Myth of the Hanging Tree is an intriguing study of legal hangings and lynchings in territorial New Mexico from the early 1800s to the 1920s. Robert J. Tórrez presents a thoroughly researched book that documents not only legal hangings but also illegal lynchings as well. While the topic is a bit morbid, this book paints a picture of Old West frontier justice in quite a different fashion than it has been portrayed in television and movies.
As the title implies, Tórrez sets out to prove public hangings and lynchings were administered quite differently than the image people have formulated through decades of popular culture portrayals. While trees certainly have been used in hangings and lynchings throughout history, legal hangings were often done from gallows or other types of structures. And despite the countless references in movies to people being hanged for being horse thieves, stealing a horse was not a crime punishable by death.
The first two chapters begin by painting a broad picture of New Mexico at this time, focusing on legal hangings and capital punishment. Numerous short anecdotes prove Tórrez’s thesis that frontier justice was quite different than we imagine. Tórrez often cites actual newspaper articles from the time period that not only lend authenticity to his argument, but also give us a glimpse at how capital punishment and lynchings were perceived at the time.
In addition to the anecdotes, Tórrez supplements his research with actual images of hangings and lynchings that make the topic all too real. They are spaced throughout the chapters in such a way that the reader never feels overwhelmed by them. The photographs prove the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. While the images can be viewed as disturbing, they are a part of the public record and go a long way to break any romanticized notions people may have gotten from decades of Hollywood westerns.
The rest of the chapters follow the same general formula as the first two, but they tend to focus more on specific cases. For instance, chapter 10, titled “Paula Angel: ‘The Only Woman Ever Hanged in New Mexico,’” discusses the strange case of Ms. Angel. Tórrez shows that some of the records regarding Ms. Angel’s execution were inaccurate; then he sets out to tell the closest thing to the truth as possible. He indicates that her estate may even have been assessed the cost of her execution. As the title of this chapter implies, Ms. Angel was likely not the only woman to be executed in New Mexico. This chapter in particular shows how truth and myth sometimes make for great storytelling.
Tórrez presents two appendices at the end of the book that illustrate just how thorough his research is. Appendix A lists all of the documented legal executions by hanging in New Mexico from its territorial period in 1849 to 1908, as well as executions (by any means) during its period of statehood from 1913-present. Appendix B is a comprehensive list of lynchings from 1852-1928, including the location and date of the execution, along with the victim’s name. But the most grisly thing about this list is undoubtedly the final column, which tells whether a tree was used in the lynching, or some other instrument, like a windmill or butcher block.
Tórrez rarely leaves New Mexico in his discussions, but it hardly matters. The topic is morbidly fascinating and speaks as much about the time period as it does about this specific region. The picture this book paints is likely quite similar to that of other regions during this time. Myth of the Hanging Tree is a fascinating book that is thoroughly researched and packed with more minute details than one can imagine, but it is quite fun to read. If reading about lynchings can be termed fun.
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[Review length: 636 words • Review posted on August 26, 2008]