BANGING A MAN BYWAY OF A JOKE.

Evening Star, Issue 4083, 28 March 1876, Page 3

BANGING A MAN BYWAY OF A JOKE.

An incident, which is spoken of by the papers as a “practical joke," took place the other day at Oldham, arid very nearly resulted in consequences which -were a very long way beyond legitimate humor. Impressed with the details of a trial for murder about which they had been reading, it occurred to the company, in a publichouse that it would be amusing to have a trial there and then, and the various functionaries who take part in such 'Scenes were appointed, including as well as judge and jury prisoner and executioner. A verdict qf guilty was returned, the culprit Sentenced, and with an impromptu rope round his neck, placed upon the table, while the other end of the rope was fastened to a beam in the ceiling. Having got so far to the complete satisfaction of the merry company, it seemed a pity not to keep the fun going, and the table was consequently pushed away, leaving the prisoner hanging. The shock of the fall was considerable; his eyes protruded from their sockets, and his tongue was forced far out of his mouth, to the great amusement of the spectators. The success of the joke was regarded as considerable, and the only thing that remained to make it quite a real execution was for the hangman to cling to the legs of the prisoner ; and this, he at length proceeded to do. No doubt death would have ensued in due course, but at this moment the rope broke, and the two men fell to the ground, from which the prisoner, being insensible and quite black in the face, did not-, rise. Although it was hot strictly in accordance with the usual programe, restoratives were applied, and after a time the hanged man began to show signs of returning animation. Eventually he was able to get home, and his wife, who had heard of the joke, received him with the expression, of a hope that if he let people make such a fool of him again they would manage, the business more effec tually. The humor is certainly rather strained,. and if the fun is repeated it is by no, means improbable that some of the company will have practical , experience jdt trial, and execution in the most approved methods, without the opportunity of afterwards* exhibiting their superior knowledge of the details to their friends, r