Two important characters somewhat overlooked
So much happens ,so quickly ,in this movie that it takes a while to sort out one's feelings about it. There are clearly decent men amongst the posse, as shown when two or three of them step forward to side with Henry Fonda's character, in favor of waiting for the sheriff.
But what I find fascinating are two characters who don't usually receive much analysis. Major Tetley's son Gerald, and the older black man Sparks, each bring a certain low key influence to the story, that makes it different than it would have been without them. Sparks volunteers to go along because he feels someone should be there to pray for the men who are to die. His own brother was lynched, so it's a very solemn mission for him. Gerald is forced to come along by his callous father, who remarks that it might finally make a man out of him.
The importance of these two characters is revealed in small, seemingly insignificant moments, that could easily pass unnoticed. When the three men have been captured, and are seated on the ground, Gerald assists them in some way, perhaps by loosening their bonds so they can eat, or something like that. There is a silent exchange between Gerald ( William Eythe) and Dana Andrews as the rancher who bought the cattle, but has no proof. Gerald gives him a shy, awkward smile, and the rancher smiles back warmly at him. It's a small but touching moment, and quite unexpected in the midst of the cold blooded mob. Another small detail shows Sparks kneeling and embracing the weeping old man, crying along with him. Again, it's a moment that could easily slip by unnoticed, but it adds so much to the drama of the events unfolding.
Finally, as the rest of the mob rides back to town after the hanging, Sparks kneels, hat in hand, beneath the bodies, and sings a hymn. It's possible that he has volunteered to stay behind and give the men a decent burial, though the idea isn't mentioned specifically. In any case, it shows him as the only person present who sees a spiritual meaning to the mens' deaths, and not merely rough frontier justice. It is an unforgettable portrayal by Leigh Whipper, especially unusual at a time when most black actors were assigned buffoon roles in movies.