1923’sMarshal Mamie Fossett raises an interesting question about US history, which iswhether female US Marshals actually existed in this time period. Taylor Sheridan’sYellowstonefranchisemay be rooted in real-world ideas and political stances, but the writer/producer has been known to take his creative liberties to suit a more dramatic narrative. It’s television, after all, and no one is expecting total accuracy. The unrealistic aspects are part of what makes Sheridan’s television so entertaining.
Actress Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter,White Chicks) joined1923’sseason 2 castas Marshal Mamie Fossett, a law enforcement officer in West Texas. She’s become an ally to some of our heroes, though1923season 2, episode 5, saw her pick up Spencer Dutton, believing him to be part of the ongoing hunt for Teonna Rainwater. In a scene in her office, she speaks to Montana’s Sheriff McDowell on the phone, andthe sheriff exclaims that he didn’t know female marshals existed, prompting us to look into the matter.
Female US Marshals Existed In 1923
The First Female US Marshal Was Appointed In 1887
The United States Marshal Service dates all the way back to the Judiciary Act of 1789, which was voted on during the first session of the 1st US Congress and officially signed by President George Washington himself. US Marshals fulfill a specific service: finding and arresting federal suspects. While it took quite a while for women to become part of this service,it happened long before 1923 when lawyer Phoebe Couzins was appointed to the US Marshal service.
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In 1884, John Couzins became a US Marshal in Missouri, and Phoebe was one of his deputies. Following his death in 1887,she took over the role for two months, becoming the first woman to hold the position before she was replaced. Word of this event likely wouldn’t have spread around the country, especially not all the way to Montana, due to how brief it was. Still, it set a precedent for women, and it’s believable that four decades later, Mamie Fossett might have the job, but McDowell still wouldn’t know about it.
Mamie Fossett was a real deputy marshal in Oklahoma during the early 1900s.
Jennifer Carpenter’s Marshal Mamie Fossett’s Role In 1923 Explained
Mamie Fossett Is A Supporting
Mamie Fossett is an interesting character in1923, offering a law enforcement officer in the midst of the ruthless hunt for Teonna Rainwater. Marshal Kent and Father Renaud are vicious and seem like characters straight out of a Cormac McCarthy novel, so it’s vital to have someone strong to balance them out. After1923season 2, episode 5’s cliffhanger ending, Fossett might be more critical than ever in a bloodbath follow-up,1923’spenultimate episode.
