Cover; Contents; Maps and Illustrations; Preface; Acknowledgments; 1 The Origins of the Sheriff's Office in New Mexico and Arizona Territories; 2 Organization of the Sheriff's Office; 3 The Sheriff and the Law Enforcement System; 4 Getting in Office: Seeking Preferment to the Shrievalty; 5 Servant of the Court; 6 Keeper of the Keys: The Sheriff as Jailer; 7 The Sheriff and Extralegal Justice; 8 Deathwatch; 9 Conservator Pacis; 10 Fugitives from Justice; 11 Sheriffs in Times of Crisis; 12 Ex-Officio Collector; 13 Handyman; 14 The Shrievalty Enters the Twentieth Century; 15 Conclusion; Notes
Appendix A: List of SheriffsAppendix B: Legal Hangings; Appendix C: Lynchings; Bibliography; Index; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; Y; Z
Summary
In this carefully researched study, Ball shows that few southwestern sheriffs were genuine gunmen. Wielding firearms with nerve and determination in the line of duty, however, was expected of them by their constituents
