tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post8402339697768672267..comments2024-03-25T12:21:56.752-05:00Comments on Sweethearts Of The West: An Outlaw Meets a Grisly EndCaroline Clemmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14914658854159456335noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-41272808693284527442013-08-12T18:05:06.172-05:002013-08-12T18:05:06.172-05:00Thanks for all the comments, y'all! Sorry I...Thanks for all the comments, y'all! Sorry I've been MIA. Mondays are always loads of fun at the day job. :-D<br /><br /><b>Linda</b>, I've always thought that was the weirdest custom -- taking children to an execution like it was some kind of carnival sideshow. What were those parents thinking? I'm an adult, and I don't want to see stuff like that! Yeesh.<br /><br />Freudian slip there, eh, Rustler (<b>Kirsten</b>)? ;-) I've noticed the same thing you have about the attitudes of the really bad guys, but I've often wondered whether they really were that unrepentant. Or were they scared to death (no pun intended) and trying to hide their fear with flippancy? There were probably some of both kinds, I guess.<br /><br /><b>Caroline</b>, you're such a sweetheart. Thank you for the vote of confidence. :-) Hope your move went well!<br /><br /><b>Carra</b>, one of the things I have always loved about this group is that the Sweethearts are a diverse bunch with a whole lot of information, collectively. I learn something from each post everyone makes. That's such a blessing for a history nerd! :-D<br /><br /><b>Celia</b>, apparently decapitation wasn't a common occurrence, at least during "official" hangings, because to the best of my knowledge Black Jack and the "black widow" Dugan are the only two who've suffered that fate in the U.S. (Dugan was hanged for the murder of a former landlord, but for years prior to the discovery of his body, she'd lived under suspicion for the disappearance of her FIVE husbands.)<br /><br /><b>Ciarra</b>, one of the reasons it took officials so long to figure out the logistics of hanging Ketchum reportedly was that he gained a bunch of weight while behind bars for almost two years. (Another was that the locals really didn't know what they were doing because they'd never hanged anybody before.) The executioners wanted to make sure the rope wouldn't break. Evidently they solved that potential problem. I suppose if Ketchum had gotten really heavy and the drop was longer than it needed to be ... well, let's just say the laws of physics are fairly inescapable. **shudder**Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05740371055384281988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-33185056248015667712013-08-12T16:15:40.881-05:002013-08-12T16:15:40.881-05:00I wonder if it's because he was so relaxed tha...I wonder if it's because he was so relaxed that the rope snapped off his head. Whatever the reason, what an ugly way to die. Fascinating information on one of our bad guys. Thanks so much for sharing. Ciara Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05669829712304962140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-29289061401458276392013-08-12T15:16:03.599-05:002013-08-12T15:16:03.599-05:00It doesn't seem possible to decapitate a perso...It doesn't seem possible to decapitate a person by hanging. I've never heard of such a thing. I read it over twice to make sure that's what I read. Gruesome!<br />And those hangings...the practice always makes me shudder and cringe. But it certainly has happened a lot during the time of the Old West. <br />I guess I've heard of this outlaw, but certainly knew nothing about him. Very intriguing, if you ask me.<br />Excellent post and photos, as usual. Thanks.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-26669665830396851822013-08-12T14:56:45.866-05:002013-08-12T14:56:45.866-05:00Loved this post, Kathleen, as I always do enjoy wh...Loved this post, Kathleen, as I always do enjoy what you share. There've always been colorful characters throughout history and none more so than in the west. Keep the tales coming, I always learn something I didn't know!Carra Copelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18372247844024839006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-4585139024150943762013-08-12T14:35:58.141-05:002013-08-12T14:35:58.141-05:00Kathleen, I didn't know part of Ketchum's ...Kathleen, I didn't know part of Ketchum's information, and enjoyed your post. You are a treasure of information and I always enjoy your posts on blogs and Facebook. Keep 'em coming.Caroline Clemmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14914658854159456335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-27297778035084318822013-08-12T13:42:10.003-05:002013-08-12T13:42:10.003-05:00As always a great article, Tex! Unlike, your other...As always a great article, Tex! Unlike, your other rabblerousers I've heard of Black Jack from my time at the Hole in the Wall...**clears throat** I mean studying the Hole in the Wall. But what gets me about most of these guys is the way they faced the noose. No remorse, no pleas for clemency and often with an off colored joke. I do have say, poor Jack though really lost his head at the end. (I'm so very sorry)Kirsten Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720732595156726142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-18517717193978943682013-08-12T12:02:34.079-05:002013-08-12T12:02:34.079-05:00That's the big question, Meg. According to the...That's the big question, Meg. According to the sheriff, the folks in charge of the execution did everything right. (Of course, who's going to admit to doing something wrong in a case like this?)<br /><br />The photographer sure didn't miss a beat. Moments after he snapped the gallows picture in this post, he snapped another, much more gruesome, image of Black Jack's body on the ground, neck facing the camera. The feed sack that slipped over Ketchum's head before the noose slipped around his neck is lying in front. **shudder**Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05740371055384281988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-85074738890197218752013-08-12T12:00:55.296-05:002013-08-12T12:00:55.296-05:00Boy, that is a grizzly story. I can't understa...Boy, that is a grizzly story. I can't understand how people of the time found hangings so entertaining, even brought their children.<br /><br />Sure was a handsome fella to come to such a bitter end. Great post, Kathleen!Linda LaRoquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16672522522233696282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-10880790972567716832013-08-12T11:44:13.493-05:002013-08-12T11:44:13.493-05:00How in the world can a rope decapitate a hangee? o...How in the world can a rope decapitate a hangee? or is there another word -- the criminal or the "victim" of such a grisly hanging... You're right about the permanent part. Ugh.Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10734148270217773194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-28957111894556854592013-08-12T11:36:41.932-05:002013-08-12T11:36:41.932-05:00**blush** Owl, you're too kind. I seem overly ...**blush** Owl, you're too kind. I seem overly interested in the gruesome lately, but honestly, it's how these folks ended up the way they did that fascinates me. For many of them, life was one long series of unfortunate events.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05740371055384281988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-46252331438234936882013-08-12T11:22:03.484-05:002013-08-12T11:22:03.484-05:00Ahh, Kathleen...again, you've put me smack dab...Ahh, Kathleen...again, you've put me smack dab in the middle of this event. Such vivid explanations --such an amazing way with words. Yes, another interesting article, as ALL of your articles always are...Thank you. ♥<br /><br />~ Cindy<br /><br />Cindy Nord<br />NO GREATER GLORY/Samhain Publishing<br />www.cindynord.com<br />Always Romance. Nothing Less. Cindy Nord https://www.blogger.com/profile/00218707473893790352noreply@blogger.com