Hanging Judge

Substance: A young man is introduced to the heart-break of bringing justice to the Old West, applying the law to friend and foe alike, and overcomes his own unthinking bigotry and prejudices (the author's deliberate intent, of course). Villains are villains and good guys are good guys, despite the complexity of the situations.
Style: Literate Western style. The language is decidedly not PC, but is required to get across the author's main point, which is to combat stereotyped prejudice. (This is where the PC-enforcers miss the boat, of course, applying their own stereotyped bigotry regardless of the context).
NOTES:
p.v-vi - Judge Isaac C. Parker is real; although known as the "hanging judge" from his propensity to apply the death penalty show more in gallows "spectaculars", he only hanged 79 persons out of 160 condemned out of 344 capital cases out of over 9000 defendants. "They were a desperate lot, and the times called for desperate measures." For perspective, 65 of his deputies were killed in the line of duty.
p. vii - "To the end, the judge maintained that public sympathy was too often misplaced. "Sympathy should not be reserved for the criminal," he declared. "I believe in standing on the right side of the innocent, quiet, peaceful, law-abiding citizen. Is there no sympathy for him?" "
p. p. 52 - After throwing in their lot with a family that once tried to kill them, experienced deputy Sam Dark and green-horn Justin Moffit retire to the barn to sleep.
Justin is suspicious, and wants to keep watches. Sam replies,
"When these people decide to fight us again they'll do it in broad daylight and facin' us. Better get yourself some rest."
** Firefly fans, take note.** show less

Elmer Kelton's style of writing closely emulates that of Louis L'Amour but instead of romanticizing the west, Kelton infuses his stories with the solidity of real places and historical characters.

This story, however, differs significantly from previous books by the same author which I have read. The historical figure in question, Judge Parker, stays largely in the background. Instead, the story focuses on Justin Moffit, a young man who feels he has a personal debt to discharge to society. In many ways, it's a coming-of-age story as Justin learns the value of oaths and friendships and that the law in order to be effective must truly be blind with regard to those relationships between the lawman and those who break the law.

The book's show more ending leaves the reader unsatisfied, however, with a feeling that nothing has been resolved. A lot of questions are left unanswered and the manner in which Justin deals with the final situation seems out of character for him. show less