Love, Outlaws, and a Killer Christmas Party

Belle Starr grew up in the chaos of the Civil War. Classically educated and trained to shoot and ride, she became an anomaly among the ruffians she surrounded herself with in Indian Territory. As her star rose and she yearned for the straight life, a Christmas party proved a turning point for both good and ill. Recommended reading: “Belle Starr and Her Times: The Literature, the Facts, and the Legends” by Glenn Shirley Cited sources: Newspaper clipping report - https://www.newspapers.com/image/77251106/?clipping_id=32216357&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjc3MjUxMTA2LCJpYXQiOjE3MDIzMTg4MTgsImV4cCI6MTcwMjQwNTIxOH0.snld09q1L4ocfggmNshGpe873AF-_Ut2EafyQULXQfM Belle Starr bio - https://www.biography.com/crime/belle-starr Belle bio - https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=ST018 Belle bio - https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/belle-starr-2406/ Belle bio - https://www.nps.gov/fosm/learn/historyculture/belle-starr-a-black-widow.htm  Belle - https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/bill-caldwell-belle-starrs-exploits-were-legendary/article_d3d94b3a-563e-575d-ac55-e097cb4782fe.html Article on Belle’s life - https://texashighways.com/culture/people/when-belle-starr-married-outlaw-jim-reed-her-legend-as-the-female-jesse-james-began/ Brief Frank West info - https://www.odmp.org/officer/14019-police-officer-frank-west Frank West - https://lawmen.genealogyvillage.com/lawmen/westfamily.htm  Sam Starr bio - https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Starr-1135  ​​Sam and Belle - http://thejamesscrolls.blogspot.com/2013/08/sam-and-belle-starr.html Sam and Belle - https://www.titchenal.com/Cherokee/chapter3/page09.html Quantrill’s Raiders - https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=QU002 Bruce Younger marriage - https://www.nps.gov/fosm/learn/historyculture/belle-starr-a-black-widow.htm Belle story - https://www.historynet.com/belle-starr/?f