It was good to be back in Oklahoma, changed though it was. Henry had come to expect change—radical change—every time he returned home. Change comes gradually to those who remain at home, and, more often than not, they take it in stride—don’t even notice it creeping up on them. Henry, having spent long periods of time away from home, always saw the changes when he returned, and each time he returned to that place he called home and found it again strange to him, he felt more isolated—estranged from not only society but also the landscape. He was the stranger. No matter where he might go, he would always be a stranger. He had accepted that role as a permanent fixture of his life on this planet, as a part of the hand he had been dealt by a cold and impersonal fate.
He went back to Tulsa, a fugitive from the state of Colorado, bringing the white woman, Laura, with him. They went into Tulsa as man and wife, using the names of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Williamson. Henry enjoyed taking Laura to a Tulsa realtor and being shown houses. He particularly enjoyed the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Williamson finally settled for a modest home two doors down from the home of the sheriff of Tulsa County. It was 1914, and Henry Starr was forty-one years old. He found a publisher, R. D. Gordon, in Tulsa, who was willing to bring out his book. Gordon was unaware of Henry’s life as R. L. Williamson and had no address for Henry. The book was published that same year under the title, Thrilling Events: Life of Henry Starr, Written in the Colorado Penitentiary by Himself. It sold for fifty cents, and it sold fairly well. It was 1914, the year of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and the beginning of World War I. It was the year that William S. Hart starred in his first Western film, The Bargain. And it was the year that, beginning on September 8, in Keystone, Oklahoma, and ending on December 29, in Carney, Kansas, nine banks were robbed, and Henry Starr was said to have robbed them all. He had no job, either as Henry Starr or as R. L. Williamson, and his earnings from Thrilling Events were scant.
It was also an election year in Oklahoma. The governor was named R. L. Williams. Reading the paper in his modest little house, Henry Starr chuckled at the nearness of his assumed name to that of the governor. Then he came across another interesting bit of news.
“Ha,” he said. “Laura. Listen to this. Al Jennings, the old train robber, is a candidate for the office of governor.”
“A train robber,” said Laura, “running for governor? Is he crazy?”
“No,” said Henry, “actually I think he should win the office. He’s a better man than the average politician, for he has at least been open and honest about his stealing.”
“Well,” said Laura.
“And furthermore,” continued Henry, “he has already served his time in prison for his previous crimes, which is more than any of the others can say.”
Henry’s sense of humor often eluded Laura, and this was one of those times. She shrugged and went on about her business, while Henry continued reading the paper.
“It says here,” said Henry, “that the leading candidate is by far the incumbent, Governor R. L. Williams.”
“Huh,” said Laura, who had never before noticed the name, “that sounds almost like you—R. L. Williamson.”
“Yes.”
Henry had lowered the paper. He was deep in thought.
“I wonder what would happen if I, Mr. R. L. Williamson, should file for office. I wonder how many voters might become confused and cast for me by mistake.”
The following morning Henry kissed Laura good-bye, went downtown, and filed for office under his assumed name. He went from there to the train station and caught a train for Webster Groves, Missouri. There he robbed the bank and caught the next train back to Tulsa.
The year 1915 began with the incumbent having been elected for another term as governor of the state. Henry’s game had, indeed, drawn some votes away from the governor, but not enough to cost him the election. The year also began with a new string of bank robberies, all attributed to Henry Starr. In January alone, the banks were robbed in Preston, Owasso, Terlton, Garber, and Vera. Governor Williams authorized a thousand-dollar reward for the capture of Henry Starr—dead or alive. Henry wrote a letter to the governor.