Henry Starr - The Cherokee Badman

Henry Starr - The Cherokee Badman

Wilson rushed to the barn, mounted an already saddled horse, and sped off in pursuit of Henry. Dickey’s mount was unsaddled so he was several minutes behind Wilson. Before long, Wilson found Henry in an opening on Wolf Creek. Spotting each other at almost the same moment, Starr dropped from his saddle while Wilson remained mounted about thirty yards away. Wilson ordered Henry to surrender, but Henry just "walked away." Wilson then stated that he had a warrant for his arrest and rode closer to Henry, stopping some 25 or 30 feet from him. Wilson then dismounted, raised his rifle, and fired a warning shot over Henry's head.

With that first shot, Starr returned fire and a gunfight ensued. Wilson was hit and fell to the ground, badly wounded. When Wilson tried to load a fresh cartridge into his rifle, the weapon jammed and he threw it aside, reaching for his pistol. Starr fired two more shots and Wilson sank to the ground, too weak to defend himself.

Henry Starr when still a young man.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Then, calmly walking over to Wilson, Starr fired one more round into his heart. At the sounds of the shots, the frightened horses rode away, but Henry was able to catch Wilson’s horse and took off. By the time Marshal Dickey arrived, the whole affair was over and Starr was long gone.

Now, Henry was wanted for murder and the law doubled their efforts to find him. On January 20, 1893, Starr was nearly caught when Indian Police picked up his trail near Bartlesville, I.T. A gun battle broke out but Starr was able to escape. Teaming up with a man by the name of Frank Cheney, Starr and Cheney robbed the MKT railroad depot of $180 and Haden’s Store of $390 in Choteau, I.T. In February, they hit the railroad depot and general store in Inola, I.T. making off with $220.

Caney, Kansas, 1915 Seemingly not bothered by the law hot on their trail, Starr and Cheney grew bolder and robbed their first bank in Caney, Kansas on March 28, 1893, relieving the Caney Valley Bank of $4,900. The two men entered the Caney National Bank with their revolvers drawn. Cheney entered the vault carrying an old two-bushel sack and emerged from the vault with the bag filled with currency. Starr and his partner locked the bank’s customers and employees in a back room and exited the bank. One Kansas newspaper said of the robbery that it was “one of the boldest and most daring robberies known to border history.”

Just a little more than a month later, they robbed their first passenger train at Pryor Creek, I.T., making off with $6,000.

Not to be stopped, Starr chose the People’s Bank of Bentonville, Arkansas for their next robbery. On June 5, 1893, Starr and four partners rode into the small, northwest Arkansas town. However, by 1893, Starr was an infamous man and people recognized him as soon as he entered the town.

By the time Starr and Kid Wilson entered the bank, an alarm was quickly spreading that the bank was being robbed. Gunfire erupted outside the bank and Starr and Wilson left the bank while the robbery was still in progress. Starr and Wilson raced for their horses, and the gang of bandits fled from Bentonville with the posse right behind them. When they reached safety, they counted their take and were disappointed to find only $11,000, which had to be split between five men.

Following the Bentonville robbery, Starr and his gang were constantly pursued by the law. With a $5,000 reward offered for Starr, the gang decided to split up for a time. Henry, Kid Wilson and a lady friend boarded a train at Emporia, Kansas intent on heading to California. Enroute, they stopped at Colorado Springs to “replenish the lady’s wardrobe” and do some sight-seeing. On July 3, 1893, they checked into the Spaulding House. Henry registered as Frank Johnson and the Kid registered as John Wilson, both from Joplin, Missouri. However, officers discovered they were there and Starr was arrested in the restaurant. Later they picked up Wilson in Colorado City. Returning to the Spaulding House, they woke up the woman, who was registered as Mrs. Jackson, but who admitted to being Starr’s wife of six months. In a search of the room, the lawmen found $1,460 in greenbacks and about $500 in gold.

Starr and Wilson were returned to Fort Smith, Arkansas on July 13, 1893 to stand trial. Starr was charged with thirteen counts of highway robbery, and one count of murder. The trial revolved around the murder charge and Starr was found guilty by Judge Isaac Parker and sentenced to hang. Henry's lawyers appealed the case and the U.S Supreme Court overturned Parker's decision and granted Starr a new trial. He was found guilty at the second trial and again sentenced to hang, but again his lawyers were able to appeal and get Henry yet another trial.

Fort Smith Courthouse and Jail, circa 1875

Fort Smith Courthouse and Jail, circa 1875,

courtesy Fort Smith National Historic Site

At the third trial trail Henry plead guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to a total of 15 years -- 3 for manslaughter, 7 years for each 7 counts of robbery and 5 years for 1 count of train robbery. On January 15, 1898, Henry Starr was transported to the federal prison at Columbus, Ohio.

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