The effectiveness and outcome of hanging a person depend on various factors and conditions, such as how the rope is tied and the position of the knot, which can affect whether death is certain or prolonged. The crowd's reaction and interpretation also played a significant role in determining the fate of the person being hanged, sometimes leading to reprieve or commutation of the sentence.
In this podcast, the host discusses the science and history of hangings and decapitations during different eras, and explores the methods and effects of these cruel practices.
The experience of being hanged is heavily dependent on various factors like the placement of the rope around the neck and the individual's physical condition. It could range from being unconscious within a minute to choking and convulsing for 15 minutes or more.
Hartley and Margaret Ryan were executed by hanging in front of spectators who watched their distorted features. The cart that Ryan was standing on drew away and left her hanging by her neck, while Hartley convulsed for 10 minutes after the drop.