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Myth of the Hanging Tree: Stories of Crime and Punishment in Territorial New Mexico
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Myth of the Hanging Tree: Stories of Crime and Punishment in Territorial New Mexico
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by Robert J. Tórrez
Sales Rank : 204689
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Paperback: 196 pages
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press April 16, 2008
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0826343791
ISBN-13: 978-0826343796
Product Dimensions:
9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
Product Description
The haunting specter of hanging trees holds a powerful sway on the American imagination, conjuring images of rough-and-tumble frontier towns struggling to impose law and order in a land where violence was endemic. In this thoughtful study, former New Mexico State Historian Robert Tórrez examines several fascinating criminal cases that reveal the harsh and often gruesome realities of the role hangings, legal or otherwise, played in the administration of frontier justice.
At first glance, the topic may seem downright morbid, and in a sense it is, but these violent attempts at justice are embedded in our perception of America's western experience. In tracing territorial New Mexico's efforts to enforce law, Tórrez challenges the myths and popular perceptions about hangings and lynching in this corner of the Wild West.
About The Author
Former New Mexico State Historian Robert J. Tórrez resides in Albuquerque.
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