Did you know on May 30, 1899, “amateur bandit” Pearl Hart and her boyfriend, Joe Boot, held up a stagecoach in Arizona? Pearl was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1871. Married a short time later, at 16, Pearl found domestic bliss was not her marital encounter. Instead of struggling through a very abusive relationship, Pearl decides to leave the relationship and goes on to perform on stage and has a couple of relationships before meeting Joe. Joe Boot was a German vagabond. The couple finds themselves in dire straights, and the only course of action they deem suitable is robbing a stagecoach. The couple robs the three passengers of $421! Pearl finds pity on the passengers and gives them $1 to buy something to eat. A bandit with a hart?
Neither bandit is considered to be the most graceful or successful armed robber, finding themselves in cuffs only a short time later. The bandits were both sentenced to prison time. Joe received 30 years, and, a short time later, while working in the fields, walked off to never be seen again. Pearl was sentenced to five years and became pregnant shortly after her sentence. Rather than suffer the disgrace, the Mayor gives her a full pardon. Little of Pearl’s life is known after her incarceration. It is said she married a wealthy rancher and settled into marital bliss. Anyone who knew her said she was kind and softhearted.
“History Mysteries” historical explorations & “Chasing My Sparkle” are the intellectual property and creative inspiration of Lynn Marie Allen
Forest of Words 