The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-18
A WALKING GALLONS
The Horrible Deeds Of Lieutenant
Hepenstall.
This Handsome but Brutal Giant d
the Wicklow Militia Was the Most
Cold BIooded and Eccentric Exsep.
tionsr That Has Ever Existed.

Cold BIooded and Eccentric Exsep.
toner That Has Ever Existed.
Among the examples and records OF
British tyranny during the terrible
year l79s there Is none more extraor-
binary, according to a writer in m
English magazine. than that of Lieu.
tenant Edward Hepenstall. known by
the nickname of 1.-THE walking gal
lows" for such be certainly was, 1T
orally and practically.
This notorious individual. who bad
been brought up as an apothecary In
Dublin. obtained commission, In the
Wicklow militia, In which he ,attalnsd
to the rank or lieutenant In. l795. he
was man OF splendid physique. about
six feet two inches in height aud
Strong and broad in proportion Refer.
ring to this handsome but brutal giant
Sir Jonah harrington in his memoirs
states:
II knew him well and from his coun.
tenance should never have suspected
him Of cruelty. but SO cold blooded and
eccentric an executioner OF the human
race never yet existed
At the outbreak Of the sangunary re.
beilion. when the common law was
suspended and the stern martial Fs.
riety douriahad In its stead. Lieutenant
Hepenstall bit upon the expedient q
hanging on his own back persons
whose physicgnomies be considered
characteristic OF seditious tenets. At
the present day the story seems almost
Incredible, but 1t is notorious fact
revealed by the Journalism Of the pc
riod, that when rebels, either suspected
or caught red handed. were brought be-
fore him HepenEtaIi would order the
cord of drum to be taken of and
then, rigging up running moose,
would proceed to hang each In turn
across his athletic shoulders until the
victims had been slowly strangled %
death, after which be would throw
dorm his load and take up another
The walking gaIlowsr was clearly
both a new and simple plan and
mode Of execution not nearly 50
tedious or painful as Tyburn or Old
Bailey hanging. It answered bis
majesty's service as we'll as two posts
and crowbar. When rope was not
at hand Hepenstall's own silk cravat
being softer than an ordinary halter,
became merclful substitute.
In pursuance Of these benevolent In
tentions the lieutenant would frequent
II administer an anaesthetic to his
trembling victim--in other words, be
would first knock him silly with a
blow. His garters then did the duty
IS handouts. and the cravat would be
slipped over the condemned mans
neck.
whenever he had an unusually pow
erful victim to do with, Hepenstal
took q pride In showing his own
strength. With dexterous lunge Of
his body the lieutenant used to draw
up the poor devils bead as high as bis
own and then. when both were cheek
BY iowl, begin to trot about with his
burden like q jolting cart horse unsl
the rebel had no further solicitude
about suhlunary affairs. 1t was after
one of these tretting executions, which
had taken place In the barrack yard
adjoining Stephens green, that Hep.
penRtall acquired the surname Of the
walking gallows" he was invested
with 1t By the gallery of Crow Street
theafer. Dublin.
AT the trial or a rebel IA that city
the lieutenant undergoing cross exam
lnation. admitted the aforementioned
details of bis method Of hanging. and
Lord Norbury, the presiding judge,
warmly compIimented him on his 10y
atty and assured him that he had been
guilty Of no act which was not natural
@ a zeAl0us. loyal and efficient officer
Lieutenant Hepenstall. however did
not long survive bis hideous practlee
he died In 1905. Owing to the odium
n which be was universally held. the
authorities arranged that his funeral
should take place secretly, while 4
Dublin Wit suggested that his tomb
itone wonld be suitably Inscribed By
he following epitaph:
Here lie the bones II senerstail.
Itsfra ass~v ~aff-~s 49, ana all