He Hanged Them High A True Account of the Life and Deeds of Isaac C. Parker Sole Judge Over Western Arkansas and the Indian Territory in the days of the Great Frontier

by Homer Croy

I sentence you to be hanged by the neck until you are
DEAD, DEAD, DEAD

Fort Smith in 1875 was the wildest town in the United States. It had a population of 2500 lost souls, thirty saloons doing a booming business, and a red light section that never closed.

Into this hell on the border of the Indian Territory came Isaac C. Parker like the conscience of the Lord — and as a Federal Judge he proceeded to make himself the most efficient legal executioner in American history. Within four months he hod sentenced six men to be hanged, and they were all executed at a public hanging to which 6000 people come. Year after year his dance of death went on. It never ceased. By the time his court was finally dissolved, this fanatical judge had actually hanged eighty-eight men.

This is the authentic story of those rough days in Arkansas — bloodthirsty and brutal—yet still an exciting and true picture of what the frontier of the United States was really like in its turbulent and roaring heyday.

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1952

Reviews

[Bill Hooten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book that I have finished about Judge Isaac Parker, the "hanging judge" for the court of Fort Smith, Arkansas; that was over all of the Indian territory. The first book that I read was "The Law West of Fort Smith" by Glenn Shirley; and the two books were as different as they could be. Shirley's book was written as a more academic exercise, with 6 appendices on the end, a 16 page section of end notes, and an 8 page bibliography. Croy's book was written as if he were telling you a story, and there were places where he referred to himself and offered (what appeared to be) his opinion of an individual or event. Croy's was easier to read, and a little more entertaining. One of the most interesting sections of this book was the 32 page section that was title "Sources." In this section, he tells the how and the where of his research, and the interviews that he conducted. It is not quite an "end note" section, but he does do it in sequential order of the chapters; so that you have an idea of where he got what.

As I mentioned, when reviewing Shirley's book, that Judge Parker, his courthouse, and the law enforcement of the Indian territory have always held particular interest to me -- since I lived in Fort Smith as a child, from 1954 to 1965. The names and places that are mentioned are familiar, ones that I heard while growing up (even attended Parker Elementary School for a couple of years). I have visited the courthouse, and seen the gallows; once when I was about 10 years old, and once about 4 years ago.

One story of interest that Croy told was on pages 91-95. The story begins with these lines: "I interviewed Elias Rector, who give me a vivid description of tumbleweed days as he knew them. Of all the two hundred deputy marshals who had ridden for Parker, he was the only surviving member. He was past ninety. I talked to him at his house, 1455 N. 39th Street, Fort Smith." This book was published in 1952, two years after I was born; and for about five years lived at 1401 N. 38th -- about a block from where the last surviving deputy of Judge Isaac Parker had lived.

I feel really fortunate to have been able to find hardbook copies of these two books on Judge Parker, his court, and the Indian territory. I will cherish them, and recommend that if you get the opportunity to read either one, you do it.