Pearl Hart - Exceptionally Large Photograph

Photograph

Publication: ND, NP

11.75" x 9.125." Unknown photographer. In pencil on verso, "Pearl Hart after her capture by Sheriff William Truman's Posse." Born in Ontario, Canada in 1871, Pearl Hart eloped at 16, but the marriage didn't last. She arrived in Phoenix in 1892 with a tinhorn gambler and dancehall musician named Dan Bandman. When he left for the Spanish American War, Pearl moved to Globe, AZ and took up with Joe Boot. On May 29, 1899 they held-up a stagecoach on the run between Globe and Florence, taking $421 from 3 passengers and gave back $1.00 to each for something to eat. Sheriff William E. Truman of Pinal County, AZ and his posse trailed the bandits and on June 4 arrested the pair 20 miles north of Benson. While Joe Boot was jailed in Florence, due to a lack of accommodations for a woman, Pearl was taken to Tucson, from which jail, with some male help, she promptly escaped. Ex-US Deputy Marshal George Scarborough recognized Pearl in Deming, NM and returned her to Tucson. Tried in Florence, Boot got 30 years and Pearl got 5 years. Pearl Hart, the only woman at the Yuma Prison became pregnant, and to spare the territory embarrassment Governor Alexander O. Brodie pardoned Pearl on December 19, 1902. Said by some to have joined the Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit, and by others to have toured briefly with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. She is believed to have married Calvin Bywater of Dripping Springs Ranch at Cane Springs between Globe and Florence where she lived the rest of her life and died in 1955. Some minor edgewear including a 1/2" closed tear at bottom edge, else in very good condition. Very scarce image of this well-known female bandit/outlaw.

Inventory Number: 45848