[Timber Loftis]

News flash -- it's not that rare to behead someone during a hanging.

Here's some wikieality on it for you:

William Marwood (who was often quoted as saying "Calcraft hanged them, I execute them"), introduced the "long drop". Marwood realised that each person required a different drop, based on the prisoner's weight, which would dislocate the cervical vertebrae resulting in "instantaneous" death. By a process of (sometimes grisly) experimentation it was discovered that an energy of 1260 foot pounds (1710 joules) would have the desired effect, so the required drop was determined by dividing this figure by the weight of the prisoner: a person weighing 112 pounds would be executed by a drop of 11.25 feet. The basic formula would be refined as time went on to take account of the prisoner's age, stature, and physical condition, but there were some early mistakes when too great a drop was provided and a decapitation resulted. Marwood also experimented with the positioning of the knot, and discovered that placing it under the left ear or under the angle of the left jaw would jerk the head backwards at the end of the drop and instantly sever the spinal cord and dislocate the cervical vertebrae. The development of swift and "clean" methods of hanging were welcomed by prison governors and staff, who were required to witness executions at close distance after the abolition of public executions in 1868.

[ 01-31-2007, 10:45 AM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]