Well, that's a provocative title, isn't it?! What could be the connection between the notorious outlaw and the author of this blog. Therein lies a story ...
Belle Starr was born in 1848 and during the Civil War (essential topic of this blog) served the Confederacy by reporting the positions of Union troops. After the war she took up with the Younger and James outlaws and ended up in the courtroom (your author is a lawyer) where "Hanging" Judge Isaac Parker sentenced her for some crime to a Michigan (another essential topic) prison. Which prison? The Detroit House of Correction (not sure how that would have occurred!). The facility opened in 1861 (Civil War era origin) near Eastern Market on Detroit's (author was born there) east side. The "old prison housed some famous felons, including western outlaw Belle Starr and Morman polygamist David Udall." Source of the quote? -- the Plymouth MI District Library (my local library) website, which goes on to say:
(And your author resides in Plymouth Township not more than a couple of miles from the site of the former DeHoCo.)
OK, so if still curious (doubtful!) you might ask how'd this post come about?! Well, when one checks out the Turner Classic Movies website to see what's on tonite and finds Belle Starr (1941) showing at 8 ET, a click on the "article" link takes one to the story and synopsis of the movie to help decide whether to watch and ... in which the Michigan connection is revealed.
See, the Civil War and Michigan have many hidden connections ............