Swindlers, confidence men and outlaws—the mountain shadows and Ponderosa pines surrounding Prescott conceal their grim histories and crooked ways. The small hamlet turned mining town became Arizona's first capital in 1864, and with wealth and power came every type of vice and crime. One block west of the famed Whiskey Row, the roaring red-light district attracted ladies of easy virtue, who often became victims of crimes of passion and coldblooded murder. Legendary crook Fleming "Jim" Parker escaped from Yavapai County Jail on the back of the sheriff's stolen horse. Cattle rustlers terrorized nearby ranches, while tavern brawls and liquor-fueled shootouts dominated newspaper headlines. More than ten legal hangings brought criminals to justice. Local author Parker Anderson recounts these and more wicked misdeeds from Prescott's wild early days.
Parker Anderson is an Arizona native and a recognized historian in Prescott. He is the author of the books Elks Opera House, Cemeteries of Yavapai County and Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery. He has written articles for “Days Past,” the weekly history column in the Prescott Courier newspaper, and authored a number of Arizona history plays for Blue Rose Theater. He resides in Prescott.