Massacres at New Madrid

About the Book

The Massacres of New Madrid feature a team of friends who learn about a series of alleged Indian massacres in a small Arizona town.   Looking to retired and to find a small, peaceful town in which to retire, Cord Mccain gets involved in the investigation of a series of massacres that he believes are more involved than the assumptions of the townsfolk.  After investigating the raids, Cord comes to his own conclusion that doesn’t sit well with local ranchers and law enforcement.  In order to bring justice and order to this town, Cord knows that he will need to fight one more battle before being able to enjoy his peaceful retirement.  Indians, dishonest businessmen, shootouts and heroic friends are all apart of this western adventure.

About the Author

David C. Gooch is a minister, earning his Master’s in Biblical Counseling in 2008.  He has always held a love for western movies and writing, along with his daughter Meagan, his father John Gooch, grandfather Luther Gooch and his God-father, William Birdsong.  From a very  young age, David was introduced to the writings of Louis L’Amour and the classic western movies with John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Gregory Peck.  David lives in Fort Smith, AR., which is home to Isaac Parker, the home of the Marshal’s Museum,  and the referenced hometown in the newly remade John Wayne classic,  “True Grit.”  David’s writings mostly stem from the importance of justice in our American system that is no more exemplified than the lack of it in the old west.  Being a citizen of Fort Smith, AR., David was influenced greatly by the heroic dedication of men as Judge Isaac C. Parker and U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves.

Fort Smith resides on the border of Arkansas and Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma.  In the 1800’s, Fort Smith was the only U.S. Court and the only post for law enforcement for what was one of the roughest destinations for some of the west’s most notorious outlaws.  Judge Isaac Parker was known as the Hanging Judge due to his thirst for justice and a quick sentence.  Judge Parker had many marshals and deputies who risked their lives entering Indian Territory in order to bring to justice the bandits, murderers and horse thieves who would escape in to the rough terrain to escape justice.  In his career, Judge Parker tried over 13,490 cases, 344 of which were capital crimes, and 9,454 of the cases resulting in guilty pleas or convictions.  Over 160 men were sentenced to death by handing, although only 79 were actually executed.  Judge Parker died of exhaustion after years of working six days a week, and ten to twelve hour days.  One of his most famous quotes can still be heard throughout the territories, “I have ever had the single aim of justice in view…’Do equal and exact justice,’ is my motto, and I have often said to the grand jury, ‘Permit no innocent man to be punished, but let no guilty man escape.”  Judge Isaac Parker 1896