Upright jerker
Encyclopedia
The upright jerker was an execution method and device intermittently used in the United States
during the 19th and early 20th century. Intended to replace hanging
s, the upright jerker did not see widespread use.
As in a hanging, a cord would be wrapped around the neck of the condemned. However, rather than dropping down through a trapdoor, the condemned would be violently jerked into the air by means of a system of weights and pulleys. The objective of this execution method was to provide a swift death by breaking the condemned's neck.
Executions of this type took place in several U.S. states, notably Connecticut
where amongst others the "Count of Gramercy Park", murderer and gang member Gerald Chapman
was put to death by the method. The warden of the Connecticut State Prison at Wethersfield and a was issued on June 18, 1895. The upright jerker was never very efficient at breaking the condemned's neck and was withdrawn from use by the 1930s.
A version of the "upright jerker" is used for capital punishment
in Iran
. Iran uses a crane
to jerk the noose upward violently.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the 19th and early 20th century. Intended to replace hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
s, the upright jerker did not see widespread use.
As in a hanging, a cord would be wrapped around the neck of the condemned. However, rather than dropping down through a trapdoor, the condemned would be violently jerked into the air by means of a system of weights and pulleys. The objective of this execution method was to provide a swift death by breaking the condemned's neck.
Executions of this type took place in several U.S. states, notably Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
where amongst others the "Count of Gramercy Park", murderer and gang member Gerald Chapman
Gerald Chapman
Gerald Chapman , called the "Count of Gramercy Park", and "The Gentleman Bandit" was an American criminal who co-led an early Prohibition-era gang with George "Dutch" Anderson from 1919 until the mid-1920s...
was put to death by the method. The warden of the Connecticut State Prison at Wethersfield and a was issued on June 18, 1895. The upright jerker was never very efficient at breaking the condemned's neck and was withdrawn from use by the 1930s.
A version of the "upright jerker" is used for capital punishment
Capital punishment in Iran
Capital punishment is legal and applied in Iran. In theory the possibility of capital punishment applies for the following crimes: murder, rape, adultery, pedophilia, sodomy, drug trafficking, moharebeh and mofsed-e-filarz...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Iran uses a crane
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
to jerk the noose upward violently.