The last public judicial hanging in Florida was in Crestview, our county seat, on the courthouse lawn, sometime around 1918 or so.
Local newspaper reports said at the time people came from all over, bringing picnic lunches and their families. It was a fair type atmosphere................
From what I have read, many executions by hanging were “county fair” type events, which, IMHO, they should be. If the gummint is killing someone, in my name, I probably should witness the event.
I remember reading that the Booth conspirators were hanged in private and thinking that was rather odd. I mean, if what gummint is doing is appropriate, it seems to me it should be done in the open, in broad daylight.