Apparent Danger: The Pastor of America's First Megachurch and the Texas Murder Trial of the Decade in the 1920s

by David R. Stokes

This book is now available in paperback and e-book format.

Genres: History, True Crime, Nonfiction, Biography, American History, Crime, Religion

393 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 2010

About the author

Though creating compelling copy has always been a part of his work as a minister and broadcaster, it wasn’t until David R. Stokes moved into his fifties that he got serious about writing books. Since then, he has written several highly regarded works of fiction and nonfiction, as well as three screenplays.

His first book, THE SHOOTING SALVATIONIST: J. Frank Norris and the Murder Trial that Captivated America (Steerforth/Penguin/Random House, 2011), a narrative non-fiction thriller set in the 1920s, quickly became a national true crime best-seller. BOOKLIST, in a starred review, said: “The book is engagingly written, in an immediate, you-are-there style, and the story is as compelling and surprising as any Grisham thriller. Top of the line.”

His next book was an espionage novel. CAMELOT’S COUSIN: The Spy Who Betrayed Kennedy now has more than 300 enthusiastic Amazon customer reviews. David has also written a screenplay adaptation, and the story has been optioned in Hollywood. He has also written a sequel—it’s called NOVEMBER SURPRISE.

Two of his books are “based on a true story” novels. JACK & DICK: When Kennedy Met Nixon describes the very first Kennedy-Nixon debate which took place in 1947, thirteen years before the two men ran against each other for the presidency in 1960. David brings this long-overlooked story to life and recreates a fascinating conversation between the two future presidents that took place on an over-night train ride back to Washington, DC.

JAKE & CLARA: Scandal, Politics, Hollywood, and Murder, is a dramatized, but factual account of a fascinating story that captivated American in 1921. A wealthy oil man who bankrolled much of Warren Harding’s successful run for the White House, was shot and killed by his mistress before Harding could reward him with high office.

David’s flair for historical detail and accuracy evident in both his nonfiction and fiction reflects his life long passion for stories from the past. Most of the books in his personal library of more than 7,000 volumes deal with international, political, and military history.

David first began working in radio during college days in the mid-1970s. Since those days, he has had his own national XM satellite radio talk show and is a regular guest-host for talk shows in across the country. Over the years he has interviewed hundreds of political leaders, authors, media personalities, historians, and business leaders. In addition, he has done voice over work, including projects for a Smithsonian affiliate and a presidential library. Political commentator Bob Beckel says: “Here’s a preacher who can range from ancient history, to political history, to current events with ease.”

An ordained minister for nearly 40 years, he has led congregations in Texas, Ohio, Illinois, and New York. Since 1998, David has served as Senior Pastor of Expectation Church in Fairfax, Virginia. In conjunction with his ministry work, he has written several books related to issues of faith and inspiration. For information about these resources, please visit the ministry website.

David has been married to his wife Karen for more than 40 years, and they have three wonderful daughters and seven incredible grandchildren.

Reviews

[Bob Hayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. Frank Norris may be the most influential fundamentalist leader that almost no one has heard about. In his day, he was a shoe-in to lead the fundamentalist movement after the passing of the great William Jennings Bryan of Scopes Trial fame. Norris was the fiery, fundamentalist pastor of Fort Worth’s largest church. He boasted the largest Sunday School in the world and had his own newspaper and radio station. His flamboyant preaching style and knack for publicity stunts and marketing, were being emulated by countless fundamentalist pastors around the country.

It was the 1920s and the fundamentalist movement was nearly at its peak. J. Frank Norris was already one of the most influential leaders in Evangelical Christianity as a whole. But then something happened in July, 1926, which would change everything. Norris shot an unarmed man in his church office, and that story rocked the country.

The events leading up to this incident, and the incredible murder trial which followed, are the focus of a new book by David R. Stokes, published by Steerforth Press and distributed by Random House. Stokes tells the J. Frank Norris story of his upbringing in a small Texas town, his education and early ministry. He tells the story of Norris’ time as pastor of First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, and his separation from the Southern Baptist denomination.

Stokes tells more than just Norris’ story, he tells the story of early Fort Worth and its leading citizens: mayor H.C. Meacham, newspaper mogul Amon G. Carter, and the unfortunate Dexter Chipps, who perished in Norris’ office that summer day in 1926. He describes the waning influence of the Ku Klux Klan, whose local leader was an influential member in Norris’ church. Stokes also surveys Texas Politics of the 1920s and the big influence J. Frank Norris held through his radio station and newspaper. The story of fundamentalism and the Scopes Trial is also explored, as he sets the table for the fast-paced and moving account of the murder trial of J. Frank Norris.

Stokes tells this story in the words of the newspapers, and personal remembrances of the day. One can tell he spent countless hours pouring over microfiche and personal correspondence in preparation for this book. The tale reads like a legal thriller, yet everything is true to life. Sometimes, it seems, life is stranger than fiction.

Ultimately acquitted, Norris lost the battle of public opinion. And his influence in Christianity and fundamentalism, began to decline. Norris’ years after the murder trial are only briefly recounted, as the book focuses more on the murder trial itself.

I found Stokes’ treatment of this charged story to be evenhanded and fair. Stokes, a minister himself, shows no favoritism for Norris’ side of the story, nor does he partake in fundamentalist-bashing, although this story would certainly afford the perfect opportunity to cast stones. He doesn’t step up and comment on what he thinks really happened or opine on how horrid Norris’ pastoral example was. Instead he captures the spirit of the man J. Frank Norris, and presents us with the facts as revealed in the trial.

What exactly happened in Norris’ office that day in 1926? We may never know. But the story of J. Frank Norris’ murder trial has had far-reaching impact. His acquittal allowed him to continue to influence the next generation of fundamentalist leaders, and yet the trial certainly tarnished the image of fundamentalist Christianity.

As one who was raised a fundamentalist of Norris’ ilk, who has been in churches founded by Temple Baptist Church of Detroit, which Norris pastored for a time (while at the same time still pastoring in Fort Worth), the tale of Norris is cautionary. His ideals were very man-centered and the emphasis in his ministry was on self-promotion and effort. Norris achieved the notoriety he desired, and even influenced many to follow Jesus Christ. But one has to wonder if the methods he used, while perhaps not murderous, have nevertheless afflicted fundamentalism with a deadly case of man-centered mania. Men like Jack Hyles and even Bob Jones, Sr. took pages from Norris’ book as they lead their ministries in an egotistical fashion prizing loyalty from their followers, and advancing the cause through self-promotion and human-centered means.

Norris offers an example of how not to lead a church. And for fundamentalists today who are in a season of reformation and renewal, this book will prove to be a text-book example of where fundamentalism went wrong. I hope this book achieves a wide circulation, as the sad story it tells may serve to spur on further reformation and reflection by evangelical and fundamentalist Christians everywhere.

Pick up a copy of The Shooting Salvationist: J. Frank Norris and The Murder Trial that Captivated America. You won’t find a more fascinating and captivating true story anywhere.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by SteerForth Press via the Amazon Vine Reviewers program. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

[Greg Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up as an independent fundamental Baptist (IFB) and graduating from an IFB college, I was taught that Dr. J. Frank Norris was a hero. He was one of the founding fathers of (Baptist) fundamentalism. He not only was the pastor of one mega church but two mega churches at the same time! This was before (1930's and 1940's) there were mega churches or "virtual" campuses. In the late 1940's the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth Texas and the Temple Baptist Church of Detroit Michigan had a combined membership of around 25,000! The fact that Norris killed a man only added to his fundamentalist street cred. Both the Bible Baptist Fellowship and the World Baptist Fellowship owe their genesis to Norris.

This is a fascinating book about a sensational murder trial. I will not spoil the book by giving you the jury's decision. The author certainly has his opinion of guilt or innocence. You can decide for yourself if Norris was a murderer or not. What I found more fascinating was the personality and pulpit style of Dr. Norris (yes the "doctorate" was honorary in true IFB fashion). Although the author shows some bias, this was not a pastor to emulate. His un-Christlike and un-biblical manner speaks volumes about a movement who would consider this man a hero.

[David Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I loved WRITING it ;) :)

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book opens with the ending of the Scopes trial and the sudden death of William Jennings Bryan. Apparently the Fundamentalist Christian movement was at its peak in the 1920s. J. Frank Norris was a Baptist pastor and a social activist fighting to “clean up” Fort Worth had helped obtain the services of Bryan to prosecute Scopes. The First Baptists Church of Fort Worth had a huge membership the church could hold 5000 people and was full for every service. Norris also published a Church Fundamentalist newspaper and Radio program which brought in nationwide membership and donations. In late 1926 Dexter Eliot (D.E.) Chips, a divorced Lumberman walks into the Church office. He was there to warn Norris against continuing his attacks on the Fort Worth mayor and his political cronies. What exactly happened in that office is a matter of dispute, but what isn’t in dispute is Norris shot and killed Chipps. The second half of the book in about the famous trial. It was as famous and notorious as some of today’s trials such as Casey Anthony or O. J. Simpson. The author tells a remarkable story filled with religious and political conflict and Stokes does his best to milk it for all its drama. People famous and infamous as well as institution and organization, such as the Ku Klux Klan have faded and disappeared, the modern reader needs a good deal of information to understand what is going on and why it is happening. This kind of back ground is necessary but it stalls the narrative. Stokes is careful to fit the story in its historical, cultural context. He describes the political infighting in the city of Fort Worth and in the State of Texas in the 1920’s. The author used the actual trial transcript and looked at the attorneys strategies; he describes the press coverage of the trial. Norris claims self defense and the State is asking for the death penalty for murder. I will not spoil the ending but you will enjoy the exciting courtroom drama. It is a book that will both keep you reading and teach you something’s you may not have known about the opening decades of the 20th century. I read this as an audio book downloaded for Audible. R. C. Bray did a good job narrating the book.

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been fascinated with John Franklyn Norris since I learned of his victory against Bugsy Siegel and his http://www.topohillterrace.com/ Top O' Hill Terrace in Arlington, Texas! I hoped to learn something about Harry Sinclair whose Sinclair Oil Headquarters were in Fort Worth.
I have been to Billy Sunday territory in Warsaw / Winona Lake, Indiana but had not known of Norris until our move to North Texas.
This was a really eye-opening introduction to many well known characters of that era here in North Texas! I really enjoyed this account of the intriguing controversial activities that led to the incredible trial and its conclusion and results.

[Micki · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the book. i grew up in that church - my mother grew up in that church as well - during the time of J.Frank Norris. My grandma worked in the church office - so it was awesome to read of many of the stories and incidents that occurred while my mother and aunt were growing up and used to talk about. the book was written by someone who didn't really care too much for the pastor, but it very well written. very rich in fort worth history.

[Seth Alcorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. Very helpful for those interested in fundamentalism in the early 20th century. Overall good read.

[Michael Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparent Danger was an interesting tale: part pastoral biography and American church history, part true crime story. Given my familiarity with the locations throughout the story and the general backdrop of American church history at the time, this book fascinated me greatly. I first saw this book recommended by Phil Johnson on his blog some 10 years ago. I found a used copy in like new condition and upon receiving it, noticed it was a signed copy by the author!

The book recounts the murder trial of J. Frank Norris, a prominent conservative Baptist pastor in Fort Worth, TX, who built the first megachurch in the United States, as well as a massive Christian media empire (with newspapers and radio). I appreciate Stokes' attention to detail and all the research that went into writing this book. Without that, the story would not have been told to modern readers. However, while Stokes says in the end matter that he sought to tell the story without any bias, it was apparent throughout the book that the author does not think highly of fundamentalist theology (1920s version: belief in a literal 6 day creation, inerrancy of Scripture, etc.) and Norris' preaching style. Stokes also seems to imply Norris is guilty of murder and/or that self-defense is not a biblical teaching, especially for pastors (based on the news writers and contemporary pastors quotes that he chose to include in the story.)

The actual history of the court case is the best part of the book. From the witnesses statements, it was obvious what the outcome of the case should be based on Texas law. But many were not happy at the time with the jury’s verdict.

Norris was prone to various scandals and appeared to be a rascal himself. His antics from the pulpit at times were ridiculous and his headlines for the purpose of drawing crowds was not in line with Scripture. He foolishly sought battles with local politicians and provoked many enemies. But none of this made the man guilty of the crime he was accused for.

[Tim Chavel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife bought me this book for Valentine's Day. The cover of my book says, "ADVANCE READING COPY NOT FOR SALE," so I might have an unedited copy.

I never knew that J. Frank Norris killed a man until I heard about this book about a year or so ago. J. Frank Norris was a famous pastor in the 1920's -1950's. He had a church in Fort Worth, TX, that had a membership of several thousand people. This was a fasinating read for me. The author, David R. Stokes, is a pastor and an author. He wrote the book from the perspective that J. Frank Norris should be convicted for the killing. The book has some interesting side notes about history from the 20's. One example is the trail and acquittal of Clara Hamon. Clara had shot and killed Jake Hamon, the "Oil King of Oklahoma." Jake was one of the wealthiest men in the West and he also backed the Republican presidential candidate in 1920, Warren G. Harding. Harding planned to reward Hamon with the job of secretary of the interior. Florence was Jake's real wife, Clara was the "other" woman. Clara's last name was not fake. Jake had paid his nephew, Frank, ten thousand dollars to marry Clara so she would have the "Hamon" last name. In order for Jake to take the Secretary of Interior job, Harding required Jake to get back with his real wife. To make a long story short Clara could not bear losing Jake so she shot him.

There are people who agree with Stokes such as Trevin Wax, who writes a great blog about lessons learned from this book. Then there are others who disagree such as Roy Falls who has several youtube viedos about the topic.

If you enjoy history, court cases, or/and religion you will enjoy this book.

[Rebekah Schrepfer · Rating 1 out of 5]

The subtitle of the book is “The Pastor of America's First Megachurch and the Texas Murder Trial of the Decade in the 1920s.” This is a research project by David Stokes about J. Frank Norris and his acquittal for the killing of D.E. Chipps on the grounds of self-defense. Although the book was an interesting read, I couldn't help but feel that I was getting a one-sided view of the facts. Most of the research was taken from newspapers and books about the city of Fort Worth and it's culture and current events of the day. This only proved to me how much a fiery, fundamentalist preacher like Norris stood out and angered the community of unbelievers. Little was reported from the perspective of the congregation or Norris's own family, nor was there a thorough assessment of the southern fundamentalist movement in the 1920s in the same manner that he explored the secular culture of the day. Least helpful to me was Stokes' tendency to bring up any interest the KKK had with Norris, yet he ignored any number of possible explanations not the least of which is the nature of ministry in which pastors find themselves conversing with people of all walks of life. Most helpful to me were the few transcripts of the actual trial which finally gave me some information from both sides of the story, and yet still the defense's testimony wasn't heard until Chapter 41 of the 46 chapters. What really happened is still a mystery to me.

Reviewed at MostlySensible.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an intriguing story. J. Frank Norris was simultaneously the Pastor of First Baptist in Fort Worth, TX and Temple Baptist in Detroit. FBCFW was America's first megachurch. People loved or hated Norris and most biographies of him today either love him or hate him. This is one of the few to aim for some kind of middle ground. The author is a conservative Baptist pastor who nevertheless honestly identifies Norris' faults. (Some certainly will be offended and complain that Stokes is too critical of Norris).

Stokes' focus is on Norris' infamous shooting of Dexter Chips in his church office. Most of Ft. Worth's city leaders were in a war with Norris over moral issues. Dexter Chips was a friend of Mayor Meacham who hated Norris and made threats against him. There are diverse accounts of what exactly happened on July 17, 1926 when Dexter Chips showed up at J. Frank Norris' office. Either Norris truly feared for his life and shot Chips in self defense. Or Norris panicked and shot Chips because he thought he was in imminent danger. Or ??? The trial in Austin acquitted Norris but we will never know exactly what happened. The shooting was however a huge setback for Fundamentalists across the country. It was probably second only to the infamous Scopes Trial in generating bad will toward Fundamentalists.

Norris is a fascinating character in numerous ways and a mini-series is supposedly in development based on this book.

[Christy Trever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparent Danger by David Stokes is a true crime look at the 1920s murder trial of America's first megachurch pastor. J. Frank Norris was a controversial figure in Fort Worth, Texas. The head preacher of First Baptist Church was well known for his courting of trouble and links with the Ku Klux Klan. After fighting with city leaders for more than fifteen years, he shot and killed D.E. Chipps, a lumberman, in his office saying that it was self-defense. His trial created national interest and was filled with countless colorful figures. Stokes tells the story of the tension between Norris and the people of Fort Worth over the course of twenty years, laying the groundwork for the murder and trial to come. He occasionally throws in his opinion on the case making it obvious that he believes in Norris' guilt, however the evidence he gives doesn't prove that guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I wish that Norris had personally interviewed some people associated with the case and included some pictures of the main players. I spent plenty of time on Google Images looking up pictures of the main players. The case is truly fascinating, and Stokes presents the evidence and characters well, but the book suffers for not providing the answer that has lingered for over 80 years: did Norris shoot Chipps in cold blood or self-defense?

[Shaune · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio-book so I can't call it a page-turner:), but it had me riveted.
The author was meticulous in his research but his re-creation of the story using the techniques of a novelist worked really well. You feel like you were there. The main man, Norris, for me is not very likeable but the author explained the events of his child-hood that shaped him. The author gives lots of context explaining about Texas politics in the 20s including the ominous role of the Klu Klux Klan, so that a person totally unfamiliar with this era and history is not shut out of the story.

As far as literary -non fiction goes, it's no "In Cold Blood" but I have a feeling that the author probably took less poetic license then Capote did. It should be noted that this book has been attacked as being biased against Norris. I felt the author was fair to him.

[Frederick · Rating 3 out of 5]

J. Frank Norris was an enigma. He is so revered in some fundamentalist circles that one of the nation's leading Libertarian speakers and writers, Laurence Vance, named his own son after him. It isn't possible to understand any historical figure by only reading books by people who don't like him, which Stokes clearly does not. It might be a reasonable thing to do to read a book by a supporter just to try to get a balanced picture in my mind. This is an okay book but the bias is so obvious it made me feel uncomfortable reading it.

[H.b. Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hard someone mention J. Frank Norris in passing. I looked him up and discovered this book. Very prococative read. A preacher given to sentationalism. A shrewd church growth strategists. A proflic writer and paper editor. A major player in early Fundamentalism. When you add the possibility of Norris being "a cold-blooded murderer," it makes the story that much more compelling. Stokes has well written the story of this J. Frank Norris, the First Baptist CHurch of Fort Worth, and the trial of the decade in the 1920s.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Very slow read. The pastor of the huge Fort Worth church was a very controversial man. And his life and battles with local people eventually ends in him shooting a man and claiming he was in apparent danger. The trial was polarizing and sensational. yet the story was dry and non-sensational for me

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really is fascinating book. Would have rated higher but I felt like at one point I was slogging thru the actual trial due to so much of the court transcripts being included. It would no doubt be a great read for anyone from that area interested in the History of Texas, Fort Worth, early Evangelists etc. I listened to audible.com version.

[Jeri Massi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fundamentalists whitewash the legacy of J Frank Norris. This historical narrative of one chapter in his tumultuous life will remind many of the temper and ego of Jack Hyles. It is also a masterful work of "setting the record straight" about a man who was a religious huckster and a crafty pulpiteer.

[Sara Gerot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great. I couldn't put it down. Not only is Norris a compelling character, but the story of the fundamentalist movement was also riveting. I didn't know any of the story so I learned a lot. It made for a pretty awesome book club discussion. I kept finding parallels to current issues in every chapter. . . Does anything new ever really happen???

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad, but true, sometimes the world sees and hears only what it wants to.

[Pastor Greg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting story. It is an important story. Beyond that, this particular version deserves no more than two stars. It is an account of the shooting by and trial of Pastor J. Frank Norris of First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, written by David Stokes. But it is an account that is skewed as explained below.

One star gone: Because the author injects his personal religious and political views as though they somehow represent the facts and/or are somehow the view that all his readers would agree with him on. Neither is the case. And when an author pretends, as this one does, to be writing from an unbiased position but then infuses his biases throughout the text, that lowers the usefulness and accuracy of the book.

Two stars gone: Because the author takes SIDES against the accused when he inadvertently admits that only the eyewitnesses really know what happened and that there is absolutely no way either side can prove their claims "beyond the shadow of a reasonable doubt", which is why the trial ended with Norris being acquitted.

Three stars gone: Because the author, it seems, could not help himself as he showed his disdain for the main character of the book, J. Frank Norris, with a caricature of the man and not a real, honest portrayal. I have the hard copy and that is bad enough. But be warned that if you listen to the audiobook version, which I also purchased and listened to, the narrator (R.C. Bray) made Norris sound like a bad imitation of Foghorn Leghorn. And if you speed it up to listen at 1.5 to 2.0, he sounds like Jimmy Kimmel's blackface imitation of NBA basketball star Karl Malone.

I am not hiding the review because of "spoilers" since the book is not written to inform you of the justifiable homicide of a Mr. Chips by internationally known (in the early 20th Century) Baptist preacher J. Frank Norris in his office at the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas, building. The reader OUGHT to know that happened before ever picking up the book. This book was supposed to give you an account of the events that ended with Norris being acquitted.

It accomplished that end, but in a way that does a disservice to the quest for honest history

[William Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a true story. I'm a sucker for a true story about a murder trial. I'm a sucker for a historical account set in Texas. This has it all and is full of excellent details that most other accounts miss. This should be a movie.
Anyone with a hint of Southern Baptist knowledge should have at least heard of J. Frank Norris, a prominent fundamentalist voice for nearly half a century.
The murder trial, although compelling and full of drama, is almost shadowed by the excellent story telling of how life was in Texas, particularly in Fort Worth and Austin, in the 1920s.
It's a lengthy read, but I highly recommend it.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

APPARENT DANGER
By David Stokes

Insight into the Fundamentalist Movement in 1920

This non-fiction story about an extremely powerful, charismatic pastor, Frank J. Norris during the early twenties was written by a minister who was so interested in Rev. Norris’ life and the indictment against him for the murder of D. E. Chipps that he collected six thousand pieces of information, from which he wrote this book and prior to this, wrote another one in 2007 under a different title. Frank J. came from extreme poverty with a long-suffering, extremely religious mother and a drunken father. Yet, once when his father was fired upon, Frank stepped between him and the shooter and took three bullets, from which it took him three years to recover. After his father died, his mother and he moved elsewhere and became interested in the ministry because of another minister who took him under his wing.

During the early years of his ministry, as a young man he married and preached. At first he was rather reserved in his sermons, but as time passed, he became a strong Fundamentalist, having met William Jennings Bryan, the lawyer in the “Scopes” trial and Frank became a radical Fundamentalist. He was always ready for a good fight, had a photographic memory, and as time passed he was head of one of the largest Fundamentalist congregations in Fort Worth where he ended up. As time passed, he had a close association with many Ku Klux Klan members who attended or joined his Church, and he fought hard against any type of Catholicism. He used every trick he knew to draw followers and sometimes he deliberately selected subject matter to create enough notoriety that he drew more and more members. He published a newspaper which he sent to even non-subscribers, especially if he was out to destroy someone. If he learned local gossip, he held onto it until it benefitted him to make such gossip public. That is why many feared and hated him.

In time he fought the Mayor and politicians of Fort Worth because it was taxing the property of the church, which wasn’t directly related to devotion or the church proper. As a result he did everything he could to smear Mayor Meacham and O.E. Carr, Fort Worth City Manager. D.E. Chipps was a lumberman and good friend of Mayor Meacham and one day he decided Frank had smeared him enough and ended up in Frank’ office at the Church where he took things into his own hands with a deadly response from Frank. Followed was one of the most famous trials of that time.

This was a well written piece of history of this man, those wild times of the twenties, making it as interesting as a historical novel, although it was written mostly in narrative style. However, I felt it was too long simply because it included too much political history of Fort Worth, which would be necessary for a history student, but not for the general reader. Although I see that some of the other reviews complained of typos and poor punctuation, I found only about three, so it may be that the author republished the e-book at some time. I recommend this book for readers of this particular genre.

[SundayAtDusk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. I got it expecting the various stories in it, such as the shooting and murder trial, to be the most interesting parts of the book, and J. Frank Norris to be the least interesting. As it turned out, nothing in the book was more interesting than J. Frank Norris himself. I had expected to dislike him, considering all that he was and all that he did and all that he was accused of doing. Instead, I felt empathy for him, and even found myself at the end of the book hoping he was not convicted of murder, even though he did shoot and kill an unarmed man.

Why? First, because J. Frank Norris did not seem to me to be motivated by hatred of others. His sermons were rabid anti-Catholic in his early years, but later in life he had an audience with the Pope, and saw the Catholic Church as being one of the strongest deterrents in the world to Communism. He embraced the KKK, but was scheduled to baptized the church's black janitor one Sunday, even though he must have known how the KKK would feel about that. It never happened due to the shooting. Also, at no time in his life was he ever anti-Semitic.

Second, J. Frank Norris actually seemed to me to be in the wrong profession, and that many of his actions seemed at times to be due to being bored being a pastor. He struck me as a man who was never academically or intellectually challenged as much as he should have been. If his childhood had been more affluent and he took a different path in college, one could easily see him going to law school. One could also imagine he could have been a top-notch prosecutor. His crusade against alcohol was not rooted in self-righteousness; it was rooted in a childhood where he was the oldest son of an abusive, alcoholic father. When a reporter once told him about a woman who had fatally shot her drunk husband , and was acquitted in court of all charges, J. Frank Norris replied: "I wish I had been on that jury. Ninety-nine per cent of the women who are in trouble are right. Usually it is some man who is the cause. I think men who beat women deserve any punishment." And after a career in law, one could easily imagine he could have gone into politics--local, state, national or international. Or maybe buy a newspaper. He just seemed more suited to getting jury votes, election votes or readers, than to getting converts.

Finally, when J. Frank Norris pumped three bullets into a very large, very angry intoxicated man who was threatening to kill him, one can easily imagine he flashed back to his childhood. He flashed back to his violent, drunken father. He flashed back to the time when he was 14 and was shot three times, while trying to protect his father. It was two to three years before he fully recovered from being shot. And one can imagine he truly believed he was about to be shot again by a man who appeared to be reaching for a gun. The man had no gun, however, and J. Frank Norris was put on trial. The jury reached a decision in one hour and 14 minutes. I was happy with their verdict, and wondered if Pastor Stokes realized he wrote such an empathetic book about J. Frank Norris.

(Note: I received a free ARC of this book from Amazon Vine.)

[Debbie]

Thus far I found the overwhelming amount of detail paid to trivial information to be rather monotonous. Now that the murder has occurred, it has gotten more interesting as I have read hundreds True Crime books and this began as quite a disappointment. I am doing this book as a book reviewer for no charge as I am trying to gain experience for a paying book review job. I have been an avid reader for 35 years or more and read book reviews (for example Publisher's Weekly and The New York Times book review. Based on writing experience and pursuing a writing and journalism degree in addition to 4 other degrees already complete, I am looking to work from home as I am disabled and need work badly as I await disability benefits that I applied for 3 1/2 years ago. I can obtain work even if I receive these benefits up to a certain amount of pay.

If you know of paying jobs, PLEASE let me know as I am very dedicated, passionate and a quick learner. I have been writing for newsletters, legal articles, local newspapers, journals, magazines and other publications. I run the state for a pain foundation and I write for all genres and am looking forward to working in several areas as I have taken courses in all forms of writing including Technical Writing and I am in the process of writing a Memoir that several reputable publishers are interested in. I have always gotten straight A marks and am currently fortunate to have a mentor, who is a CEO and Founder of a Creative Writing Institute. She gives me free courses and I take many free courses at NewsU. I have applied for financial assistance to take online courses for a degree program and I know that I can excel in such a program.

Any assistance you can offer me would be greatly appreciated and I would appreciate a paying job so I can prove myself as a writer that will make you proud to have been the organization that provided me with this information.

Please email me at debpas@optimum.net with the name and number of a contact person if you can help me or send me information that would pertain to my requests. Also, if you have any other websites or literature or books I can review for Goodreads, I would be very interested.

Thank you very much in advance as my disability was a great disappointment but I plan to overcome it by furthering my education doing something I love and something I can do from home.

Regards,

Debbie Pasnak

[F.C. Etier · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He needed killing." was, as the legend goes, a legal and effective defense in the Deep South for shooting a man.

The "hip pocket move" and the doctrine of "apparent danger", taken together, were the comparable defense in the Wild West Days of Fort Worth, Texas. Fort Worth, in the roaring twenties, was still considered in many ways, to be enjoying the "wild west" ways of days gone by. It was certainly true of their legal system. To that synergistic mix, add Fort Worth's eleventh commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Mess With J. Frank Norris" and it's easy to see how a local pastor with the national celebrity similar to that enjoyed in later years by Michael Jackson or O.J. Simpson could be found guilty in the court of public opinion and acquitted by a jury of his peers.

An old adage in the newspaper business was "Never let the truth interfere with a good story." David Stokes, author of Apparent Danger did not heed that advice, nor did he need to. Another served his needs even better: "The truth is stranger than fiction." With over six thousand pages of notes and twenty years of research, Stokes needed only to assemble the facts and connect the dots. He did an admirable job and readers will be turning pages from one chapter to the next, often with an irresistible cliff-hanger to lead them on. Stokes also takes advantage of previously written articles, quotes, and notes from private conversations so that little speculation is left as to who said what and when they said it. Written in a style that seems like fiction and in the voice of an all-knowing narrator, Stokes charms us with the story-telling skills of a Southern Baptist minister. The author's vocation as both a minister and a radio personality begs the comparison with his subject, "It takes one to know one." and he addresses that convincingly by injecting his own opinions about his subject. He sees Norris as an opportunistic showman who used the pulpit as his vehicle, just the opposite of how Norris's fans viewed him.

Read the complete review here: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/...

[Kaylea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love history and am always intrigued by true crime stories. When the chance to review this book came about, I jumped at it, because it combines history, crime and is set in the local church.

The thought that a pastor shot someone - in his own office - totally blew me away. My friends in Texas joke that they do things "big" in Texas, so why wouldn't the first "mega" church be set in Texas.

At 365 pages, Stokes' book is filled with a variety of details, facts and other things related to Norris' career and trial. At times things got a bit "bogged" down in the depth of the details, but in general this was great book and it kept my interest.

My only complaint - I'm not thrilled with how Stokes documented his sources in the back of his book. Rather than providing footnotes - documenting which quote or fact came from which source, specifically, he chose to simply summarize the sources used in each chapter.

He said he chose to document his facts this way, for the sake of narrative flow. So, in that case, I understand his method. However, several times I found myself wanting to "double check" a quote or two by tracking down the original source. With Stokes' method of documentation, it will be difficult, if not impossible to confirm the sources.

But with that aside, the story is interesting, it keeps your attention and you'll be surprised at times at how faith and social action play out, not in present-day America, but in Fort Worth, Texas in the 1920s.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that I had picked up some years ago for free at BEA. I did not have high hopes going in to it as I am not a big non-fiction fan nor do I find reading about trials entertaining.

But I was pleasantly surprised by this account. Not only had I never heard of this murder trial (so it was a little like fiction because I didn't know the outcome!) but I never even heard the name J. Frank Norris before. I found his character to be fascinating as both a public speaker and master manipulator. The matter of fact handling and light conversational tone stunned me. Did he forget that he just shot someone 4 times? He himself (with only the small aid of a legal team) literally turned his murdering of an un-armed man into a not guilty sentence. There's something to be sai about charisma and J. Frank Norris seems to embody the term.

Kudos to Stokes for keeping a non non-fiction reader on the edge of their seat.

[Wyndy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of this pastor so was very interested in how a man of God could confess to a murder and then be acquitted. The fact that the man was also one of the first Baptist Fundamentalist ministers to have a mega-church was also intriguing. The author has presented the pastor with all his good and bad points along with the reactions of the town members of Fort Worth during the 1920's. Mr. Stokes'obvious grasp of the way the rough and tumble State approached law and justice in those days demonstrates a familiarity with the nuances that only deep study or personal knowledge would accomplish. Although somewhat dry and repetitive in places, the story includes the background, the murder scene, the trial, and the views of the journalists covering the trial in detail. It was a interesting account of a famous Texas trial with a famous personality-cult-like defendant. I gave it 3 stars

[Travis Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long been intrigued by the legend of J. Frank Norris, the first mega-church pastor in American history. David Stokes has thoroughly researched and, has compellingly written about the most sensational time in a life of sensational moments.

The author is definitely biased against Norris, his convictions, and his methods. He views Norris more as a manipulative charlatan than a sincere preacher who was dedicated to righteousness regardless of the cost.

Of course, all of the controversy that Norris created, or at least stirred, and all of the melodrama that he purposely injected into his ministry, from the pulpit and in print, will cause any reasonably minded person to question not just his methods but his motives. Today, just as in his own time, there is little middle ground with J. Frank Norris. He is loathed or loved.