Volume 17 , Issue 21

Walking With Sadie

Woof! Woof! As we arrive back in the Southwest Rockies of Colorado, NW Okie has me continuing research on Oklahoma Bandits. We found the following article in The Daily Ardmoreite, 23 February 1921, Wednesday, with this headline: "Funeral Of Last Oklahoma Bandit Held Tomorrow."

Henry Starr, fearless but criminal without hope of reform, would be lowered into his grave on that Thursday, 24 February 1921.

Muskogee, Okla., Feb. 23 (1921) -- The funeral of Henry Starr, last of the old time Indian Territory outlaws, who died the afternoon of 22 February 1921, at Harrison, Arkansas, from the effects of a bullet wound sustained in a raid on the People's National Bank in that city last Friday, would be held at Dewey the afternoon of 24 February 1921, at three o'clock. The body would be interred beside his child, who died in infancy.

The services would be conducted by a Methodist minister in accordance with a wish of Starr's aged mother who was at his bedside, when the end came.

Starr's first wife, Mrs. Olive Starr, of this city, his cousin, Mrs. Mae Rowe, also of this city, and Mrs. Nan Benge of Fort Gibson, his sister, left for Dewey, 23 February 1921 to attend the funeral.

Roosevelt Starr, son of the bandit by if first wife, was with his father at his death.

Relatives said that the presence of the son did much to sustain Starr following the shooting.

Although long separated from the lad, Starr always expressed an extreme fondness for Roosevelt, 19 year old senior high school student.

"Try to make a useful man," Starr telegraphed the lad from Harrison, following the shooting. "I am sorry for the stain I have placed on your name. Be good." the telegram ran.

"Dad, brace up," the boy telegraphed back.

Good Night! Good Luck! Woof! Woof!
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