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The official newspaper files of the early West record many stories of famous and notorious characters of that period.

Among them, born in 1848, Belle Starr, horse thief and harborer of criminals, lived hard and fast enough to become known in her day

as Queen of the Bandits and to go down in history as America's most notorious woman outlaw.

Fort Smith, a small village on the border of the Indian nations, where gunshots and violent death were commonplace.

One of the roughest and toughest towns of the old West.

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Hey, I heard you coming, Belle.

This don't look much like the savings and loan bank to me, Sam.

What's the bet?

Never mind what's the bet.

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How much have you lost?

Not too much, Belle. I was just...

I gave you $1,500 to put in the bank.

How much have you got left?

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What kind of a shiftless bum did I marry, throwing away my hard-earned cash on the gambling table?

Money I made myself!

Get up!

Get on your feet, you lazy Indian. You gonna lay there all day?

Rest, you gentlemen. Put your money on the table.

Shove the money into the hat, you.

All of it! Every penny!

Get in your horses.

Your arm, Mr. Starr. It's time we were leaving.

Look, Belle, I was just trying to...

Don't you know yet how to treat a lady?

Open the door!

If any of you gentlemen think he's got change coming, look me up at Younger's Bend.

You're so good at spending my money. Well, let's see if you can help me make some.

Where are we going, Belle?

Up to Dodge City.

There are a couple hundred horses corralled up there, just waiting for shipment.

Now go get on your horse, pronto.

Hey, cut out the good ones and stampede the rest!

Hey, Sam!

Hey, look what I found.

A little old man's horse.

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

Hey, look what I found.

These are pretty good colts, huh?

For you.

Good-looking piece of horse flesh.

Turn in with the others.

Get some money on it.

Hey, get them on the move!

I'm Matt Clark, railroad detective.

Over a hundred head of horses destined for the United States Cavalry and consigned to the railroad

had been stolen from shipping points along the right-of-way.

I was assigned the task of following the trail of the thieves and bringing them in.

This usually began with the questioning of possible witnesses,

people to be used later when the outlaws are caught and brought to court.

Yeah, they spooked the herd out of here night before last.

They cut out the best of the stock, stampeded the rest.

Did you get a good look at the rustlers?

No, too dark.

One thing I'm sure of, though, the leader was a woman.

A woman?

Yep.

I could hear this female yelling orders, see the feather in her white hat.

I know those weren't your horses, sir.

You were just holding them for shipment.

But do you think you could identify any of them if you ever saw them again?

Yep, I could some.

There was one little blooded colt in particular,

a bay with a blaze basin and three white stocking thieves.

I got kind of attached to him.

If we caught the thieves, would you be willing to testify against them?

Sure would. Just give me the chance.

Mighty that.

Go along.

The trail led to the Indian nations.

By the time I reached the nations,

I began to feel that the horse thieves I was after were Belle Star and her gang.

My final stop turned out to be Fort Smith, Arkansas,

a hop and a jump from Indian territory.

It had a reputation equal to Dodge, Abilene, or any other cow town crossroads,

with the added distinction of being a fence for stolen livestock

and a refuge for whiskey peddler bootlegging fire water to the redskins.

Hello, Belle.

The man I wanted to see first was a local sheriff,

a meeting I didn't care to make public.

As usual, Pete.

Howdy, Sheriff.

I don't suppose you remember me, do you?

No, I don't believe I've...

Oh, sure, sure. Why, of course.

How have you been?

I take it you're here on business, Mr. Clark.

Yeah, that's right.

I've trailed a gang of horse thieves all the way from Dodge.

I've got good reason to believe it's Belle Star.

You're not the only one with a good reason.

She came in here last week with them horses.

Sold them all in one day.

Why didn't you pick her up?

She had bills of sale.

They're forgeries.

No doubt.

Proven it is something else.

Now, do you happen to have a description of all them horses and prior bills of sale?

Not only that, I've got a half a dozen witnesses who are willing to appear against her.

All we have to do is arrest Belle.

You think that's going to be easy?

Where does Belle live?

Oh, about 15 miles from here.

A place called Younger's Bend.

I wouldn't go down there alone, though.

That is, unless I was tired of living.

How often does she come to town?

Once a week.

Stick around here so you can get in touch with me.

I was just fixing to have myself a bite of lunch.

Won't you join me?

No, thanks, Sheriff.

I've got some unfinished business.

I'll see you later.

What's the big idea?

Who do you think he is?

Right then, it wouldn't have taken much to flatten me, too.

Sprawling on the sidewalk looking up at me was Frankie Adams,

another railroad detective who had worked with me in the past.

What are you doing in Fort Smith?

Working as a dressmaker.

What are you doing?

That horse thieving case in Dodge.

Looks like it might be Belle's star.

Then you're in luck.

I'm working on it, too.

As a dressmaker?

Why not?

Belle's star is just like any other woman.

Crazy about clothes.

You should see the gown we made her.

Does she come in for fittings?

Naturally.

When?

Wait a minute.

You can't move in yet.

The case is still closed.

You're way behind.

Right now the case is really hot.

When's your next fitting?

2.30 Friday.

Day after tomorrow.

Good.

Make her something in blue denim.

The latest thing in prison wear.

It's been a real pleasure meeting you, ma'am.

May I have the privilege of calling on you in the near future?

In the near future, you best mind your manners in your own business, sir.

Good day.

Sam.

Your arm, please.

Sam, the door.

Sam, the door.

Sam, the door.

Sam, the door.

Sam, the door.

Sam, the door.

Oh, Frankie.

Yes?

I do trust you weren't leaving, my dear.

Well, I, uh...

I was going down the street to have my scissors sharpened.

Mac can wait till you've finished with me.

Get the dress and let's have a look at it.

Yes, ma'am.

Hats off in the presence of ladies.

Now get out of here.

Oh, there it is.

We still have a little work to do on the bodice, Mrs. Tower.

After all, you are two days early, Mrs. Tower.

You'll have to excuse me.

I seldom keep appointments on time.

It's too unhealthy.

Looks finished to me.

Well, uh, the lining needs sewing.

If you'll wait just half an hour, I'll finish it.

Hmm, can't wait. I'll take it as is.

How much do I owe you?

Uh, Mrs. Smith isn't here, you know.

I just worked for her. I'll go ask her.

Look it up in the books.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm gonna have to ask you to stand right where you are.

Now, honey, just what do you think you're trying to do?

I'm taking you to the sheriff.

You're a fool.

Why, I could draw and plug you before you could pull the trigger.

Go ahead and try it.

Now get moving. Out the back door.

Now get moving.

Stay where you are, Bell. You're under arrest.

Bring up the horses.

Mikey.

It's all right, Mac. Go get her.

Mac.

Yeah?

Don't tell the boss about this.

Don't tell the boss about this.

Come on.

Let's keep moving.

Come on.

Stay where you are.

You're under arrest.

Beat her.

She's a little better now, don't try anything funny.

Go.

Quiet.

Take her to the museum.

You hear me?

He.

Clerk, we've got to get out of here.

Take him away.

Hey, protect me.

He's stuck in here!

Hey, Clark!

In the safe house.

In there!

Go!

Seize him!

Go!

Now get out of the way!

Uh oh!

It's him!

It's him!

I felt so confident that the sheriff would capture bail I sent for the rancher who had

witnessed the rustling hoping he could make a definite identification.

You sent for me Mr. Clark? Yeah that's right.

Is that one of the horse thieves? Yeah.

Are you sure? Well it was dark.

Get out. Take a good look. When I got real close to him...

Yeah I'm almost positive. Of course if you'd have found the horses then

it would have been a different story. Just as soon as we find where the horses are

hidden I'll get in touch with you. Thanks again.

Glad to be of help. Howdy Sheriff.

Well you don't have to tell me. We had her hooked but she got away.

Oh it's that thoroughbred she rides Matt. There's not a horse in the territory that

can outrun him. What about Sam here?

You got any more out of him? No he hasn't been very sociable.

Maybe he'll change his mind when he finds out he's carrying the entire load for bail

and the rest of the gang. Lock him up.

How about it Matt? Care for a little drink?

No thanks Sheriff. I think Sam would like to have some though.

What? Give a drink to that drunken...

That's the general idea. I guess you're right Matt.

Poor old Sam's road just as hard as the rest of us.

How about it Sam? Care for a little mouthwash?

Get in. Thanks Sheriff.

And your grandchildren will thank you.

You have an honor.

Go ahead.

Well, let's move on.

Well, good day to you motion.

Get a load of them, old foot!

Same old old still the way yon,

Old Randolph.

Sam!

What's the matter with you?

You're drunk.

Sam not drunk.

Sheriff beat me up.

He beat me real bad, Belle.

My head.

What'd you tell him?

What'd you tell him?

Tell him nothing.

Nobody makes Sam talk, you know what.

Let's get you out of here.

Sam wouldn't remember because he was too drunk last night.

But he had told us who Belle had sold the horses to.

That they knew the herd was stolen and had planned to move them upcountry at once.

We were pretty sure because of what had happened, Belle would be coming around to warn them.

Recognize any of those horses down there?

Sure, at least a dozen.

There's that little bay colt I was telling you about.

The one with the blaze on his face.

She was a favorite of my whole family.

Here she comes, Matt.

Look who's with her.

That's the female bandit, all right.

I'd recognize that hat and feather anywhere, day or night.

She'll most likely be heading for that pass across the valley.

We'll move around and give her a little reception.

I'll get Sam.

You rest, Belle.

You've got a horse that cannot run her.

Right.

Here she comes.

Our reception did surprise them.

In the gun smoke and dust of the running horse herd, Belle and Sam got separated.

The sheriff took care of Sam.

Belle's trial created a sensation in the territory.

She was the first woman in the country ever to be convicted on a charge of horse stealing.

She appeared in Hanging Judge Parker's Federal Court of the Western District of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

The trial lasted four days, from the 15th to the 19th of February, 1883.

It was our rancher's identification of the little colt that really won the case for us.

Sam was convicted on one and Belle on two charges of horse stealing.

Both were sentenced to the federal penitentiary in Detroit.

Belle and Sam spent a year behind the gray prison walls and then were released with time off for good behavior.

They both headed back to Younger's Bend where they took up the old life where they left off.

For Belle was arrested several times, though never convicted.

And Sam met a violent end in a pistol duel with an Indian deputy who had once arrested him.

Then one day, several years later, while I was sitting in my office at railroad headquarters...

Hello, Matt.

Frankie, it's good to see you.

Nice to see you. What have you been doing?

Oh, same old thing. Sit down.

Thanks.

I'm just closing out the files on the Belle Starr case.

No doubt you remember.

Oh, how could I forget?

I read some time ago that she was murdered.

Did they ever find out who did it?

No, and they probably never will.

It's quite a mystery.

Seems Belle had ridden halfway to Fort Smith with a friend of hers.

Belle decided to turn back at the Canadian River and was coming back to Younger's Bend alone.

Here, read it.

So the wild and daring Belle Starr died as simply as that.

Yep.

Shot from her horse by an unknown assassin.

Was there ever any suspects?

Farmer named Watson looked good for a while.

He was supposed to have been blackmailed by Belle.

The case was thrown out of court for lack of evidence.

Some people even think it might have been her own son.

A week previous to her death, she whipped a boy because he'd mistreated one of her horses.

You know, Frankie, I don't think we'll ever know.

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