In
Captain Jack Helm, Chuck Parsons explores the life of John Jackson "Jack" Helm, whose main claim to fame has been that he was a victim of man-killer John Wesley Hardin. That he was, but he was much more in his violence-filled lifetime during Reconstruction Texas. First as a deputy sheriff, then county sheriff, and finally captain of the notorious Texas State Police, he developed a reputation as a violent and ruthless man-hunter. He arrested many suspected lawbreakers, but often his prisoner was killed before reaching a jail for "attempting to escape." This horrific tendency ultimately brought about his downfall. Helm's aggressive enforcement of his version of "law and order" resulted in a deadly confrontation with two of his enemies in the midst of the Sutton-Taylor Feud.
About the AuthorChuck Parsons is the author of
Captain John R. Hughes and
The Sutton-Taylor Feud and coauthor of
A Lawless Breed, a biography of John Wesley Hardin, and
The Notorious Luke Short. He lives in Luling, Texas.
ReviewsCaptain Jack Helm is more than a fine gunfighter biography: it is a vivid statement about the murderous violence of Reconstruction in Texas."" - Bill O'Neal, State Historian of Texas
Book InformationISBN 9781574417180
Author Chuck ParsonsFormat Hardback
Page Count 336
Imprint University of North Texas Press,U.S.Publisher University of North Texas Press,U.S.
Weight(grams) 583g