Pearl Hart and the Globe Florence stage robbery of 1899

In Late May 1899, two armed robbers stopped the Globe-Florence stage in Kane Springs Canyon. One was Pearl Hart, a former Phoenix resident who had recently been living in Globe. The other was a man whose name was not yet known to the newspapers. He later became known as Joe Boot.

The Globe-Florence stage connected the mining town of Globe with Florence and communities along the route. The robbery occurred near Riverside, on the road between the two towns. One early report placed the holdup in Kane Springs Canyon. Another located it about four miles from Riverside.

The driver was Henry Bacon. One of the passengers was O. J. Nell. The available early reports do not provide a complete passenger list or a detailed description of how the stage was stopped. They agree that Hart and her companion were armed and that the passengers surrendered their money and weapons.

The robbers took almost $400 from the passengers, several firearms, and a gold watch belonging to Nell. Bacon was also forced to surrender his gun. The firearms taken from Bacon and the passengers were divided between Hart and her companion. The reports reviewed for this account did not state that anyone was injured during the robbery.

The Robbers Described

Hart’s participation was not immediately certain. One newspaper reported that the passengers suspected one of the robbers was a woman. Her identity was confirmed after the arrests, although the paper said she did not closely match the description given by the passengers immediately after the holdup.

The newspaper described Hart as about five feet seven inches tall, with long dark hair and black eyes. It described her companion as tall, stooped, and awkward, with a weak face. The reporter added that he did not resemble the expected image of a stage robber.

Later versions of the robbery state that Hart cut her hair, wore men’s clothing, carried a .38-caliber revolver, and returned one dollar to each passenger. Those details do not appear in the early reports reviewed for this story. The early accounts describe the amount taken as almost $400 and specifically identify Nell’s gold watch and the firearms taken from Bacon and the passengers. They do not state that any money was returned.

Hart’s Account of the Robbery

After her arrest, Hart reportedly said that the robbery had been her idea. She told officers that she had been living in Globe with a man who had once worked as a musician in Phoenix. According to Hart, that man took all her savings.

Hart also said that she had received a telegram from her mother in Toledo, Ohio. Her mother was ill, needed assistance, and wanted Hart to return home. Hart claimed that she needed money immediately and could think of no quicker way to obtain it than by robbing a stage.

She discussed the plan with the man who became her accomplice. The newspaper reported that he also wanted money quickly, and the two had no difficulty forming the partnership.

This account was given by Hart after her arrest. The newspapers reported her explanation, but the claims about the musician, the missing savings, and her mother’s telegram were Hart’s statements rather than independently established facts.

The Date in the Record

Many later accounts date the robbery to May 30, 1899. The early newspaper reports reviewed for this story describe it as occurring on a Monday. May 30 fell on a Tuesday that year; Monday was May 29. The surviving reports therefore leave a one-day conflict between the early newspaper wording and the date commonly used in later histories.

The Posse Takes the Trail

Hart and her companion left the robbery scene on foot. They carried the stolen money, Nell’s watch, and the firearms taken from the stage.

Sheriff William Charles Truman of Pinal County organized a posse. The officers found the robbers’ trail leading away from Kane Springs Canyon and followed it south.

Research Notes

Purpose of these notes. The notes separate information contained in the early newspaper reports from details added in later accounts. They are for research and editing and are not part of the published story.

Contemporary Newspaper Material

The Woman Bandit. This account identifies Pearl Hart as a former Phoenix resident, names driver Henry Bacon and passenger O. J. Nell, places the amount taken at almost $400, identifies Nell’s gold watch, and states that firearms were taken from Bacon and the passengers. It describes Hart and her companion and reports Hart’s explanation for planning the robbery.

Captured. This account places the robbery in Kane Springs Canyon and states that the robbers traveled on foot. It says Sheriff Truman and his posse had little trouble keeping their trail. Portions of the report were attributed to the Phoenix Republican.

Details Supported by the Early Reports

• The Globe-Florence stage was held up by two armed robbers near Riverside and in the area identified as Kane Springs Canyon.
• Pearl Hart was one of the robbers. The early reports did not give the man’s name.
• Henry Bacon was the driver, and O. J. Nell was one of the passengers.
• Almost $400, Nell’s gold watch, and several firearms were taken.
• The firearms taken from the driver and passengers were divided between the two robbers.
• The reviewed reports do not describe anyone being wounded during the holdup.
• Hart and her companion left the scene on foot.
• Hart reportedly admitted that she proposed the robbery, but her explanation for doing so came from Hart herself.

Conflicts and Unverified Details

• Date: Later histories commonly use May 30, 1899. The early reports call the robbery a Monday; May 29 was Monday and May 30 was Tuesday.
• Place name: The early clipping prints Kane Springs Canyon. Later accounts commonly use Cane Springs Canyon or Cane Spring Canyon.
• Exact location: One report says the robbery occurred four miles ‘this side of Riverside.’ The newspaper title and place of publication are needed before that directional wording can be interpreted safely.
• Amount taken: The early accounts say almost $400. Later versions give $421 or $431.20. The precise amount has not been established by the supplied reports.
• Returned money: The claim that Hart returned one dollar to each passenger does not appear in the supplied early accounts.
• Clothing and hair: The supplied reports do not say Hart dressed as a man or cut her hair. One describes her as having long dark hair.
• Weapons: The early reports confirm that firearms were used and stolen, but do not identify Hart’s weapon as a .38 or her companion’s as a Colt .45.
• Sheriff’s initials: One clipping prints W. C. Truman and another W. E. Truman. The Pinal County sheriff was William Charles Truman; W. E. is an error.

Further Records to Locate

The earliest contemporary source for the returned-dollar story, men’s clothing, cut hair, weapon calibers, and exact amount of money taken.

The newspaper title, issue date, and page number for each supplied clipping.

The original Phoenix Republican report quoted or reprinted by other Arizona newspapers.

A passenger list or stage-company record identifying everyone aboard the coach.

Sheriff Truman’s report, Pinal County court papers, or testimony describing the robbery scene and pursuit.