The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-22
a WALKING GALLOWS.
Lieutenant Hcpenstnn, Who Used &c
Hang 1Icn From His Own Neck.

Lieutenant HcpenStHll, who CSed eC
Hang 1len From His Own Neck.
Among the examples and records Of
British tyranny during the terrible year
179S there is none more extraordinary.
according to writer in all English
magazine, than that Of Lieutenant Ed
ward Hepenstall, known by the nick
name of '.the Walking Gallows for
such he certainly was, literally and
practically.
This notorious individual who had
been Brought up as an apcthecary in
Dublin, obtained commission in the
Wicklow militia, in which he attained
to the rank of lieutenant in 1876. He
was 1nan of splendid physique, about
feet inches in height, and strong
and broad in proportion. Referring to
this handsome but brutal giant, Sir
Jonah Darlington. in his "Melnoirs,
states:
~ knew him we'll and from his
countenance should never have suspect
ed him of cruelty, but SO Geld blooded
and eccentric an executioner of the hu-
man race never yet existed.
At the outbreak Of the sangulnary re-
bellion, when the common law was sus-
pended and the stern martial variety
fourished in it's stead, Lieutenant Hep
enstall hit upon the expedient of hang
ing on his own back persons whose
physiognomies he considered character
istic of seditious tenets. At the present
day the story seems almost incredible,
but it is a notorious fact, revealed by
the Journalism of the period, that when
rebels, either suspected or caught red
handed, were brought before him, Hep
e1stall would order the cord of drum
to be taken off and then. rigging up a
running moose. would proceed to hang
each in turn across his athletic shoul-
ders until the victim had been slowly
strangled to death, after which he
would throw down his load and take up
another.
The walking gallows' was clearly
both new and simple plan and mode
of execution not nearly so tedious OF
painful as a Tyburn or Old Bailey
hanging. 1t answered his majesty's 5
service as well as two posts and crow
bar. When a rope was not at hand,
Hepenstall's own silk cravat being
softer than an ordinary halter. became
a merciful substitute
In pursuance of these benevolent in
tentions the lieutenant would frequent
" administer an anasthetic to his
trembling victim--in other words, he
would first knock him silly with blow.
His garters then did the duty as hand
cuffs, and the cravat would be slipped
over the condemned mans neck.
Whenever he had an unusually pow
erful victim to do with Hepenstall took
pride in showing his own strength.
With dexterous lunge of his body the
lieutenant used to draw up the poor
DEVILS head as high as his own, and
then, when both were cheek by jowl.
begin to trot about with his burden like
a jolting cart horse, until the rebel had
no further solicitude about sublunary
affairs. 1t was after one Of these trot-
ting executions which had taken place
in the barrack yard adjoining Stephen S
green. that Hepenstall acquired the sur
name of .the Walking Ga,lows He
was invested with it BY the gallery OF
Crow Street theater. Dublin
At the trial of y rebel in that city
the lieutenant. undergoing cross exami-
nation. admitted all the aforementioned
details Of his method Of hanging. and
Lcrd Norburv the presiding judge
warmly colnplimented him on his 10y
atty and assured him that he had been
guilty of no act which was not natural
to Il Jealous loyal and efficient officer.
Lieutenant Hepenstall. however, did
not long survive his hideous practice
He died in 1904 Owing TO the .odium
in which he was universally held, the
authorities arranged that his funeral
should take place secretly, while Duh
lin wit suggested that his tombstone
would be suitably inscribed 5y- the fol-
lowing epitaph
Here lie the bones OF Hepcnsta!l
Judge. jury, gallows. rope and all.
Baltimore Sun.