Wild West Chronicles: Law Comes to No Man’s Land (INSP, Wednesday October 30, 2024)

Wild West Chronicles

This week, Wild West Chronicles moseys on over to Oklahoma’s No Man’s Land, a territory so lawless it makes Deadwood look like a Quaker meeting.

Marshal Chris Madsen and Judge John Burford arrive with a wagon full of untried prisoners and the ambitious goal of establishing the first courthouse.

The residents of Beaver City, accustomed to frontier justice, are less than thrilled with the prospect of formal law and order. One can imagine their reaction: “A courthouse? What are we, civilized?”

As was often the case at that time, Madsen and Burford set up their makeshift courtroom inside a saloon. Because nothing says “due process” like the clinking of glasses and the smell of stale beer. A vigilante posse, naturally, isn’t keen on waiting for legal proceedings. Will they storm the saloon doors, guns blazing? Will justice be served, or will it be just another Wednesday night in No Man’s Land?

Years later, Bat Masterson interviews Judge Burford about the ordeal. We know the judge survived, but the fate of the prisoners and the saloon’s liquor license remains uncertain.

Wild West Chronicles: Law Comes to No Man’s Land airs Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 10:00 pm on INSP.

Wild West Chronicles, INSP, US TV, Cable

Andrew Martins, reviewer, recapper, deep diver, scifi specialist. Thinks Blakes 7 is better than Star Trek. Yes I do go to fan conventions and no I don't dress up. Well okay maybe I do a bit.