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School: Newtownmountkennedy

Location:
Newtown Mountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
Teacher:
Tomás Ó Caoilte
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0928, Page 071

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0928, Page 071

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  3. XML “The Walking Gallows”

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  1. The Walking Gallows

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    Lieutenant Hepenstall was a native of Newcastle and one of the Wicklow Militia. He was called The "Walking Gallows" because of how he used to hang people.
    If he met a peasant who could not account for himself, he knocked him down with a blow from his fist which was as harmful as a blow from a sledgehamer. He then put a handkerchief round the mans neck and threw him across his shoulder. On account of his great height the victim would be left dangling with his feet a foot off the ground. Hepenstall then walked or trotted till the man was dead.
    He brought off a lot of these exploits around Newtown while he was stationed at Mountkennedy
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Topics
    1. time
      1. historical periods by name (~25)
        1. the great famine (~4,013)
    2. place-space-environment
      1. local lore, place-lore (~10,595)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Seán Ó Sionóid
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Killadreenan, Co. Wicklow
    Informant
    C.B. Haslam
    Age
    75
    Address
    Newtown Mountkennedy, Co. Wicklow