Northern Arizona Genealogical Society
P O Box 695, Prescott, AZ 86302

PARKER, JAMES

James Parker a 32 year old farm hand was hanged for murder 4 June 1898.

Date: 1898-06-05; Paper: Tombstone Epitaph page 4

PAYS THE PENALTY – James Parker, the Murderer of Lee Norris, Hanged.  James Parker was hung in the Prescott court house yard yesterday morning.  He embraced the Catholic religion the day before.  Parker spent a restless night in jail and or first time since his incarceration he called for stimulants.  When led out and seeing the scaffold he paused a moment with manifestations of great emotion, but quickly recovered composure as he neared the scaffold.  He said to Sheriff Ruffner: “Let me see that thing,” referring to the scaffold.  The sheriff permitted him to go under the scaffold.  After satisfying his curiosity he walked steadily up the steps to platform.  When everything was in readiness he looked at the spectators and said: “I have not much to say; I claim I am getting something that ain’t  due me; but everyone who is going to be hung says the same thing so that cuts be figure.  Whenever people say I have to go, I am one that can go.”  The black cap was pulled over his head and at 10:30 the trap was sprung and the murderer of Lee Norris had satisfied the demand of the law.  In ten minutes and fifty seconds life was extinct.

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