So went a colorful character...

[NNN0LHI]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NOOSE_LAWSUIT?SITE=ILKAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Legal Flap Brews in Illinois Over Noose

<snip>The law caught up to Birger in 1927, when he was condemned for arranging the killing of Joe Adams, the mayor of nearby West City.

On April 19, 1928, more than 5,000 spectators packed the jail courtyard to see Birger die. Children skipped school to watch him walk to the gallows and up the steps to the trap door, where he shook hands with executioner Phil Hanna.

"They've accused me of a lot of things I was never guilty of, but I was guilty of a lot of things of which they never accused me," media accounts quoted the former cowhand and Army veteran as saying. "So I guess we're about even."

Before his head was covered by a black hood - he declined a white one, saying he didn't want to be confused with the Ku Klux Klan - Birger grinned and said, "It's a beautiful world."

So went a colorful character.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Jeebus - they're fighting over a NOOSE???

:crazy:

[depakid]

2. "5,000 spectators packed the jail courtyard to see Birger die"

And if they televised executions, they'd get the highest ratings anywhere- the vast majority of Americans would be cheering the ghoulish behavior on, wishing that needles didn't go in right- or that "old sparky" would fry someone's head.

My guess would be that it would only increase support for the death penalty- irrespective if the person later turned out to be innocent. Especially if that person were a minority.