Still Hangin' Around

Grover Cleveland was the only president in history to hold the job of a hangman. He was once the sheriff of Erie County, New York in the 1870s.  Prior to his election to this, his first office, the deputy Sheriff Jacob Emerick had been responsible for hangings, all of which were then public.  On at least one occasions however, Cleveland sprung the trap himself, considering it inappropriate to shirk the unpleasant duty.  It was on September 6, 1872 that Irishman Jack Morrissey, who was convicted of killing his own mother, died at Cleveleand’s hand.  According to a later article in The New York Times in 1912, Cleveland did not enjoy the job and was sick for days after.  Interesting for a man whose favorite hobby was hunting, and who named his shotgun Death & Destruction.  And of course, he was on the $1000 bill.  Not related to this article, but hey ... why pass on a chance to post a pic of a thousand bucks!