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==Career==
==Career==
In addition to his law practice, Sevier began his law enforcement career in 1896 as a deputy to Sheriff Coleman H. Lucas. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Sevier ultimately became the "Dean of Louisiana sheriffs." He was elected as Sheriff of Madison Parish for ten consecutive terms, only two with opposition. His official title was "Sheriff and Tax Collector." He had already been a peace officer for six years before Tallulah was incorporated as a town in 1902.<ref name=sevier>"Madison Loses Dean of Peace Officers," ''Madison Journal," August 25, 1941, p. 1.</ref>
In addition to his law practice, Sevier began his law enforcement career in 1896 as a deputy to Sheriff Coleman H. Lucas. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Sevier ultimately became the "Dean of Louisiana sheriffs." He was elected as Sheriff of Madison Parish for ten consecutive terms, only two with opposition. His official title was "Sheriff and Tax Collector." He had already been a peace officer for six years before Tallulah was incorporated as a town in 1902.<ref name=sevier>"Madison Loses Dean of Peace Officers," ''Madison Journal,'' August 25, 1941, p. 1.</ref>
Madison Parish was nearly 90 percent [[African American]] in population during the tenure of Sheriff Sevier, related to the history of numerous [[African American]] as [[slavery|slaves]] and later free workers on the large [[cotton]] plantations of the area. It remained majority black through the 20th century. Although Louisiana's 1898 Constitution raised barriers to voter registration and discriminatory practices virtually excluded blacks from the political process, black men were called to serve on juries in Madison Parish. In an interview, Sevier said that most of the cases he investigated and handled were black-on-black crime. Sevier said:
Madison Parish was nearly 90 percent [[African American]] in population during the tenure of Sheriff Sevier, related to the history of numerous [[African American]] as [[slavery|slaves]] and later free workers on the large [[cotton]] plantations of the area. It remained majority black through the 20th century. Although Louisiana's 1898 Constitution raised barriers to voter registration and discriminatory practices virtually excluded blacks from the political process, black men were called to serve on juries in Madison Parish. In an interview, Sevier said that most of the cases he investigated and handled were black-on-black crime. Sevier said: