PART IV - Pearl and Joe go to prison
 In early November Pearl and Joe were tried for the stagecoach robbery. Joe plead guilty and was sentenced to thirty years at the Yuma Territorial Prison.  He arrived there on November 11, 1899 and registered as prisoner № 1558.  His record reveals that he was born in Ohio and upon his arrival was described as twenty-eight years of age, five feet four inches tall, one hundred forty-five pounds, brown eyes and black hair.  His previous jobs included sailor and cook.  He could read and write, and did not drink or use drugs excepting tobacco.  Joe worked hard at the prison and gained the confidence of the prison staff.  He was given the job of driving food to the outside work crews.  On February 6, 1901 he drove his loaded cart through the front gate and continued on to freedom.  Joe Boot was never heard of again.
 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.  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 5