The ''Upright Jerker''

By Crusader1307

The ''Upright Jerker'' was a very short lived method of Public Execution, found in use in The United States, in the late 19th thru early 20th Centuries. A ''variation'' on Hanging – the overall mechanics of The Device and Method was too difficult, and often more gruesome that traditional hanging. Also known as The ''Automatic Gallows'', The Jerker Device greatly resembled a traditional Gallows. A large wooden platform or Scaffold (minus drop plank), was constructed. In addition, the Support and Cross Beams were installed, by which the Rope (for strangulation), was likewise placed. However, the rope (which was either held or tied, and which held in place while a Convicted was dropped thru the Flooring and had His neck snapped, via Hi (or Her) body weight) – was attached to a series of weighed pulleys. At the appointed time of Execution, a spring lever was engaged – which caused the weights to rapidly drop to distance. The result, The Convicted was rapidly jerked upwards – snapping their neck more ''humanely''. The several usages were by and large – failures. In most cases, The Convicted did Not have His neck snapped, but suffered greatly. This caused the person to be ''re-hung'', using the ''older method'' (hanging). In another case, The Convicted had His ''head pop off'', making the scene far more ''grisly'' than expected. The Upright Jerker was so deemed ''cruel and unusual punishment'' and was abandoned in the 1890s.