In The Bravados, a professional hangman was brought into town to dispatch four men. Did such a profession exist in the Old West?
Jack Graves
Turlock, California
I’ve found no evidence of a professional hangman who traveled from town to town.
The most famous hangman was George Maledon, who worked for “hanging judge” Isaac Parker of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Maledon started out as a deputy marshal and evolved into the position as chief executioner of the federal court presided over by Judge Parker. He got $100 a hanging, and it’s said he executed 60 men.
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