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The Sheriff James V Parks Presentation Gold Pocket Watch

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
The Sheriff James V Parks Presentation Gold Pocket Watch
Presentation 18 karat gold Waltham pocket watch custom mounted with 94 diamonds. The watch is inscribed Presented by the Arizona, Detriot and Shannon Copper Companies to Sheriff James V Parks in Recognition of His Services During the Strike Riots in the Clifton District in June 1903. Inside was described in a period account in The Arizona Bulletin as strikingly beautiful, being of pure gold and one of the highest grade Walthams and is one of Tiffany’s artistic creations. On the front of the watch are the Sheriff’s initils JVP wrought in diamonds and in large script letters. Ninety-four diamonds of the purest grade and set in the initials. Lot includes cased watch, chain, book, and notebook with family history, photos and newspaper articles PROVENANCE: 1903-1956 - Property of Sheriff James V Parks Sr 1956-1959 - Inherited by James V Parks Jr 1959-2011 - Inherited by Robert Parks 2011 - Acquired by consignor directly from Robert Parks, the 83 year-old paternal grandson of Sheriff James V Parks

PROVENANCE:
1903-1956 - Property of Sheriff James V Parks Sr
1956-1959 - Inherited by James V Parks Jr
1959-2011 - Inherited by Robert Parks
2011 - Acquired by consignor directly from Robert Parks, the 83 year-old paternal grandson of Sheriff James V Parks


HISTORY: The watch was presented to Sheriff James V Parks by powerful mining interests for singlehandedly ending what could have been the most bloody and costly incident in Arizona Territorial history. The Morenci Strike is recalled, in riveting detail on pages 164-176 of the 1952 book, Frontier Days in the Southwest -- which also includes two photographs of the watch.

Sheriff Parks has summoned the Arizona Rangers to Graham County as he saw the deadly events beginning to unfold there in June, 1903. Parks was placed in the unenviable predicament of protecting the management and mining assets of three large Eastern mining firms against the citizens of his own county that had some very legitimate complaints about their treatment and wages. As the strike/riot wore on, Sheriff Parks made it clear that the only acceptable outcome was through negotiation within the mining companies. The striking miners had other ideas and grew more belligerent with 300 armed, angry (and some intoxicated) miners advancing on the 30 odd lawmen led by Parks. The Sheriff, a seasoned lawman, understood the stakes; if the miners got to their position they were all dead. Parks quickly conferred with the leaders of the small contingent of Arizona Rangers who were also battle-tested lawmen. They agreed to confront the two leaders of the miners and break their will. They convinced the strike’s leaders that should a battle erupt they would make sure that they would be the first to die and that there was more than enough lawmen hidden behind them to carry the day. The strike’s leaders retreated to their lines. Now leaderless, the strike began to slowly dissolve and law and order were restored. Parks act of raw courage and brinksmanship was not lost on the mining companies who avoided both destructon of property and loss of life. Millions of dollars of mining assets had been spared.