One More Run at Pearl Hart

November 11, 2011

Trying to finish five new True West Moments this afternoon. Got three in the can. Whipped out another image of Pearl Hart after lunch.

Love that date. Did a little research on the so-called Bandit Queen. She was certainly a slippery little gal.

In 1898, Pearl Hart was either a cook or a soiled dove (depending on who you believe) in Mammoth Arizona. When the mine closed (or, she got word her mother was sick in Ohio, depending, once again, on who you believe), Hart and her boyfriend, Joe Boot (probably an alias) robbed the Globe to Florence stagecoach getting some $431.20 but she returned one dollar to each passenger so they could get something to eat. A posse caught up with the hapless pair less than a week later and the two became snagged in the coils of the justice system. Escaping from lenient custody in Tucson, Pearl was recaptured and sent to the Yuma Territorial Prison. She was pardoned by the governor in 1902 and either left the state for good, or lived around Globe until 1955, depending on who you believe.

The rumor that she was pregnant when she was pardoned in a modern theory dating from the 1960s so I'm not sure I buy it. Either way, it's a great name and one half of a great story.

"Where's William Goldman when you really need him?"

—BBB (William Goldman wrote "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid")