Stickpin of “Hanging Judge” returned to Arkansas museum

FORT SMITH, Ark. – A stickpin that belonged to the Old West’s legendary “Hanging Judge” has been returned to an Arkansas museum days after it was stolen.

The gold-and-diamond pin in the shape of a lizard once belonged to federal Judge Isaac C. Parker. Officials at the Fort Smith Museum of History say the pin disappeared from a display case on Thursday.

The Fort Smith Police Department says the pin has been recovered and was returned to the museum on Saturday. Police say they are still investigating how the artifact was stolen.

Parker was notorious because of the large number of convicts he sentenced to death. The pin is one of only a few pieces of Parker’s personal property in the museum’s collection.

A $1,300 reward had been offered for return of the pin.