7, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I sometimes perform a one-woman show on the life of Belle Starr……in costume or not! After a lot of research, I realize not many facts to draw on. Why have we created such a legend around this story….hm…outlaw women always get attention?? My book on the women of Texas music alludes to this idea. http://www.kathleenhudson.net

By kathleen hudson on Jul 10, 2008 at 12:57 pm
If you are related to her then you are related to me! Where do you live? We’re in Okla.

By Lisa on Jul 11, 2008 at 11:02 pm
The man that shot Sam starr was his cousin Franklin Peirce West. Belle was killed in Hoyt, Oklahoma and her home is near “Eufaula” Oklahoma get you spelling correct!

By Cindy on Jul 14, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I was born and raised in a small town called Shirley, Mo. I was told that this is were Belle was from. Is there any truth to this statement because the area I am from was not mentioned.

By josh isgriggs on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:45 am
I am a descendent of Myra Maybelle Shirley AKA Belle Starr.. If you are also related , please email me. As I am trying to update a family tree etc. and would love to add any and all information you can provide… Thanks ! Stacey Kokomo , Indiana TruckDriver1972@aol.com

By Stacey Tyler-Newton on Jul 30, 2008 at 4:52 am
oren and mami rorgers are my great grand parents gradndma mami madin name is callison i dont know how close of relaion the starr are but let me know if you know anymore than i do i can get more info if need
thanks

By doug noe on Aug 10, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I am not sure how old this is or anything like that. But I know for a fact that I am related My grandmother, great grandmother and my own mother told me stories of Belle Starr’s time with Jesse James, the infamous Western bandit and of how she met her demise. I know that I am related through my Grandmother, Joy and her mother, Velma who all are descendants of Crescent, Oklahoma. I have not been successful in tracking down my family tree that would link me to her because most of the websites cost money (that I don’t have) but I would love to fill in the gaps. Thank you and good luck to you as well!

By Joy on Aug 25, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I too am related to Belle, she is in my family tree, but as I have just begun, I have no knowledge of exactly where. My grandmothers cousins have completely done the family tree on that side a number of years ago, since then my grandmother has passed away and my mother has had a stroke leaving her unable (so far) to communicate with me. I am researching Belle for a women’s history class and I will be impersonating her for a report. Any help ful hints or other information would be appreciated.I will check this site often for any info. Thanks

By Kori on Aug 30, 2008 at 11:21 am
I am a decendent of Sam Starr. My grandfather is Jack Starr, but I dont know much about our family history. If any know anything about the Starrs please contact me.

By Randy on Sep 4, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I am a direct blood line decendant of Belle Starr. If you would like, you can send me your email address’ and I can send you what geneology I have. My information was collected through countless hours of research by Phillip Steele. Jckson300@aol.com

By Jackson on Sep 12, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Im just curious for years I lived in a house in NY and have always been told that Belle Star had once lived there..kinda like a summer place I guess you would say… any one know of any truth to this?? just wondering Thanks!

By Lois Lane on Sep 14, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I’m doing a report on Belle Starr and i don’t know how to start my report. If anyone is willing to help me I would appreciate it alot.

By Jen on Sep 23, 2008 at 7:55 pm
my wife and in laws are relatives her father beverly shirley was as mean as the rest,i remember her great aunt calling on the phone and saying kiss my as- she was 70 years old when my wife visited the family they were not allowed to go in the house and would not talk about belle starr, like they were hiding a secret, believe me theres some meanness in that family and my wifes dad was bull whip by henry shirley, i heard belle bull whip her bim, so i think henry was belles son in alias true story,

By wtk48@comcast.net on Sep 25, 2008 at 9:03 am
My grandmother who passed away a few years ago was Hazel Pauline Shirley and Belle Starr was a cousin of hers, I think like 2nd cousins.

By Julie on Oct 5, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Hi There . Not sure when yur report is due. But, I found a 44 page report on Belle the other day Dallas western outlaws. I am a cousin through my great x2 grandmother. Good luck Tm……

If I can help drop me a line.

By terry mcdonald on Oct 9, 2008 at 2:07 am
im related to belle!!!

By julie on Oct 12, 2008 at 2:35 pm
well i am a desendent from jesse james. my great grandmothe is
his 2nd cousin. if you have any other info let me know!
thank you!!

By JoJo on Oct 29, 2008 at 9:33 pm
i hope that you can help!

By JoJo on Oct 29, 2008 at 9:34 pm
i am a descendent of belle starr from my dad’s mothers side. i dont
know much more than that. i live in a little town called willard
in missouri and my grandmother always is trying to get me to do
reports on her so i can learn some family history. if you could
help me find out some things on how i am related to her it would
be greatly appreciated. my email is msmith@mowisp.net.
thanks. see ya

mikaela :)
p.s. if you dont know anything please dont send me messages

By mikaela smith on Nov 5, 2008 at 3:32 pm
My great-aunt told me I was related to Belle Starr, that she used to come
and stay at the Cunningham household, Missouri. The Cunninghams are
related to the Shirley’s through the Quick’s. I am told just trying to verify
if anyone has any more info please let me know. sam_starr@yahoo.com

Does anyone also know if Sam Starr was her pimp?

By Sam Ferguson on Nov 10, 2008 at 3:14 am
I would like to know when Jack Starr died?

By Misty on Nov 13, 2008 at 8:17 pm
The reason I am asking of this is because I have a letter signed by
a Notary in Kansas. That says Jack Starr sold a 10 gauge double
barrel shotgun that Charlie and Bell Starr owned. I also have the
gun!

By Misty on Nov 14, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Hello,
I am A 7th grade student and need more info on Belle Starr Plz
help me out???!!!!!

By Brittany Rogers on Nov 17, 2008 at 12:02 pm

26 Comments to “Belle Starr”

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