Hanging Judge

The eponymous Judge is a real life historical figure ,Isaac Parker ,whose vigorous pursuit and punishment of malefactors while on the Federal Bench at Fort Smith ,on the cusp of Indian Territory ,from 1875 onwards earned him that soubriquet ,and the disapprobation of the more Liberal Eastern newspapers .He had frequent recourse to the rope ,often via mass executions and his methods were highly regarded by the locals ,if not by the Eastern establishment .He is shown in the novel as a decent man marked by an unswerving dedication to the law and its upkeep. He is a key figure in the book but not its main character. The book opens on a hanging -that of a mixed race (part white part Indian)youth Barney Tankard who while drunk om illicit whiskey had killed a man .The whiskey has been sold to him by Harvey Oates who has built up a substantial business by illegally selling liquor to Indians but whom the law can never quite catch in the act .Sam Dark the Marshall who brought him to book is sickened and guilt ridden at his death .When the vengeful Tankard family confront him he is rescued by the timely arrival of Justin Moffittt who wants to become a Marshall too and is taken on ,Sam acting as his mentor.Enlisting the aid of the Tankard family Sam goes after Oates and seeks to bring him to justice . The story from then on mixes the pursuit of Oates with the maturation of Justin ,from a deep suspicion of Indians to an acceptance ,and to a realisation that devotion to the law may run contrary to personal feelings and friendships.The action scenes are plentiful and vividly described but it is the personal journey of Justsin and Sam that gives this book its edge and bite The ending is powerful and bleak and the book is a must for Western lovers and will be enjoyed by broad minded readers who do not normally explore that fictional terrain

the book is more of a young man maturing and an old sheriff guiding than a judge making men swing. still a good story.