Trying to make a really humorous, science-y type of explanation for the science of swinging an executioner's axe. Through some quick research, I learned that one of the measurable aspects of swinging an axe could be angular frequency but not sure if that's the case or not, since I know zilch about physics. Anyways, here's the excerpt. Just want to ask if it makes sense: When curious doctoral candidates had questions about the rate of change of the phase of a sinusoidal waveform when striking between the second and third cervical vertebrae with a bifacial impact-delivery apparatus, they came to him. Alternatively: When curious doctoral candidates had questions about the temporal rate of change of the phase argument of a sinusoidal waveform when striking between the second and third cervical vertebrae with a bifacial impact-delivery apparatus, they came to him.
Sounds like jargon for the sake of it. A normal person would say "How quickly you swung an axe". Knowing that and the length of the axe, you can calculate the angular frequency quite easily. It's not doctoral level science, a 16 year old could probably do it with paper and pencil.
Oh, it's absolutely jargon. Writing something that's supposed to be really absurd, and executioners who take their job way too seriously. Any suggestions for alternative jargon? Lol
Hmm, maybe. Definitely looking to go the physics and anatomy route. Doesn't even have to be doctoral students either. Just want it to sound like a question that students would ask a world-renowned professional in the field.
The joke is fine, but you could subvert the absurdity if you're feeling frisky. Charitably, one might say that Headsman Rodney's range of interests was as wide as a leggy beanstalk. When the university undergraduates had questions about vector transformations describing an arc, the aerodynamics of wedge shapes, or energy conversion resulting from inelastic collisions, they consulted their textbooks and professors as any reasonable student would do. However, when one of their peers inevitably came to the delirious and unforgivable conclusion that pi should be rounded to four, they were brought to Rodney. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_pi_bill
Hmm, I can't say I know much about the swing of the axe, but I think we should be thankful to executioners who take their job seriously. For example, take hanging: if the drop is too short, the prisoner is cruelly strangled to death over a long period of time. If too long, the prisoner simply drops to the ground and doesn't die. Many executioners, therefore, tried to create a science out of hanging. Chief among them are Albert Pierrepoint, Alexander Green, Arthur Ellis, William Marwood, and Nguyen Tuong Van. Returning to executioners with an axe ... it's worth noting that in medieval times, members of the nobility that was sentenced to be beheaded were always beheaded with a sword, not an axe. In England, the act of beheading via axe was considered barbaric because the axe-man would often miss the clean killing stroke. Many axe beheadings required two or even three strokes. The executioner Jack Ketch (employed during the reign of Charles II of England) was notorious for this. Unfortunately, Ketch often tried to steady his nerves by drinking, with predictable results. He was often extremely drunk, both on and off the job. He was often booed by the crowd, and bribed by the prisoners to try and convince him not to fumble. If you're looking for an axe-man, Carl Gröpler is your man. One of the most notorious executioners of Prussia, he dispatched 144 people with both an axe and the guillotine. One of his most famous victims was Peter Kürten (aka The Vampire of Düsseldorf or the Düsseldorf Ripper), a serial killer that inspired Fritz Lang's film M (1931), starring Peter Lorre. Of course, executioners who take themselves too seriously deserve to be lampooned, but this is true of anyone in public life who does the same. Anyway, sorry to digress so much. Hope it didn't bore you.
This is awesome information. Also, from what I know, executioners had special heavy swords. They were one-sided and some even had engravings! https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1620 That sword is 100% going in one of my books as a magical weapon.
I don't know about magical, but I love the name of the donator. "Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance", surely an appropriate name for an executioner. What an odd piece of serendipity!
Yeah! Also, I wanted to add some more physics about hangings. The key to hangings is a swift break of the neck, not suffocation. So, that's why a drop is used.
More accurately, that's why the long drop is used. When the female Nazi guards of Ravensbruck were executed, they were *not* executed with the long drop method. They were stood on the back of a truck, noosed to their gallows, and the the truck drove off, leaving them to be slowly strangled. The executions of war criminals after the Tokyo Trials used the long drop method, but it was botched - the drop was too short, and the executioners had to pull on the legs of the prisoners to kill them faster. If the drop is too long, it's not that they will reach the ground - their heads will actually be pulled off. This happened in at least one of the executions of Iraqi leaders when Saddam Hussein was deposed.
Yeesh. *grimace* It's a nasty way to die, but of course, they deserved it. Hmm ... I recall reading that when people were hanged from the Tyburn 'tree' (near Newgate Prison), their family or friends would rush forward and do the same for them. (For non-UK people, the Tyburn 'tree' wasn't an actual tree but a set of gallows ... not that it made any difference to the condemned). When I visited England in 2015, I saw the place where it stood. There is now a plaque there, near the intersection of Edgeware Road and Marble Arch. Whoops! Yes, you're right. I was thinking of the well-known "They don't know how to make rope!" anecdote (I'm not sure how true it is). *googles it* Ah! Here it is: That's the story, anyway. As for how true or not it is ... I found this article on the Ask Historians reddit, where a historian examines whether this could've happened. I don't normally put much trust in reddit, but "Ask Historians" is usually thorough and very good.
Angular frequency? Implies whacking the victim more than once. Bad executioner, bad ! Regarding hanging, a late 19th bandito in this general neighborhood - Black Jack Ketchum - was hanged in Cimarron, New Mexico. He had been weighed when convicted, but then appeals were started. By the time appeals had been exhausted, the hangman they brought in hurriedly did not re-weigh him. He has put on 50 pounds and the long drop decapitated him. Half the women watching fainted and many other watchers threw up. The county quit having open hangings after that.
This reminds me far too much of the executioner Jack Ketch (who I mentioned above). His execution of William Russell (Lord Russell, 1683) and James Scott (1st Duke of Montmouth, 1685) were particularly gruesome. See below, from wikipedia: Lord Russell, Execution James Scott, Attainder and execution Russell's execution took several blows. Scott's took anywhere between 5 and 8. As KiraAnn said: Bad executioner! Bad!
