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Essays and addresses

The "common oxhide" became an institution, and it later gave way to the hurdle.

From contemporary woodcuts it appears that the hurdle was of wicker, flat and oblong, about seven by four feet.

The prisoner was bound in it, feet toward the horse, which was attached to the hurdle and drew it along like a stone-boat.

Later the sledge came into use, although the word "hurdle" was used to denote it, and by the time of McLane every convict who was to be drawn to the gallows had a "hurdle" to ride on.

(2) While the express words of the sentence prohibited hanging until death it came to be the practice to allow death to intervene before cutting down.