Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-09-23
4 WALKING GALLONS
The Horrible Deeds of Lieutenant
HepenStaI.
HANGED MEN FROM HIS NECK

This Handsome but Brutal Giant Of
the Wicklow Militia Was the Most
/ Geld Blooded and Eccentric Exeeu-
toner That Has Ever Existed.
Among the examples ana records OF
British tyranny during the terrible
year 179S there is none more extraor-
I binary. according TO a writer in am
+ English magazine. than that Of Lieu
/ tenant Edward Uepenstau. known by
+ the nickname Of the walking gal
/ lows for such he certainly was. lit
orally and practically.
This notorious individual. who had
7 been brought up as an apothecary in
F Dublin. obtained a commission tn the
F Wicklow militia. I'm which hc attained
F 10 the rank OF lieutenant I'm 1898. He
f was man OF splendid physique. about
six feet two inches IN height aud
. strong and broad in proportion. Refer
. ring 70 this handsome buc brutal slant.
Sir Jonah harrington in his memoirs
states:
Il knew him well and from his couu-
+ tenance should never have suspected
+ him OF cruelty, but 50 cold blooded and
/ eccentric am cXecutiOner of the human
+ race never yet existed"
1T the outbreak Of the sang1liuarv To-
/ bellion. when the common law was
+ suspended and the stern martial Va
+ rlety fiourished in its stead. Lieutenant
/ licpenstau hit upon the cXpedient o.
+ hanging on his own back persons
+ whose pbysiosnomies he considered
. fHI .af.a 80 e
+ the present day the story seems almost
+ Incredible, but IL Is notorious fact.
I revealed 10y the journalism OF the Pc
/ rod, that when rebels. either SUSPECTED
or caught red handed. were brought he
/ fore him Hepenstau would order tie
/ cord Of drum 10 be taken or ami
T then, rigging up Il running moose.
+ would proceed % hang each in turn
across his athletic shoulders until tho
victims had been slowly strangled 10
death. after which lie would throw
down his load aud take UP another.
The walking Sallows" was clearly
both new and simple plan and 4
mode Of execution rot nearly 50
tedious Or painful as Il Tyburn or Old
Bailey hanging. Il answered lis
najesty's service rs weu rs two posts
and crowbav. When q rome was -.t
I ar hand Hepenstalrs own silk cravat
being softer than an ordinary lalcc-.
became merciful substitute.
l. pursuance OF these benevolent il.
/ tcnucnS the lieutenant would frequent.
ly administer an auaesthetic 10 lis
trembling victim-in other words. lie
I would first knock him silly With =
blow. His carriers then Jill tile duty
IS handouts. and the cravat would lie
slipped over the condemned mans
neck.
Whenever lie had an unusually pow
erful victim 10 10 with Uepcustau
took pride IN showing his own
( strength. With a dcXteroUs luuge Z
/ his body the lieutenant used 90 draw
Up the poor DEVILS head as high as lis
/ own and then. when both were check
/ by jowl. begin 10 trot about with lis
/ burden like Il jolting cart horse uutl
I the rebel had no further SoucituCe
! about sublunary affairs. IL was after
/ one Of these UotUug executions. which
I had taken place in the Oarr.ck ward
/ adjoining STEPHENS green. that Hep
/ penSJau acquired the surname OF ''rle
I walking g0llows." lie was Invested
/ with it 10y the gallery of Crow Street
theatev, Dublin
AZ the trial OF rebel In THAT c.ur
/ the lieutenant undergoing cross exam
/ iuatlon. admitted the aforementioned
details Of his method OF hanging. ANA
Lord Norbury, the presiding Judge.
warmly complimcntcd him ON his low
atty and assured him that lie had been
guilty Of no act which was not natural
to a Jealous. loyal and eEc.cnt officer.
Lieutenant UepeuStau. however. did
! not long survive his hideoUs practice.
lie died in 1901. Owing 10 the oGium
IN which he was universally held. Tie
authorities arranged that his funeral
should take place secretly. while a
Dublin wit suggested that his tomb
stone would De suitably Inscribed by
the following epitaph:
Here lie tho bones Of IIcpcns-au
Judge, jury, gallows. rope and all.