Parker eschewed the circus atmosphere that surrounded hangings. On execution days, he generally stayed away from the courthouse. Parker had at his disposal more than 200 deputy United States Marshals‐‐an unheard‐of number for a one judge court. Their job was rid Indian Territory of crime. Among the deputies who served with Parker's court were Bass Reeves, said to be the Qirst African‐American to become a deputy U.S. Marshal. One of the more colorful defendants to come before Judge Parker was the notorious Belle Starr. She was tried for horse theft, a long with her husband Sam Starr, and sentenced by Parker to nine months in prison. Parker handed down more death sentences than any other s i n g l e d i s t r i c t j u d g e i n history.
Above - Bass Reeves Left - Belle Starr
JUDGE LYNCH AND HIS POSTCARDS FROM HELL There was another "hanging judge" who stalked the Old West; he was known as Judge Lynch. Commissioned by fear and credentialed by prejudice, Judge Lynch took many more lives than Judge Parker, with the explicit support of communities from Denver to San Francisco. Often, out of either cowardice or complicity, legitimate lawmen stood aside and allow their prisoners to be taken from them by mobs. According to the Tuskegee University archives, the following table shows the number of 28 Shades MAGAZINE | Out West 2011