Pearl Hart

Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent Part 1 of a 5 part series. This part is about Pearl's early life and how she became a stage robber.
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Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent
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Brett and Pearl Hart moved about the Ontario countryside for several years, Brett plying his trade and both experiencing the financial ups and downs of the gambling profession.
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While Brett failed in his quest for financial security for his family, Pearl was more successful in her quest for entertainment spending her days among the performers of the Wild West Show.
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When the Exposition ended Pearl parted from Brett, intent on seeing the old west for herself.
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Pearl left Chicago for Trinidad, Colorado and, it was rumored, her ticket had been bought by one of the show's cowhands who had taken a fancy to her figure. At Trinidad Pearl gave birth to a boy, whose father was never identified. The Arizona Star later described her life at that time, "She wrestled with the world in a catch-as-catch-can style making a living for herself and her baby son." Soon, however, she sent the boy to be raised by her mother and she continued her travels westward working her way from mining camp to mining camp, taking whatever job presented itself. During these years she worked mostly as a cook or a house maid. In 1895 Pearl and Brett met by chance at Phoenix and soon were together again.
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This time the relationship lasted several years and Pearl gave birth to a second child, a girl they named Pearl. However, during their separation Brett had developed violent tendencies and after a heated argument he beat Pearl, then quickly absented himself to join the army. Pearl sent her daughter to Canada for her mother to raise and resumed her camp following. In the spring of 1898 she took a job at the Mammoth Mining Camp. There she met Joe Boot, a miner, and a close friendship developed. When Joe announced that he was leaving for Globe to start a new job, Pearl agreed to go with him. In late summer of 1898 Pearl received a letter from her brother asking for money for her ailing mother. Pearl, who adored her mother, sent all her savings.
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But Pearl suspected she would soon need more money.
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Finally the dreaded third request came, and Pearl was frantic. She needed money to send to her mother, but had none.
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Pearl was finally convinced, and they made their plans over a campfire that evening.

Part 1 of Pearl Hart
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Part 2 of Pearl Hart
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Part 3 of Pearl Hart
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Part 4 of Pearl Hart
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Part 5 of Pearl Hart

Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent Part 2 of a 5 part series. This part is about Pearl's early life and how she became a stage robber.
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Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent Pearl Becomes a Desperado - Part 2 of a 5 part series

Pearl Hart and Joe Boot set out before daybreak.
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Pearl had cut her hair to resemble a man's and tucked the ends under her sombrero. She wore a man's gray flannel shirt, levis, and boots as her disguise. In her belt was tucked a well-oiled .38 caliber pistol.
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Pearl, not to be left out, ordered, "Raise ‘em!" Joe covered the driver and told Pearl to search the passengers.
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Pearl then pranced back and forth, trying to seem desperate, but finally gave each man a dollar, "for grub and lodging." She then ordered the passengers back into the stage and sent them on their way. They were new at the game and had not thought to ask for the mail sacks or for the treasure box, an oversight that would later prove to Pearl's benefit. Perhaps the robbers thought that they would not be recognized, and the law would not know who to pursue, but that was not the case. As soon as the stage driver pulled into Florence, Sheriff Truman was told the details. The driver identified the culprits as Joe Boot and Pearl Hart "who the driver recognized despite the fact that she looked like a young man." A posse was formed and the pursuit began.
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Pearl and Joe had not made plans for their escape beyond connecting with the train at Benson.
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Pearl had other notions and fought ferociously. Sheriff Truman later commented of Pearl after she was in jail, "One wouldn't think that she is a very tiger for nerve and for endurance. She looks feminine enough now, in the women's clothes I got for her, and one can see the touch of a tasteful woman's hand in the way she has brightened up her cell. Yet, only a couple of days ago, I had a struggle with her for my life. She would have killed me in my tracks could she had got to her pistol ... ." Pearl and Joe were taken to the Florence jail but Pearl was soon transferred to the jail at Tucson, a wing of the county courthouse. Pearl and Joe were taken to the Florence jail but Pearl was soon transferred to the jail at Tucson, a wing of the county courthouse.
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Part 1 of Pearl Hart
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Part 2 of Pearl Hart
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Part 3 of Pearl Hart
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Part 4 of Pearl Hart
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Part 5 of Pearl Hart

Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road AgentPart 2 of a 5 part series.This part is about Pearl's early life and how she became a stage robber.
...
Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road AgentPearl Becomes a Desperado- Part 2 of a 5 part series

Pearl Hart and Joe Boot set out before daybreak.
...
Pearl had cut her hair to resemble a man's and tucked the ends under her sombrero.She wore a man's gray flannel shirt, levis, and boots as her disguise.In her belt was tucked a well-oiled .38 caliber pistol.
...
Pearl, not to be left out, ordered, "Raise ‘em!"Joe covered the driver and told Pearl to search the passengers.
...
Pearl then pranced back and forth, trying to seem desperate, but finally gave each man a dollar, "for grub and lodging."She then ordered the passengers back into the stage and sent them on their way.They were new at the game and had not thought to ask for the mail sacks or for the treasure box, an oversight that would later prove to Pearl's benefit.Perhaps the robbers thought that they would not be recognized, and the law would not know who to pursue, but that was not the case.As soon as the stage driver pulled into Florence, Sheriff Truman was told the details.The driver identified the culprits as Joe Boot and Pearl Hart "who the driver recognized despite the fact that she looked like a young man." A posse was formed and the pursuit began.
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Pearl and Joe had not made plans for their escape beyond connecting with the train at Benson.
...
Pearl had other notions and fought ferociously.Sheriff Truman later commented of Pearl after she was in jail, "One wouldn't think that she is a very tiger for nerve and for endurance.She looks feminine enough now, in the women's clothes I got for her, and one can see the touch of a tasteful woman's hand in the way she has brightened up her cell.Yet, only a couple of days ago, I had a struggle with her for my life.She would have killed me in my tracks could she had got to her pistol ... ."Pearl and Joe were taken to the Florence jail but Pearl was soon transferred to the jail at Tucson, a wing of the county courthouse.Pearl and Joe were taken to the Florence jail but Pearl was soon transferred to the jail at Tucson, a wing of the county courthouse.
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Part 1 of Pearl Hart

R. Michael Wilson writes about Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent, in a 5 part series..
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R. Michael Wilson writes about Pearl Hart - the Only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent, Part 2 of a 5 part series.

R. Michael Wilson writes about Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent, in a 5 part series..
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R. Michael Wilson writes about Pearl Hart - the Only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent, Part 4 of a 5 part series.

R. Michael Wilson writes about Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent, in a 5 part series..

Part 4 of Pearl Hart Pearl & Joe Go To Prison
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Pearl was acquitted on the territorial charge of stage robbery. The Arizona Sentinel reported on November 25, 1899: The recent action of a jury at Florence, Ariz. in promptly acquitting, by a vote of 11 to 1, a female stage robber who had acknowledged her guilt in writing is not likely to do the woman much good, as she was immediately arrested on another [charge]. The action, which will be telegraphed all over the country, is, however, likely to do the reputation of Arizona a considerable amount of injury, as it will confirm many eastern people in the idea that the people of Arizona have a sneaking sympathy for crimes, when it assumes new and picturesque phases. "In these days of woman's rights the question of sex should not be allowed to play any greater part in crime than it is supposed to do in merit and achievement." - L. A. Times On Pearl's re-arrest she was found guilty of robbery and languishes in prison here. The jury that acquitted her on the first charge would set a premium on female vandalism. But there is only one jury like that in Arizona; bandits get their due, be they male or female. Upon acquittal on the charge of stage coach robbery the Judge "roasted" the jury before he dismissed them. He then ordered that Pearl be re-arrested on the charge of robbing the stage driver of his pistol. A jury was immediately empaneled and she was tried, convicted of that crime, and sentenced to five years at the Yuma Territorial Prison. Pearl arrived at the prison on November 17, 1899 and registered as prisoner , 1559. She was described as aged twenty-eight years, five feet three inches in height, one hundred pounds, with grey eyes and black hair. She was reportedly literate, drank alcoholic beverages and smoked tobacco. She also admitted to the use of morphine and claimed no legitimate occupation. Pearl occupied the specially constructed women's quarters in the southwest corner of the prison, a cave-like cell carved into the cliff. The Arizona Graphic described her situation: ... Pearl occupies a cell as large as an ordinary bedroom, which is excavated in the hill side, and she has a "houseyard" in which to take her constitutional whenever she is minded. She is evidently living on the fat of the prison, as there was a pound of butter on the table in her cell the morning I called on her. Several weeks of prison life had relieved physical system of its load of opium, for Pearl was a "hop fiend" of insatiable appetite, but her wicked face is sallow, for she has not been deprived of her cigarettes ... The prison secretary reported that during her incarceration "her record was excellent, and she devoted her entire time while in durance to making lace and fancy work which had a good sale among visitors here." He did not mention that she also wrote poetry, some of which was published. Pearl also aspired to perform on the stage. The Yuma Sun announced in mid-1902: Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Frizzle of Silver City, New Mexico, arrived in Yuma last Wednesday on a visit to Mrs. Frizzle's sister, Pearl Hart, the notorious female stage robber, who is serving a five year sentence in the territorial prison.
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Mrs. Frizzle is an actress and also a playwright, and has written a play entitled "Arizona Bandit" in which Pearl Hart is to play a leading role.
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The play will be put on the stage as soon as Pearl is released from prison, which will be early in 1904.

Part 1 of Pearl Hart
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Part 2 of Pearl Hart
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Part 3 of Pearl Hart
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Part 4 of Pearl Hart
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Part 5 of Pearl Hart

Pearl was acquitted on the territorial charge of stage robbery.The Arizona Sentinel reported on November 25, 1899:The recent action of a jury at Florence, Ariz. in promptly acquitting, by a vote of 11 to 1, a female stage robber who had acknowledged her guilt in writing is not likely to do the woman much good, as she was immediately arrested on another [charge].The action, which will be telegraphed all over the country, is, however, likely to do the reputation of Arizona a considerable amount of injury, as it will confirm many eastern people in the idea that the people of Arizona have a sneaking sympathy for crimes, when it assumes new and picturesque phases."In these days of woman's rights the question of sex should not be allowed to play any greater part in crime than it is supposed to do in merit and achievement."- L. A. Times On Pearl's re-arrest she was found guilty of robbery and languishes in prison here.The jury that acquitted her on the first charge would set a premium on female vandalism.But there is only one jury like that in Arizona; bandits get their due, be they male or female.Upon acquittal on the charge of stage coach robbery the Judge "roasted" the jury before he dismissed them.He then ordered that Pearl be re-arrested on the charge of robbing the stage driver of his pistol.A jury was immediately empaneled and she was tried, convicted of that crime, and sentenced to five years at the Yuma Territorial Prison. Pearl arrived at the prison on November 17, 1899 and registered as prisoner , 1559.She was described as aged twenty-eight years, five feet three inches in height, one hundred pounds, with grey eyes and black hair.She was reportedly literate, drank alcoholic beverages and smoked tobacco.She also admitted to the use of morphine and claimed no legitimate occupation.Pearl occupied the specially constructed women's quarters in the southwest corner of the prison, a cave-like cell carved into the cliff.The Arizona Graphic described her situation:... Pearl occupies a cell as large as an ordinary bedroom, which is excavated in the hill side, and she has a "houseyard" in which to take her constitutional whenever she is minded.She is evidently living on the fat of the prison, as there was a pound of butter on the table in her cell the morning I called on her.Several weeks of prison life had relieved physical system of its load of opium, for Pearl was a "hop fiend" of insatiable appetite, but her wicked face is sallow, for she has not been deprived of her cigarettes ... The prison secretary reported that during her incarceration "her record was excellent, and she devoted her entire time while in durance to making lace and fancy work which had a good sale among visitors here."He did not mention that she also wrote poetry, some of which was published.Pearl also aspired to perform on the stage.The Yuma Sun announced in mid-1902:Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Frizzle of Silver City, New Mexico, arrived in Yuma last Wednesday on a visit to Mrs. Frizzle's sister, Pearl Hart, the notorious female stage robber, who is serving a five year sentence in the territorial prison.
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Mrs. Frizzle is an actress and also a playwright, and has written a play entitled "Arizona Bandit" in which Pearl Hart is to play a leading role.
...
The play will be put on the stage as soon as Pearl is released from prison, which will be early in 1904.

Part 1 of Pearl Hart
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Part 2 of Pearl Hart
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Part 3 of Pearl Hart
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Part 4 of Pearl Hart

Pearl Hart - the Only Gun-wielding Female Road Agent, Pare One of Five Parts, click here.

R. Michael Wilson writes about Pearl Hart - the only Gun-Wielding Female Road Agent, in a 5 part series.