4 ms·

A Short History of the Executioner (2014)

44 points by lermontov 9y ago

Theodores 9y ago
It seemed that there was a past where every town and village would have an executioner or hangman. I did not know they were outcasts though, with a system for that. The funniest is the American guy who did the Germans at Nuremberg, he blagged the job and probably botched it really, making those poor Germans have even more misery than afforded by a clean execution. He was not from any genuine background of family profession.
- georgecmu 9y ago
  I did not know they were outcasts though, with a system for that. Indeed, in La Reine Margot[0], one of the protagonists escapes the brodequin[1] by simply having shaken the executioner's hand in the past: Monsieur, dit Caboche, vous êtes le seul gentilhomme qui m'ait donné la main, et l'on a de la mémoire et un coeur, tout bourreau qu'on est, et peut- être même parce qu'on est bourreau. Vous verrez demain comme je ferai proprement ma besogne. His more socially selective friend was not so fortunate. [0] http://www.dumaspere.com/pages/bibliotheque/chapitre.php?lid=r38&cid=58 http://www.dumaspere.com/pages/bibliotheque/chapitre.php?lid... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodequin_(torture) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodequin_(torture)
- snori74 9y ago
  Pierrepoint travelled to a America at some point, (not sure whether this was pre, or post WWII) - and was very scathing of their systems in his autobiography. I don't know the numbers, but he certainly hanged a lot of "the Germans at Nuremberg".
- nasredin 9y ago
  Eh? Poor choice of words? I know you meant well, but the wording just looks bad.
erric 9y ago
Hardcore History’s latest podcast is one about capital punishment through the ages. He touches on some of the stigma or awe these persons were given. It’s not for everyone as Dan is very descriptive. https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/ https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/
- mhuffman 9y ago
  Thank you so much for the heads up! I love HH and have been sorely missing a new episode.
trhway 9y ago
>executioners only entered the city to perform tasks relating to their office. Those entailed the duties, of course, of torturing or killing the condemned, but they also included a variety of basses oeuvres with peculiar perks, such as the exclusive right to clean cesspools (and any valuables contained therein), the right to claim stray animals reminded - some [or is it everybody's job duty?] animal control employees do put to death all those cats and dogs. When i see an animal control it causes very mixed feelings as i hope that i'm looking at a good person who does his/her best and/or doesn't know better while s/he really may be just a typical executioner and even a sadist enjoying the job and power over his/her victims.
- WillReplyfFood 9y ago
  Im very sorry that reality dared to impose itself on your daily life. Im hope you can save some animals, while buying products and living a lifestyle that happily sacrifices a hundred human lifes in the course of yours. Im sure, its a nice moral placebo to ingest. But to me, this twisted obsession with animals, is just another psychosis caused by modern society. Because animals are easy to controll, they cant protest your antromorphizing. I had the pleasure to meet several dogs, who when given the chance would rather spend there time in the wild, then beeing together with a "loving" controll-obsessed sociopath of a owner. I deeply reject your sick obsessions and the cult you build around it. Mass, might and emotions do not make you right. Seek out theraphy- your human avoidance will only make things worser.
- neverartful 9y ago
  I get what you're saying about Animal Control, but you may be overlooking one of the kindest things they do - keep your lost pet in safe area until you find it.
lurquer 9y ago
Sigh... Got all excited to read an article about Mack Bolan. Oh well...

44 points by lermontov 9y ago

It seemed that there was a past where every town and village would have an executioner or hangman. I did not know they were outcasts though, with a system for that. The funniest is the American guy who did the Germans at Nuremberg, he blagged the job and probably botched it really, making those poor Germans have even more misery than afforded by a clean execution. He was not from any genuine background of family profession.

georgecmu 9y ago
I did not know they were outcasts though, with a system for that. Indeed, in La Reine Margot[0], one of the protagonists escapes the brodequin[1] by simply having shaken the executioner's hand in the past: Monsieur, dit Caboche, vous êtes le seul gentilhomme qui m'ait donné la main, et l'on a de la mémoire et un coeur, tout bourreau qu'on est, et peut- être même parce qu'on est bourreau. Vous verrez demain comme je ferai proprement ma besogne. His more socially selective friend was not so fortunate. [0] http://www.dumaspere.com/pages/bibliotheque/chapitre.php?lid=r38&cid=58 http://www.dumaspere.com/pages/bibliotheque/chapitre.php?lid... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodequin_(torture) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodequin_(torture)
snori74 9y ago
Pierrepoint travelled to a America at some point, (not sure whether this was pre, or post WWII) - and was very scathing of their systems in his autobiography. I don't know the numbers, but he certainly hanged a lot of "the Germans at Nuremberg".
nasredin 9y ago
Eh? Poor choice of words? I know you meant well, but the wording just looks bad.

erric 9y ago

Hardcore History’s latest podcast is one about capital punishment through the ages. He touches on some of the stigma or awe these persons were given. It’s not for everyone as Dan is very descriptive. https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/ https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/

mhuffman 9y ago
Thank you so much for the heads up! I love HH and have been sorely missing a new episode.

trhway 9y ago

>executioners only entered the city to perform tasks relating to their office. Those entailed the duties, of course, of torturing or killing the condemned, but they also included a variety of basses oeuvres with peculiar perks, such as the exclusive right to clean cesspools (and any valuables contained therein), the right to claim stray animals reminded - some [or is it everybody's job duty?] animal control employees do put to death all those cats and dogs. When i see an animal control it causes very mixed feelings as i hope that i'm looking at a good person who does his/her best and/or doesn't know better while s/he really may be just a typical executioner and even a sadist enjoying the job and power over his/her victims.

WillReplyfFood 9y ago
Im very sorry that reality dared to impose itself on your daily life. Im hope you can save some animals, while buying products and living a lifestyle that happily sacrifices a hundred human lifes in the course of yours. Im sure, its a nice moral placebo to ingest. But to me, this twisted obsession with animals, is just another psychosis caused by modern society. Because animals are easy to controll, they cant protest your antromorphizing. I had the pleasure to meet several dogs, who when given the chance would rather spend there time in the wild, then beeing together with a "loving" controll-obsessed sociopath of a owner. I deeply reject your sick obsessions and the cult you build around it. Mass, might and emotions do not make you right. Seek out theraphy- your human avoidance will only make things worser.
neverartful 9y ago
I get what you're saying about Animal Control, but you may be overlooking one of the kindest things they do - keep your lost pet in safe area until you find it.

lurquer 9y ago

Sigh... Got all excited to read an article about Mack Bolan. Oh well...