John
Lindermuth (writing
as J. R.) writes westerns for Sundown Press, as I have. He tells me a favourite
of his earlier novels is FALLEN FROM GRACE.
In 1897 Sheriff Sylvester Tilghman is investigating two murders in a small
Pennsylvania town, whilst trying to convince his true love, Lydia, to marry
him.
I picture some late 19th Century Pennsylvania policemen,
before the Pennsylvania State Police force was established in 1905.
Pennsylvania policemen in 1888
Two Pennsylvania policemen from the 1890s:
While some historians maintain that the office of sheriff derives from either the Roman proconsul or the Arab Sharif (nobleman) it’s generally accepted that the title goes back to Anglo-Saxon England, when KING ALFRED (who reigned 871-899) divided England into counties or shires.
Statue of KING ALFRED
The most famous sheriff of this period is, of course, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin Hood’s dastardly foe. Robin Hood deserves (probably many) blogs of his own. Briefly, this legendary outlaw is generally located in English history between 1180 and 1320. The actual title of such an official in this time frame would be ‘Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests.’ In the earliest Robin Hood ballads, dating from the late 15th Century, several ‘Sheriffs of Nottingham’ are slain by Robin Hood, Little John or other outlaws. Which shows that – regardless of whether a ‘real' Robin Hood ever existed – these early tales are largely folklore. Official records show no Sheriff of Nottingham was ever slain by an outlaw!
This epitome of villainy has featured in numerous movies and TV shows about Robin Hood. Here’s PETER CUSHING in ‘Sword of Sherwood Forest’ (1960):
When settlers left England to colonise the New World, the office of sheriff went with them. The first were appointed when counties were established in Virginia in 1634. As in England respect for the sheriff was strictly enforced. He had a special seat reserved for him in churches. Contempt against him was an offense punishable by whipping.
Sheriffs were brought to the colony of Pennsylvania by English and Dutch settlers before William Penn in 1682.
The sheriff of the county and the high-constable in the towns didn't wear a uniform or display a badge. Early Pennsylvania law provided that the sheriff would be provided with a staff of his office, at least six feet in length and bearing the King's Coat of Arms on the top. It is doubtful these officers carried firearms, except on special occasions.
To this day the sheriff still has the power – as he had in Dark Age and Medieval England - of the ‘posse comitatus,’ i.e. the power to call upon ‘the entire population of the county above the age of 15… to aid him in keeping the peace, and in pursuing and arresting felons.’
In American lore, the heyday of the sheriff was in the Old West of the Nineteenth Century when colourful characters from WILD BILL HICKOK to BAT MASTERSON to WYATT EARP donned the badge. No time to cover their adventurous lives here!
Reviews of FALLEN
FROM GRACE:
‘Intriguing… My favorite
aspect of this book is the narrator's voice and personality.’
‘The novel achieves a
texture and richness that sets it apart.… Lindermuth's writing style is
practiced and assured and always a pleasure to read.’
‘I enjoyed this
entertaining historical mystery.’
‘Truly a treasure!’
Wonderful and informative post! It's nice to see John featured on your blog. He's one heck of a storyteller.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Amy, and your kind words about my blog. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I agree with your comments about John. Another post about him to come.
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