biography
| name: |
Starr, (Myra) Belle
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née Shirley
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| sex:
| female
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| lived:
| (1848–89)
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| biography:
| Bandit queen, born at or near Carthage, Missouri, USA. Her brothers were killed while fighting with Quantrill's Raiders in the Civil War and in gunfights. She was romantically linked with Thomas Coleman Younger, James H Reed, Sam Starr, a Cherokee, and Jim July, also a Cherokee. Said to be ‘the leader of a band of horse thieves’. She usually wore either velvet and feathers or buckskin and moccasins. She was convicted once in 1883 by ‘Hanging Judge’ Parker. On other ocassions, she defended herself and her companions with great legal skill. She was shot down by an unknown assassin, and immortalized in popular literature. A neighbour named Wilson and her own son Edward were suspected of her murder. |
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