Public Hangings
Capital punishment seemed to have been regenerated from the beginning of mankind, where beheading was considered an honorable method of meeting death, whereas hanging carried with it a definite stigma. The era of public hanging was emotionally satisfying even though the surroundings was emotionally tense. In contrast to private hangings where they were fewer observers, less theatrical from the accuse and hanging was becoming more of an inhuman punishment to inflict on those found guilty of their crime. Both forms of hangings were though to be an effective way of preventing individuals from committing a crime. Capital punishment seemed morally acceptable, to the public and there were ...
Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers
|
passed by a second contraption was invented, a single stout post with a timber nailed at a right angle at the top, with supporting boards attached. A third contraption was made which was a platform erected nine or more feet from the ground, in the middle of which was a trap door which swung upon hinges. This latest invention was commonly used towards the end of . In private hangings the same contraption was used, but the individual were taken down a lot quicker, for their was no need to display the executed to curious observer. Public executions were grim and was a disgusting spectacle to the accuses� family and close friends, but for most individuals it was a time to rejoice and to celebrate. When a crowd assembled to witness a public event, they were out in a holiday mood. Hundreds of people came from long distances to view a hanging, concessionaires had money invested in trinkets and food to be sold at what they called jamborees. Public hanging were often imitated in plays, ...
Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.
Already a member? Login
|
1807 the crowd of forty thousands became so crazed and outraged at the execution of Holloway and Haggarthy" , it nearly left a hundred dead, dying or lying in the street when the show was over. Towards the end of the 19th century a growing public feeling was in favor of privatizing the hangings. " On February 16 1841, the first motion to abolish was introduced into parliament" , and it was greeted with laughter from the public. They showed no sorrow, no salutary terror, no abhorrence, no seriousness, nothing but drunkenness and flaunting on their behalf. In the privatized hangings in the early days, they were done behind the prison gates but outside the jail walls. Where any curious ...
Succeed in your coursework without stepping into a library.
Get access to a growing library of notes, book reports,
and research papers in 2 minutes or less.
|
CITE THIS PAGE:
Public Hangings. (2005, March 10). Retrieved November 29, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Public-Hangings/23496
"Public Hangings." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 10 Mar. 2005. Web. 29 Nov. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Public-Hangings/23496>
"Public Hangings." Essayworld.com. March 10, 2005. Accessed November 29, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Public-Hangings/23496.
"Public Hangings." Essayworld.com. March 10, 2005. Accessed November 29, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Public-Hangings/23496.
|
Save
Report