Hangin' At The Fort

Having visited a replica of hanging Judge Parker’s gallows in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, at a very young age, and being surprised at how innocent it looked—simple stairs, a plank floor and boards overhead, I suppose I’ve had a fascination with job of hangman since then. Not that I would care to submit an application should a position for the job appear.

Standing on the gallows, I could not comprehend the details of the past. I don’t believe there was a noose. Nooses are not put in place except on the anniversaries of the more notorious hangings and then ropes are added to correspond with the number of executions from that date.

 When I visited I must have expected to see a criminal still waiting to be cut down or untied. I can see the judge saying to the hangman, “I don’t care how you get him down, just do it.” Removing the body can’t have been the most pleasant part of the day for whoever did the work. I also wondered how it was decided on the date and time of the execution. “Will Friday at 8:00 work for you or should we start promptly at 10:00 on Monday?”

No matter what time they started, the end result was the same.

Ft. Smith gallows link:                                                                     http://www.nps.gov/fosm/historyculture/gallows-today.htm

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