In the early 1800s, petty thief Joseph Samuel was convicted of the murder of a local Australian policeman and sentenced to death by hanging. However, on the day of his execution, local official had trouble carrying out his sentence. On the first try, the rope about Samuel’s neck snapped. The second time, the noose unraveled, dropping Samuel to the ground. When the rope snapped again on the third try, the execution was called off for the day, in part due to the support of the crowd for clemency. When the governor heard the story, he pardoned Samuel, claiming divine intervention.
Was this divine intervention or something more ordinary? Could something magical or sinister have saved Samuel’s life? Was he innocent? In history, Samuel remained imprisoned and died after a later escape attempt, but someone must have a better story about a man who escaped the hangman’s noose three times in a single day. What happens next?
