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Shot Pony Starr on Durant Street
The Hugo Husonian-5/23/1912

Famous Feudist was unarmed but, captured assailant and turned his over to policeman.
Starr Had Been Followed From Muskogee And Was Assailed on Streets of Durant Thursday Evening.

     Pony Starr, who recently came here from Porum and settled on a place East of this city, came near losing his life at Durant Thursday evening at 7 O’Clock.
     Mr. Starr had been to Muskogee and was en-route to his home in this county. He ate his supper at the hotel, and left for a walk, leaving his revolver in the valise at the hostelry. He walked down to the wholesale house of the Hale-Halsell Grocery Company, when he was assailed by Bill Works, one of the Muskogee county feudist who opposed the Starr-Davis feudist. Works discharged his pistol once, when Starr closed in on him, taking the gun away from Works and turning it over to the Durant officer, who had been attracted by the shooting and struggle.
     When Starr arrived at the hotel, he found that the bullet fired by Works had hit him in the calf of the right leg. His wounds were attended to by a Durant Physician, and Mr. Starr came to Hugo on the night train. The much-shot-at- Starr was able to go about on the streets although compelled to use crutches.
     Bill Works was placed in jail at Durant, where he will be given a trial, and as Bryan county does not recognize feudist etiquette, it is surmised that the way for him may prove somewhat troublesome.
     It will be remembered that Pony Starr came to Choctaw County from Muskogee County not long ago, having secured a ranch here. He drove his horses and some cattle through from near Porum. The man who had figured in a dozen pitched battles in the vicinity of Porum wanted to be done forever with the struggle and sought peace away from those with whom he had been practically at war for a number of years. He announced on his arrival here that so far as he was concerned, that he had no further war to wage, and that his only desire was to live away from the scenes of his trials and feuds.
     He had gone to Muskogee County on business and was hastening away and was evidently followed from Muskogee by Works. At Muskogee the Jack Davis trial was being finished, the jury failing to agree in the suit of the state against Davis for killing a man on the streets of Muskogee. Feud spirit is now higher in Muskogee County between the old crowds that ever before, and the scenes of his trials and feuds, and Starr, who is charged with having been the straightest shot and most fearless man of his clan, was evidently marked for slaughter. The fact that Starr had left his gun in the hotel is the best evidence that he was  (unreadable).

transcribed & contributed by Doris Dykes