By early 1898, Hart was in the town of Mammoth, Arizona.
Some reports indicate she was working as a cook in a boardinghouse.
Others indicate she was operating a tent brothel near the local mine, even employing a second lady for a time.
While doing well for a time, her financial outlook took a downturn after the mine closed.
About this time Hart attested to receiving a message asking her to return home to her seriously ill mother.

 
Looking to raise money, Hart and an acquaintance known only as "Joe Boot" (likely an alias) worked an old mining claim he owned, but found no gold in the claim.

The pair decided to rob a stagecoach that traveled between Globe and Florence, Arizona.

The robbery occurred on May 30, 1899, at a watering point near Cane Springs Canyon, about 30 miles southeast of Globe.
Hart had cut her hair short and dressed in men's clothing.
Hart was armed with a .38 revolver while Boot had a Colt .45.
One of the last stagecoach routes still operating in the territory, the run had not been robbed in several years and thus the coach did not have a shotgun messenger.
The pair stopped the coach and Boot held a gun on the robbery victims while Hart took $431.20 (equivalent to $13,252 in 2019) and two firearms from the passengers.
After returning $1 to each passenger, she then took the driver's revolver.
After the robbers had galloped away on their horses, the driver unhitched one of the horses and headed back to town to alert the sheriff.

Accounts of the next few days vary.
According to Hart, the pair took a circuitous route designed to lose anyone who followed while they made their future plans.
Others claim the pair became lost and wandered in circles.
Regardless, a posse led by Sheriff Truman of Pinal County caught up with the pair on June 5, 1899.
Finding both of them asleep, Sheriff Truman reported that Boot surrendered quietly while Hart fought to avoid capture.
By early 1898, Hart was in the town of Mammoth, Arizona. Some reports indicate she was working as a cook in a boardinghouse. Others indicate she was operating a tent brothel near the local mine, even employing a second lady for a time. While doing well for a time, her financial outlook took a downturn after the mine closed. About this time Hart attested to receiving a message asking her to return home to her seriously ill mother.
 
Looking to raise money, Hart and an acquaintance known only as "Joe Boot" (likely an alias) worked an old mining claim he owned, but found no gold in the claim. 
The pair decided to rob a stagecoach that traveled between Globe and Florence, Arizona.
The robbery occurred on May 30, 1899, at a watering point near Cane Springs Canyon, about 30 miles southeast of Globe. Hart had cut her hair short and dressed in men's clothing. Hart was armed with a .38 revolver while Boot had a Colt .45. One of the last stagecoach routes still operating in the territory, the run had not been robbed in several years and thus the coach did not have a shotgun messenger. The pair stopped the coach and Boot held a gun on the robbery victims while Hart took $431.20 (equivalent to $13,252 in 2019) and two firearms from the passengers. After returning $1 to each passenger, she then took the driver's revolver. After the robbers had galloped away on their horses, the driver unhitched one of the horses and headed back to town to alert the sheriff.
Accounts of the next few days vary. According to Hart, the pair took a circuitous route designed to lose anyone who followed while they made their future plans. Others claim the pair became lost and wandered in circles. Regardless, a posse led by Sheriff Truman of Pinal County caught up with the pair on June 5, 1899. Finding both of them asleep, Sheriff Truman reported that Boot surrendered quietly while Hart fought to avoid capture.
Pearl Hart