[onedoug]

'Makes me think of California's hanging days.

One condemmed inmate once asked, "Will it hurt?"

The guard ansered, "No one ever complained."

Then there was the 300 pound woman...whose hanging ripped her head off.

[curmudgeonII]

Then there was the 300 pound woman...whose hanging ripped her head off.

The way hanging usually kills is by breaking the neck - which is why the knot on the noose is placed to the side. When hangings have been messy it's been due to the hangee [to coin a word] not being heavy enough and he dies of strangulation, a much messier, slower and more painful way of going.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Actually, that was Black Jack Ketchum whose head popped off during the hanging. (At least as I remember.)