Pearl Starr
Encyclopedia
Rosie Lee Reed better known as Pearl Starr, was an American
bordello owner
and businesswoman in Arkansas
, the first child of Belle Starr
, the reputed "Bandit Queen" of the American Old West
, and Jim Reed, Belle's first husband.
, Missouri
. As a small child, she moved often before her outlaw father died in a gunfight when she was six. Her mother then married a Cherokee
named Sam Starr, and settled beside the Canadian River
in the Indian Territory
at a place called Younger's Bend. Starr was twenty-one when her mother, Belle Starr, was murdered.
Most historical writers accept that Starr gave birth to an illegitimate daughter named Flossie in April 1887, when she was 18. Belle Starr sent her daughter away to relatives to have her baby.
In 1888 Starr's brother, Edwin, was found in possession of stolen property and was shot by his accomplice. What became of Starr's daughter is unknown, but in the summer of 1888 Starr returned alone to her mother's house at Younger's Bend to care for her brother.
fame of Belle, Pearl Reed changed her name to Pearl Starr at this time. She became a prostitute in Van Buren
, Arkansas
, ostensibly to make money for the purpose of getting her brother out of prison. She eventually put together a defense team that managed to secure a presidential pardon for Edwin in 1893.
Starr moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas
and established her own bordello. Located on "the Row," Fort Smith's waterfront street of gambling
halls, saloons
and bordellos, the house was identified with a bright red star surrounded by lighted pearls. The parlor featured a talented piano
player, good whiskey and supposedly the "most beautiful girls west of the Mississippi
." Business prospered and Pearl purchased additional brothels, besides investing in saloons and other property.
Starr had another illegitimate daughter in 1894 and named her Ruth. Starr married Arthur Erbach in 1897 and had a son with him in 1898. Her new husband and son died of malaria
within a year's time. Both are buried in the Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith. By 1902, she was living with Dell Andrews and though not married to him had another daughter, Jennette, in November.
The only time Starr was implicated in a crime was in 1911. After a burglary at a general merchandise store in Fort Smith, police found several stolen items hidden at Starr's Winslow home. She was found guilty of robbery and sentenced to a year in the Arkansas State Penitentiary. Posting $2000 bail, Starr's attorneys appealed the case to the Arkansas Supreme Court
, which overturned the verdict.
, Arizona
. She died in 1925.
Eddie murdered his own mother and father he then wanted to kill belle for all the horror he went through with her, but had harbored no such resentment. Most importantly, he had a proven alibi at the time of Belle’s murder and Starr would have been fully aware of this. The Dallas Morning News articles turned out to be nothing but a regurgitation of the fiction written about Belle, and has been thoroughly discredited as a source.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bordello owner
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
and businesswoman in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, the first child of Belle Starr
Belle Starr
Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr , better known as Belle Starr, was a notorious American outlaw.-Early life:...
, the reputed "Bandit Queen" of the American Old West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
, and Jim Reed, Belle's first husband.
Early life
Pearl Starr was born in Rich HillRich Hill, Missouri
Rich Hill is a city in Bates County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,461 at the 2000 census.The current mayor of Rich Hill as of April 2011 is Jim Kithcart.-Geography:Rich Hill is located at ....
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. As a small child, she moved often before her outlaw father died in a gunfight when she was six. Her mother then married a Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
named Sam Starr, and settled beside the Canadian River
Canadian River
The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and most of Oklahoma....
in the Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
at a place called Younger's Bend. Starr was twenty-one when her mother, Belle Starr, was murdered.
Most historical writers accept that Starr gave birth to an illegitimate daughter named Flossie in April 1887, when she was 18. Belle Starr sent her daughter away to relatives to have her baby.
In 1888 Starr's brother, Edwin, was found in possession of stolen property and was shot by his accomplice. What became of Starr's daughter is unknown, but in the summer of 1888 Starr returned alone to her mother's house at Younger's Bend to care for her brother.
Prostitution
Edwin's case went to trial in July 1889. He was found guilty and sent to prison. About this time Starr married Will Harrison, but the couple were divorced in 1891. Capitalizing on the dime novelDime novel
Dime novel, though it has a specific meaning, has also become a catch-all term for several different forms of late 19th-century and early 20th-century U.S...
fame of Belle, Pearl Reed changed her name to Pearl Starr at this time. She became a prostitute in Van Buren
Van Buren, Arkansas
Van Buren is the second largest city in the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area and the county seat of Crawford County, Arkansas, United States. The city is located directly northeast of Fort Smith at the Interstate 40 - Interstate 540 junction...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, ostensibly to make money for the purpose of getting her brother out of prison. She eventually put together a defense team that managed to secure a presidential pardon for Edwin in 1893.
Starr moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
and established her own bordello. Located on "the Row," Fort Smith's waterfront street of gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
halls, saloons
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
and bordellos, the house was identified with a bright red star surrounded by lighted pearls. The parlor featured a talented piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
player, good whiskey and supposedly the "most beautiful girls west of the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
." Business prospered and Pearl purchased additional brothels, besides investing in saloons and other property.
Starr had another illegitimate daughter in 1894 and named her Ruth. Starr married Arthur Erbach in 1897 and had a son with him in 1898. Her new husband and son died of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
within a year's time. Both are buried in the Oak Cemetery in Fort Smith. By 1902, she was living with Dell Andrews and though not married to him had another daughter, Jennette, in November.
The only time Starr was implicated in a crime was in 1911. After a burglary at a general merchandise store in Fort Smith, police found several stolen items hidden at Starr's Winslow home. She was found guilty of robbery and sentenced to a year in the Arkansas State Penitentiary. Posting $2000 bail, Starr's attorneys appealed the case to the Arkansas Supreme Court
Arkansas Supreme Court
The Arkansas Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Since 1925, it has consisted of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, and at times Special Justices are called upon in the absence of a regular justice...
, which overturned the verdict.
Last years
In 1916 the city of Fort Smith began enacting ordinances making prostitution illegal. For some time, Starr's activities were overlooked, but she was eventually arrested. The charges were dropped on the understanding that Starr would leave the community. In 1921, at age 53, she left for DouglasDouglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. She died in 1925.
Flossie Starr's account
Starr's daughter Flossie was credited with writing a two-part article for the Dallas Morning News Sunday editions on April 30 and May 7, 1933. According to these articles, Starr fully believed that her brother Edwin, always resentful of Belle's attention to Starr, was their mother's killer, but was never able to prove it.Eddie murdered his own mother and father he then wanted to kill belle for all the horror he went through with her, but had harbored no such resentment. Most importantly, he had a proven alibi at the time of Belle’s murder and Starr would have been fully aware of this. The Dallas Morning News articles turned out to be nothing but a regurgitation of the fiction written about Belle, and has been thoroughly discredited as a source.