Re: Saddam executed (video)


"The Todal" <deadmailbox@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Algiers" <abc@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
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On Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:54:58 -0000, "The Todal" <deadmailbox@xxxxxxxx>
wrote:


"Cary" <scullard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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On 30 Dec 2006 09:15:32 -0800, "Jethro" <jethro_uk@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hopefully his age & weakned state meant his neck *did* snap.

Now you have depressed me!

Now buy (or rent) the film "Pierrepoint", starring the excellent Timothy
Spall playing the part of England's last public hangman. The dedication
and
skill that the Pierrepoint character displays, and the care for his
victims,
makes one wonder how many botched and amateurish executions take place
when
the hangman is inexperienced.


Pierrepoint wasn't England's last executioner by a long way. He
resigned early in 1956 in a dispute over his fee for a cancelled
execution. Several other executioners carried on until 13th August
1964 when the last two hangings were carried out simultaneously by
Robert Stewart at Walton and Harry Allen at Strangeways.


My apologies if I was wrong about that - you may well be right.
He is correct.

In the UK the nooses weren't the US 'cowboy' coiled noose that would have
appeared to have been used, but made from a rope with an eyelet in it.
At one time the US had a standard drop of 5'6" (I think) while the UK used
variables drops from a Home Office table. The advantage of the UK method
was that it was very difficult to strangle the prisoner, a problem with the
US method, as the force would be sufficient to break the neck providing the
drop was long enough. The converse problem of decapitation was avoided by
ensuring the force wasn't too great.


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