Death by Hanging

We are students form 1 polimodal, and with our school recently we have seen the film
“Pierrepoint”, a veridict story reproduced that shows very clearly and closely, many
important facts about how did the death penalty worked long time ago. From this film
and research we are going to write down (what we consider) the most important fact
about the capital penalty in the past.

History: Hanging is one of the most ancient forms of execution. For example, centers
on the hanging of the genocidal traitor Haman, and British and U.S. law have always
incorporated death by hanging. Although most states have abolished this practice, New
Hampshire and Washington still allow prisoners to choose this option. The most recent
legal U.S. hanging took place in 1996.

How It Works: The prisoner stands on trapdoor, and a rope descends from a wooden
beam overhead. The rope is fastened around the prisoner's neck in a "Hangman's
noose," which tightens when pulled upon. The executioner pulls a lever opening the
trapdoor and dropping the prisoner, who ideally dies quickly due to a broken neck.

Complications: The length of the rope must be carefully calibrated in proportion to the
prisoner's weight. If the rope is too short, insufficient velocity is generated to break the
prisoner's neck and the prisoner is painfully strangled to death. If the rope is too long,
excessive velocity is generated and decapitation may result. Even if the rope is of
exactly the right length, a prisoner with an exceptionally large or strong neck may suffer
strangulation rather than immediate death.

1892 table 1913 table

Weight of prisoner Drop in feet & inches Weight of prisoner Drop in feet & inches
lbs. lbs.
105 & under 8’ 0” - -
110 7’ 10” - -
115 7’ 3” 118 & under 8’ 6”
120 7’ 0” 120 8’ 4”
125 6’ 9” 125 8’ 0”
130 6’ 5” 130 7’ 8”
135 6’ 2” 135 7’ 5”
140 6’ 0” 140 7’ 2”
145 5’ 9” 145 6’ 11”
150 5’ 7” 150 6’ 8”
155 5’ 5” 155 6’ 5”
160 5’ 3” 160 6’ 3”
165 5’ 1” 165 6’ 1”
170 4’ 11” 170 5’ 10”
175 4’ 9” 175 5’ 8”
180 4’ 8” 180 5’ 7”
185 4’ 7” 185 5’ 5”
190 4’5” 190 5’ 3”
195 4’ 4” 195 5’ 2”
200 & over 4’ 2” 200 & over 5’ 0”
Review of the film
The film about killing starts in 1930s Oldham, with Albert Pierrepoint determined to
follow in the family footsteps and become a hangman. Showing remarkable dedication
to his job and sensitivity to the condemned men and women in his care. Albert soon
rises through the ranks to become the best in the business. It's his pursuit of perfection,
and ability to divorce himself from the fact that he's taking someone's life, that
constantly gets to you by surprise.
Pierrepoint's ethical dilemma over his role increased as the years passed, and not just
because of social pressure. Feted as a hero for hanging the Germans, by the 1960s he
faced a huge backlash. But according to the film it was a personal encounter with an
acquaintance that he had to kill that made him see things in a different light, and
eventually led him to change his mind.
This is a very hard history that really gets to the audience and makes you feel and have
an idea of the oppresion, pain and difficulties that the hangman has to stand and live. It
also claers your mind on the subject if you are on favor or against of the death penalty,
because it is not the same to say “I’M IN FAVOUR” without seeing vividly an
excecution, and to say it after you do know and picture the scene.

This is a true event that stands as an example of why

A picture of an excecution. people were and are sent to the gallows and what happens
with them.

Notorious train robber Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum is prepared

for the gallows on April 26th, 1901. Due to human error, the
rope would be too long--allowing his body to fall too quickly
during the drop, decapitating him.