The Last Hangman

The untold story of Canada’s second-largest mass hanging which involved four Nazi POWs, a pedophile child murderer, and Canada’s last (un)official hangman.
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[@sylvestervitali359]

professor Dale Brawn one of the absolute best professors i have ever had the honor to be taught by. By far the best professor/ human being

[@dyejohn1905]

Enjoyed this documentary, but don't understand why it was called The Last Hangman. It really had nothing to do with Camille Branchaud..

[@eddiejohnson5183]

Great documentary. Another day of learning an important piece of history.

[@markwilson2992]

Wow, great documentary!

[@MontgomeryMall]

A very nice documentary that I liked overall. However, I felt that the final credit commenting on the situation in Syria was uncalled for.

[@anotherarmchairhistorian2831]

Yeah that was a bit of a cheap shot.

[@dabsafe]

If you thought it was uncalled for, then you didn’t understand the entire premise of the film.

[@kentgrady9226]

There is a similar story about German prisoners who were executed by American authorities - at Fort Leavenworth, if memory serves. If I recall correctly, the German prisoners had determined that one of their number was passing information to camp guards about escape efforts and plans to undermine the camp commandant. The senior German prisoner found the informer guilty of treason and ordered a sentence of death. A number of German prisoners were tasked to lynch him, which they did. According to witnesses at trial, the Germans who stood accused were shocked to learn that they were being accused of a capital crime and made virtually no effort to defend themselves. They were sentenced to hang, one at a time. Between sentencing and the date of execution, the prisoners befriended the chaplain who was a Catholic priest. They all converted to Catholicism. The day of the execution, the priest accompanied all of the condemned men to the gallows, then went below to administer Last Rites before the doctor pronounced then dead. Supposedly, before the last man was hanged, the priest had a heart attack from the combination of exertion and grief. In the US, many 19th century military installations in remote places were used as POW camps. Fort Robinson, in the northwest corner of the Nebraska panhandle, was one such camp.

[@destineyrodgers1733]

Damn that’s grim

[@doug814]

@@destineyrodgers1733 yeah it was. Damn.

[@wodens-hitman1552]

That was Shepton mallet in England

[@BriGuyIL1980]

Personally, I think this would make an amazing movie.

[@jamesguitar7384]

A person said that 38 to 45 year olds would be considered too old for combat . Is that right ? If it is right , the war films got it wrong .

[@chrishagreen3988]

war films are Hollywood, not reality.

[@lindanorris2455]

My dipsomaiac (maternal) Grandfather born in DIgby , Nova Scotia died in 1945. He was violent, torturing of animals and a torturers of children He fled NS for the USA where he continued he as crazy as his daughter my mother. Harry Cossaboom.

[@williesnyder2899]

Does land itself remember horror (then) or joy (now)? Probably not... But human beings had better remember it all and cleave to the good to be done instead of the evil that may (as easily!) be accomplished!!

[@lindanorris2455]

it does. look at the red zone in Ypres. still off limits today.

[@daviddenham1511]

What these supposed experts are talking about is actually known as Group Dynamics…..I studied that in basic psychology!…..come on guys!!

[@robertbarron4274]

I like Dale Brawn with a shaved head and also with a toupee.

[@Andrew-df1dr]

They should not have been executed.

[@jacksonreilly3441]

Good documentary but I laughed out loud when Dale Brawn said "semi-official hangperson". Very PC!!! What a twit. If the executions had taken place i Winnipeg, would he have referred to the province as "Personitoba"?!

[@jamesbasinger6311]

Has there ever been a hangwoman?

[@chrishulk1]

34:46. If there's one day to throw s sickcy, that is how you do it. For sure a very lucky gadge.Nice folk that kill all.

[@JK-wd6oe]

This is a great history lesson but I have been watching for over 15 minutes and so far it has nothing to do with hanging yet the documentary is called "the last Hangman"????????????

[@gordonmcleod]

The noose used in Canada as was the table of drops was mandated by the British Home Office and was not the hand knotted one but was designed to snap the neck with a brass ring and a leather covered noose

[@gordonmcleod]

Also he was not the last hangman in Canada as the lst execution was at the Don Jail in the 1960's

[@captaintrizer]

Wasn't it separation of the first and second veterbrae? If that's what you mean by snapping apologies!

[@gordonmcleod]

@@captaintrizer yes

[@VA3ELX]

There is an actual hangman’s kit at a museum in New Liskeard, Ontario and within it was a hand tightened knot, not the brass slip ring type used in British Jails as you mentioned.

[@TonyNicholls-gi9le]

Marwood was the executioner back in the late 1800 who invented that noose

[@albertawheat6832]

I am always interested in Canadian history... All this is based in my Province Alberta Canada. Well done documentary I've shared to facebook...keep up the good work.

[@stevecoe6639]

What a brilliant doc.... Very interesting

[@roxyd2066]

not shure I understood it well :(

[@1234novas]

Colby Reesor was the Sheriff of Medicine Hat during the trial. I knew him and he was a great man.

[@seamusoflatcap]

An interesting report on POW camps in Canada. However, there is very little on any of the hangmen and last part, about wars since and Syria, is both unnecessary and irrelevant.

[@fernbird8609]

Seamus O'Flatcap I totally disagree, the documentary was trying to put it into perspective..... war is wrong, but so are the consequences if you stand by and do nothing.

[@srinivasaramanujan2881]

"Wszyscy oprawcy będą pozbawieni anonimowości ,ich personalia ,imię nazwisko,stopień ,miejsce zamieszkania staną się powszechnie znane i dostępne w Internecie ,pracy nie zdobędą gdyż będą pozbawieni " mocy " "

[@alastairgreen2077]

Concurrently. One word.

[@chrishulk1]

34:46. If there's one day to throw s sickcy, that is how you do it. For sure a very lucky gadge.