The First Murder of a Ranger: Hot Springs National Park

When our beloved Park Rangers accept their positions to protect National Parks, they agree to a code of conduct, upholding them to the highest standards in their job and in their personal lives. Rangers like James Alexander Cary, took this pledge very seriously and did all that he could to protect the preserve the park he was employed to protect. Hot Springs National Park was a lawless area in the 1920's, filled with illegal moonshining stills and gangsters that had their hands in everyones pockets. Many law officials were corruptible and able to be bought, but not James Alexander Cary. He paid for his dedication to the park with his life.